8. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2)
The Pittsburgh Steelers are now 3-2 on the season after a double-digit at home over the Colts. Pittsburgh is seeing some neat play from QB Aaron Rodgers, but as most of the NFL world can see, this team is not built to win late in the season.
Rodgers is still all but washed up despite his good play in Week 5, and many of the key players on the roster are aging or just flat-out not good. Across the board, you see a ton of examples as to why the Steelers are not a well-run team.
Sure, them being 3-2 has them in a good spot through the first five weeks, but this is definitely a team that fits into the 'high-floor, low-ceiling' tier. They'll be fine throughout the rest of the season but won't be a threat, even if they make the playoffs.
7. Cincinnati Bengals (3-2)
The Cincinnati Bengals beat Miami in Week 5, but the defense just hasn't been all that great this year. They did have a game where they allowed just six points, but the four other weeks have seen them give up 27, 30, 22, and 24 points.
The coming weeks really need to see the defense stepping up, as getting that unit improved was the main idea of the offseason. The Bengals have not been into the playoffs since the 2022 season and have wasted prime Joe Burrow seasons.
And given his style of play, it's pretty clear that Burrow isn't slowing down anytime soon. The coaching with this team has also come into question in recent years. Right now, the Bengals don't stand out as a juggernaut, but they're certainly a playoff team and could rise into that top tier if the defense can shape up as 2026 rolls on.
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