The cream of the crop in the AFC North over the last 15 seasons has been the Pittsburgh Steelers. Pittsburgh has won seven division titles during that span and can credit its consistency for much of its success. The Steelers have proven veterans at most positions and a coach entering his 11th year in Mike Tomlin. They are the overwhelming favorites to win the AFC North after winning the division by three games last season.
AFC North Odds at BookMaker.eu
Pittsburgh Steelers -250
Cincinnati Bengals +405
Baltimore Ravens +465
Cleveland Browns +3500
Why the Pittsburgh Steelers Will Win the AFC North
The Steelers have the least question marks of any team in the division. Pittsburgh has more proven talent than Baltimore, Cincinnati, or Cleveland. That’s especially true at the positions that really matter.
Say what you want about Ben Roethlisberger, but he wins games. He is 123-60 as a starter and has won at least seven games in every season since entering the league. Few quarterbacks have a floor like that.
He has transformed himself from a game manager into an elite-level talent too under offensive coordinator Todd Haley. Since Haley came on board in 2012, his numbers have gone up across the board. Others have taken notice to. He has more Pro Bowl selections in the last five years than he received in his first eight seasons in the NFL. There’s little question that he’s the best quarterback in the division.
AJ Green is the only receiver that is anywhere close to the talent that Antonio Brown is in the AFC North. It’s almost laughable to think that five years ago, there was a serious discussion about whether the Steelers should lock up Brown long-term or give that money to Mike Wallace.
Brown has been the best receiver in the NFL over the last three seasons by a wide margin. You can use any parameter you want to measure it. He has been selected as a First-Team All-Pro for each of the last three seasons and should be one of the two or three best receivers in the league in 2017.
This should be one of the best receiving corps in the league if everything goes right. Martavis Bryant is unquestionably talented, but has trouble staying on the field. He was suspended for the first four games of 2015 and all of 2016 for substance abuse policy violations. His presence has been missed. He was expected to be the No. 2 receiver on the team last season and the offense would have been even better with Bryant on the field.
Additionally, throwing out an absolute burner like Sammie Coates to stretch the field helps quite a bit. Pittsburgh is really excited about JuJu Smith-Schuster too. USC wide receivers have typically failed to pan out in the league, but Smith-Schuster won’t be throw into the fire like most are. He has more talent than a typical WR3 or WR4 and should be able to exploit mismatches.
For at least one more season, Pittsburgh will have one of the most talented running backs in the NFL too. Le’Veon Bell is going to be at least third in every analyst’s ranking of the position across the league. His patience is extraordinary and leads to him getting yards that other runners won’t be able to get by just charging into the back of an offensive lineman. Bell and the Steelers are locked in a contract dispute, but it hasn’t reached the acrimonious stage…yet.
Why the Pittsburgh Steelers Won't Win the AFC North
Pittsburgh has the highest ceiling of any team in the division, but there’s still a lot that can go wrong.
Roethlisberger isn’t getting any younger and the beating he takes each year takes its toll. He has only made it through all 16 games three times in his 13-year career. His offensive line is solid on paper, but it seems like one of the key pieces always succumbs to an injury each season and the Steelers have to paper machete over the position. There is zero depth along the line and if someone goes down, a much less-talented option will take over.
Lost in the offensive fireworks is that this team has lost its defensive identity. Pittsburgh has not finished in the top 10 in total defense in each of the last four seasons.
There are real concerns along the defensive line and the loss of Lawrence Timmons certainly hurts too. Rather than view it as a strength, the fact that James Harrison is still starting at the age of 39 is a bit alarming.
Artie Burns is going to be the No. 1 cornerback by default. Burns is talented, but whether he can be the shutdown cornerback that Pittsburgh needs is up in the air. The other cornerback position is a serious concern with Ross Cockrell, William Gay, and Senquez Golson are vying for the job and that can be exploited.
The secondary is an area that Cincinnati can exploit if its receivers emerge like it is hoping. AJ Green was on pace for his best season yet before he was hurt last year and having talents like John Ross, Tyler Boyd, and Brandon LaFell is quarterback’s dream if all goes according to plan. The Bengals are Pittsburgh’s biggest threat in the AFC North.
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