Photo: steelers.com
The Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t take the field this weekend, but that doesn’t mean their Week 9 bye was uneventful. With the rest of the AFC North in action, Pittsburgh had an opportunity to gain some ground in the division standings without playing a single snap.
And for the most part, things worked out pretty well for the Steelers. The Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens both suffered losses, while the Cincinnati Bengals continued their winning ways with a convincing victory over the Atlanta Falcons.
The results leave Pittsburgh and Cincinnati tied atop the AFC North at 6-2, setting the stage for an important divisional showdown next Sunday. Meanwhile, Cleveland dropped to 5-4 and Baltimore fell to 4-5, giving the Steelers a little more breathing room against two familiar rivals.
Here’s what stood out from the AFC North’s Week 9 action and what it means for Pittsburgh moving forward.
Anyone hoping Cincinnati would stumble overseas came away disappointed Sunday morning. The Bengals defeated the Atlanta Falcons 34-17 in Madrid, improving to 6-2 and matching Pittsburgh’s record entering their Week 10 meeting.
Joe Burrow continued his impressive season, throwing for 271 yards and three touchdowns. Ja’Marr Chase was once again a major factor, catching 10 passes for 155 yards and a touchdown as Cincinnati demonstrated why its passing attack remains one of the most dangerous in football.
That should certainly get Pittsburgh’s attention. The Steelers have made significant improvements defensively over their four-game winning streak, but their recent opponents haven’t presented the same challenges that Cincinnati will bring to the table.
Burrow has the weapons and accuracy to exploit coverage mistakes, particularly if Pittsburgh’s pass rush can’t consistently disrupt his timing.
There’s also the matter of Cincinnati’s defense. The Bengals have been vulnerable at times this season, especially against the run, which could create opportunities for Jaylen Warren and Pittsburgh’s improving offensive line. The Steelers have increasingly relied on their rushing attack to control games, and that approach might be especially important against an opponent capable of scoring quickly.
Sunday’s victory means the Bengals will enter next week’s matchup with plenty of confidence. Pittsburgh, however, will have the advantage of additional preparation time following its bye. Whether that extra week makes a difference remains to be seen, but the stakes couldn’t be much clearer.
One week after being dominated by the Steelers, Cleveland had an opportunity to bounce back against a New Orleans Saints team that Pittsburgh had also defeated earlier this season. Instead, the Browns suffered another disappointing loss, falling 23-22 in overtime.
The defeat dropped Cleveland to 5-4 and marked its second consecutive loss. That’s a significant development considering the Browns entered their Week 8 meeting with Pittsburgh holding a victory over the Steelers from earlier in the season.
While Cleveland’s offense showed more life than it did against Pittsburgh, the Browns still couldn’t finish the job. Quarterback Shedeur Sanders threw for 297 yards and two touchdowns, but Cleveland’s inability to secure the victory left it further behind in the division standings.
For Steelers fans, this was about as favorable an outcome as they could have hoped for. Pittsburgh already took care of business against New Orleans in Paris, and the Saints returned the favor by handing Cleveland another loss.
Of course, the Browns shouldn’t be completely dismissed. Their defense remains capable of creating problems, and Cleveland still owns a head-to-head victory over Pittsburgh. However, consecutive defeats have significantly reduced the momentum the Browns carried into their rematch with the Steelers.
The Ravens didn’t even make it to Sunday before adding another loss to their record. Baltimore was thoroughly outplayed by Jacksonville on Thursday night, falling 33-10 at home and dropping to 4-5 on the season.
It was Baltimore’s second consecutive blowout defeat after losing 36-10 to Buffalo in Week 8. That’s a combined 69-20 scoring margin over two games, hardly the kind of football anyone expected from a team hoping to contend for the AFC North title.
For Pittsburgh, Baltimore’s struggles are certainly welcome news, but there’s still a long way to go before the division race is settled. The Steelers have yet to face the Ravens this season, meaning both head-to-head meetings remain on the schedule.
Those games could still have major implications, especially if Baltimore manages to correct its problems over the next several weeks with a trade for journeyman QB Jacoby Brissett. It appears Baltimore is trying to hold the fort for a hopeful late season Lamar Jackson return. However, the Ravens are running out of opportunities to recover from their disappointing start, and Pittsburgh has already established a meaningful advantage in the standings.
Perhaps the biggest takeaway is that the Steelers don’t have to worry about chasing Baltimore at the moment. Instead, the Ravens are the ones trying to climb back into contention while Pittsburgh focuses on maintaining its position near the top of the division.
At the halfway point of Pittsburgh’s season, the division is beginning to separate into two groups. The Steelers and Bengals are both 6-2, while Cleveland and Baltimore are attempting to recover from recent setbacks.
That makes next Sunday’s matchup in Cincinnati particularly important. A Steelers victory would give Pittsburgh a one-game advantage over the Bengals while also providing a valuable head-to-head win against its closest division rival. A loss, on the other hand, would put Cincinnati in a stronger position as the second half of the season unfolds.
It’s also worth remembering that Pittsburgh still has two divisional games remaining with Baltimore. There’s no reason to assume the race will be decided in November, but the Steelers have put themselves in a favorable position entering the most important stretch of their schedule.
The bye week couldn’t have arrived at a much better time. Pittsburgh has won four consecutive games, its defense is playing better, and the running game has become a legitimate strength. Now the Steelers have an opportunity to build upon that progress while preparing for an opponent that could determine who controls the AFC North heading into December.
They didn’t need to play Sunday to benefit from the results around the league. But with Cincinnati keeping pace, Pittsburgh’s next game will be considerably more important than anything that happened during its week off.
