Why the Pittsburgh Steelers win the AFC North
By Dan Salem
Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports
The AFC North has been playing very good football, but only one NFL team can win. Here’s why the Pittsburgh Steelers win the AFC North. Dan Salem and Todd Salem debate in today’s TD Sports Debate. Two brothers from New York yell, scream and debate the NFL and sports.
TODD:
The AFC North is a quagmire right now. I was ready to call it a jumbled mess, but all four teams look pretty decent at this point in the season. Even the last place Cleveland Browns would be in first place in the NFC South.
The most impressive mark was tallied by the 5-3 Pittsburgh Steelers this past weekend. They thumped Indianapolis 51-34 on a record-breaking day for Ben Roethlisberger. However, I don’t feel great about this team overall. Tell me why I’m wrong.
Make the case for the Pittsburgh Steelers winning the AFC North division title.
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DAN:
There are two answers to why the Steelers will win the AFC North. The easy answer is that Pittsburgh has the best starting quarterback in the division. Ben Roethlisberger is far and away the superior passer than the men under center for Baltimore, Cincinnati, and Cleveland.
I feel like that pretty much settles it, but here’s further evidence towards Steelers’ success. They keep getting better week after week after week. There is only one truly ‘bad’ week on their record, the week four loss to Tampa Bay at home. Their other two losses were in the division, on the road, against solid competition. And the victory over the Colts goes a long way towards proving that this train is just getting moving.
I’ll admit, the other Pittsburgh victories fail to impress. They play Baltimore this Sunday and must win. They have yet to play the Bengals at all. But with this division being extremely even, its the consistent improvement from Pittsburgh that wins me over.
The Steelers are ranked 4th in passing attack and 9th in rushing. Antonio Brown is a lock for the Pro Bowl at wide receiver and if Big Ben continues to play like he did last Sunday, he’ll have to be included in the MVP conversation along side Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. And on defense, although they are no Steal Curtain, they’re certainly getting the job done.
It’s a common theme among teams heading for the playoffs, but the remainder of Pittsburgh’s schedule is winnable. Removing divisional games from the conversation, the Steelers have the good fortune of facing the Jets, Titans, and Falcons. Sure, Atlanta wants to think its a good team, but they are not playing like one right now. Matchups with the New Orleans Saints and Kansas City Chiefs will test this team, but no more than last week when the Steelers completely dismantled the Colts. The Saints are awful when it comes to pass defense, and Pittsburgh gets both New Orleans and Kansas City at home.
Call it quarterback bias, or faith in Mike Tomlin, but the Steelers are no joke. They will win the AFC North.