While the Pittsburgh Steelers once had a nice lead atop the AFC North, that lead has now shrunk. The Baltimore Ravens are only one game behind them. There’s still plenty of time left in the regular season, though. The Steelers could hold on to first place, or they could watch as another team passes them. The Cincinnati Bengals aren’t out of the race, either. Pete Prisco sees the Steelers going on vacation rather than making the playoffs once this season ends.
“The defense was bad early in the season, the offense was good,” Prisco said Wednesday on CBS Sports HQ. “Now the offense is struggling, and the defense is playing better. They can’t get it right. I’m worried about this team. They play the Ravens twice, and I don’t think they’re gonna beat the Ravens either time.
“Even though these teams don’t like each other, they’re physical when they do match up against each other. I just think this is a bad situation. And we’re starting to see the best of the Ravens. This team will be packing up the gear, getting the sunscreen, and heading on down to Playa del Carmen.”
The Ravens haven’t swept the series against the Steelers since 2019. However, Pittsburgh’s second loss to Baltimore that season came in the final week of the season, and it eliminated the Steelers from playoff contention. History could repeat itself this year.
The Steelers’ first game against the Ravens will take place in Week 14, and their second matchup will occur in Week 18, the final week of the season. That game could determine the AFC North champion. As the AFC stands, it seems unlikely that a second AFC North team will make the playoffs. The wild card race is tight, and none of the teams in the Steelers’ division looks dominant.
Therefore, if the Steelers don’t win the AFC North, they could find themselves on the outside looking in when the postseason comes around. Both those games against the Ravens look like they’re going to be important. The Steelers’ last two games against Baltimore didn’t go so well, either. They got blown out in both those matchups.
We’ll see if things are different this year. The Steelers have been shaky recently, and the Ravens are starting to find their footing. However, Pittsburgh usually brings its best against Baltimore. With a few weeks to go before the two teams meet, hopefully, the Steelers remain in the driver’s seat in the AFC North.
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