It’s been a productive bye week for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Not only did they enjoy a week off following their trip to Dublin, but they also witnessed their lead in the AFC North grow as their rivals faced defeat Sunday. With a record of 3-1, the Steelers stand alone as the only team in the AFC North with a winning record this season.

The day began with the Browns suffering a narrow defeat against the Vikings in London, dropping their record to 1-4. Within the 1 p.m. slot, the Ravens matched the Browns’ fate, succumbing to the Texans at home. Later, the Bengals, who began the season with two victories, fell to 2-3 after losing to the Lions at home during the 4:25 games.

Currently, the Steelers have established a solid lead in the AFC North.\

AFC North Division Standings\

| | Team | Record | Games Behind | Div. Record | Conf. Record |
|—|————-|——–|————–|————-|————–|
| 1 | Steelers | 3-1 | – | 0-0 | 2-0 |
| 2 | Bengals | 2-3 | 1.5 | 1-0 | 2-1 |
| 3 | Ravens | 1-4 | 2.5 | 1-0 | 1-3 |
| 4 | Browns | 1-4 | 2.5 | 0-2 | 0-2 |\

This leads the Steelers to their second consecutive season starting ahead in the AFC North. However, after a promising 10-3 start to last season, they ultimately lost the division to the Ravens, who surged at the end before eliminating Pittsburgh in the AFC Wild Card round. Despite potential challenges, such as the injury-ridden status of the Ravens and Joe Burrow’s injury for the Bengals, the Steelers seem poised to claim their first division title since 2020.

Pittsburgh could further their chances of winning the North in Week 6, as they face the Browns and rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel in his first true road game, followed by a matchup with the Bengals on Thursday Night Football and later a meeting against the Packers in Week 8, where Aaron Rodgers will face his former team for the first time.