Pittsburgh Steelers Have Uphill Battle Early In North Standings
Sep 11, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens linebacker Courtney Upshaw (91) is called for roughing the passer on Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) in the first quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports
The Pittsburgh Steelers showed glimpses of their old selves from early in the 2013 season when they faced off against the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday evening. The poor execution and miscues on both sides of the ball paved way for a 26-6 trouncing. There was very little to feel good about, and it’s even worse when looking at the rest of the outcomes in the AFC North.
The loss puts the Steelers at 1-1 overall and 1-1 within the division. They had a chance to become 2-0 overall and within the division as well as put the Ravens down to an 0-2 record overall and within the division – quite the hole to climb out of. Alas, that did not happen. The divisional record will be key this season if the Steelers want to have any chance at making the playoffs. They went 4-2 and just missed. They will need a repeat of that record, meaning they will need to defeat the Ravens to split the series and then at least split the series with the Bengals. At this point, however, I’m not even sure the Steelers can take one more from the Browns.
The Bengals handled the Atlanta Falcons and made an explosive offense and Matt Ryan from Week 1 look very average. The Bengals defeated the Falcons 24-10, and held the Falcons to only three points until the fourth quarter. That win puts them at 2-0 and leading the overall record of AFC North. The Browns also won a shocker against the New Orleans Saints when Billy Cundiff knocked one through the uprights with time expiring in regulation. Was it a huge collapse of the Saints that afternoon, or are the Browns turning a corner? Either way, by knocking off the Saints, they’ve made the AFC North battle a little more interesting – both from the standpoint of being 1-1 and that they beat a significant opponent out of the NFC South.
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