Pittsburgh Steelers: Who is their biggest AFC North worry?
The Pittsburgh Steelers are always a favorite for the AFC North but with their fellow teams making big changes, who poses the biggest threat?
Each year, the Pittsburgh Steelers are a favorite to win the AFC North. Even so, the team hasn’t been to a Super Bowl in years. Regardless, they’re always a contender and their division features some stiff competition. 2018 is poised to be another big year for the team with their QB-WR-RB trio still intact.
The other teams in the AFC North have undergone some big changes. One team, in particular, has changed a lot for the better. That’s not to say all three teams don’t have a chance against the Steelers. However, there is one that stands out as surprising as it might be.
Between the remaining three teams, there’s a lot of potential. The race for second place is always unclear as the Ravens and Bengals go back and forth. Then again, the Cleveland Browns could end up there, too. That being said, which AFC North team poses the biggest threat to the Steelers?
Surprisingly, the Browns aren’t the weakest team. For now, that honor goes to the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals are another team that looks good on paper, but the execution just isn’t there. Last season, the team finished 7-9, including a 0-2 start to the season.
2018 doesn’t look to be much better as the Bengals haven’t made many moves. They did try to beef up their defense in the draft and some free agent signings but didn’t really help their offense. Unless they step their running game up or another receiver does, the Steelers will make quick work of them.
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These is where it starts to get tricky in the AFC North. Usually, the Browns are on the bottom but the Browns actually look promising. Maybe I’m buying too much into the hype, but they seem legitimate. As always, there’s the Baltimore Ravens who flip-flop between being a contender and playing horribly.
Looking back at 2017, the Browns had a horrible season. Okay so maybe one of the worst seasons ever? That might be an understatement, but they look to turn it all around in 2018. The team made some key changes, made some draft investments and seem to be on the right track.
If all the pieces come together, the Browns have a chance at the AFC North. While they don’t hold a candle to the Steelers, they’re on their way. Once again, maybe I’m buying too much into the hype. Either way, the Browns are a huge question mark for now and surprisingly, it’s in a good way.
As much as I wanted to include the Browns as their biggest worry, let’s be realistic. It has to the Baltimore Ravens. The rivalry between the Steelers and Ravens runs deep with the Ravens just barely missing the playoffs.
Despite missing the playoffs, the Ravens played decently. Their main issue going into 2018 is their quarterback. While many see Flacco as the leader, others want Lamar Jackson to have his time. It’s unclear who will take the reins, but it holds the key to their success.
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Additionally, the Ravens made some key addition to the offense and beefed up their defense. If all the piece fall into place, the Ravens could be AFC North champs. For right now, the Ravens easily pose the biggest threat to the Steelers.