AFC North round-up: Baltimore Ravens have uneven start to 2020
Pittsburgh Steelers:
September record: 3-0
AFC North record: 0-0
Player of the month: Ben Roethlisberger – 73/109 COMP/ATT, 777-yards, seven touchdowns, one interception
The Pittsburgh Steelers got shorted a game this past weekend because of a COVID-19 outbreak from the Tennessee Titans, but we’re just focusing on the month of September… and during September the Steelers went undefeated and currently sit in first-place AFC North. Not bad for a team that was practically unwatchable in 2019.
It all starts on offense, where future Hall of Fame quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has had a renaissance to his career. Roethlisberger had a major injury to his throwing arm in 2019 that had many, including myself, wondering if he could possibly return to even half of what he was. Thus far, things look pretty good. The offense is explosive and the weapons at Big Ben’s disposal have played well.
The defense remains an outstanding unit behind the continually elite play of T.J. Watt. Watt is leading what is arguably the best front-seven in football. The backend of the defense hasn’t lived up to his potential with some serious regression from both Joe Haden and Steven Nelson especially. This could be a problem moving forward.
The Steelers have also yet to play a quality football team. Prior to week four, Pittsburgh’s opponents, the New York Giants, Denver Broncos, and Houston Texans, were winless in September. That they haven’t beaten any of their opponents thoroughly is noteworthy, especially if we want to crucify the Baltimore Ravens for the same reason.
Next. Baltimore Ravens back into top-5 of latest Ebony Bird power rankings. dark
At the end of the day, right now the Pittsburgh Steelers are in first place in the AFC North. The Steelers do have a couple of quality teams on their schedule coming up between the Cleveland Browns and Tennessee Titans, so we should find out if they’re contenders or pretenders here very soon.