Rich Eisen
Rich Eisen
It’s possible that the Pittsburgh Steelers see significant improvement in 2026 but fail to repeat as AFC North champs. The division has the potential to be one of the most competitive divisions in the NFL this season, with three teams entering the year as realistic contenders.
Rich Eisen sees a path for the Steelers to improve in 2026. Winning the AFC North may be a different story.
“I do think the Steelers have improved on offense just from Mike McCarthy calling the plays and coming in there and being connected to the quarterback in a way that they can go back to the future,” Eisen said this week when discussing the AFC North on the Rich Eisen Show.
“I’m with you as well that the Steelers can be a 10-win team and make it [to the playoffs], and at the end of the day, I’m just going with the Bengals.”
Eisen picked the Cincinnati Bengals to win the division for the first time since 2022, and picked the Baltimore Ravens to finish second. Despite saying the Steelers could be a 10-win team that makes the playoffs, Eisen has the Steelers finishing third only ahead of the Cleveland Browns.
If an offense that ranked 22nd in yards and 26th in rushing can get receive a modest boost from McCarthy’s play-calling and familiarity with Rodgers, there’s an obvious path to improvement. The problem is, even at its best, Pittsburgh’s offense doesn’t compare to Cincinnati’s or Baltimore’s on paper.
The Bengals’ biggest question offensively isn’t about talent. Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Chase Brown form one of the most potent quartets in the league. The question will be the health of Burrow after he suffered another injury last season and was limited to eight games.
Cincinnati also made upgrades to their defense this offseason, adding Dexter Lawrence, Boye Mafe, Jonathan Allen, and Bryan Cook. If healthy, there’s no question they will be a threat for the division.
The Ravens may not feature the totality of skill position talent Cincinnati boasts, but they’re led Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry. That alone makes their offense scary. New head coach Jesse Minter will surely have the defense back on point after early season struggles last season.
Pittsburgh’s offense, even with a shot in the arm from McCarthy’s presence and the addition of new weapons like Michael Pittman Jr., Rico Dowdle, and Germie Bernard, doesn’t stack up to the other top teams in the division. The defense will need to be the strength of the team for the Steelers to compete in the AFC North in 2026.
That may be enough to get the Steelers to 10 wins and into the playoffs, but it could also leave them on the outside looking in when it comes to another AFC North title. That’s how Eisen sees it.