The AFC North is up for grabs, and it’s coming down to a classic rivalry showdown. When the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens meet this Sunday, it won’t just be about bragging rights-it’s about survival in a division that’s suddenly wide open, and not for the reasons anyone expected.
Heading into Week 14, both teams sit at 6-6. That’s not exactly the kind of record you’d expect from division leaders in December, but here we are.
Every other division in the NFL has at least two teams above .500. The AFC North?
It’s a two-team race between two squads trying to figure out who they are-and maybe more importantly, who they aren’t.
It’s a strange situation. Neither team is playing particularly well, and both are dealing with issues on both sides of the ball.
Pittsburgh’s dropped five of its last seven. Baltimore just got steamrolled by the Bengals on Thursday night, 32-14, in a game that raised more questions than answers about their ability to close out the season strong.
And yet, the path to the playoffs is still there for both. That’s the paradox of the AFC North right now.
As one analyst put it, the strongest case for either team winning the division might just be that the other isn’t very good. It’s a bit tongue-in-cheek, sure, but it highlights the reality: this division is there for the taking, and neither the Steelers nor the Ravens has truly seized the moment.
Let’s talk numbers for a second. Both teams carry a negative point differential into this game, which is never a great sign.
And when you look at the rankings, it gets even murkier-both offenses and defenses are sitting in the bottom third of the league. That’s not just underwhelming, it’s concerning for teams hoping to make a playoff push.
Still, there’s a silver lining for Pittsburgh. Despite their recent struggles, they control their own destiny.
The Steelers still have two games left against the Ravens, including this Sunday’s matchup. That’s huge.
Win both, and they’ve got the inside track to the division title.
The rest of Pittsburgh’s schedule isn’t exactly a gauntlet, either. In between those Ravens games, they’ll face the Dolphins, Lions, and Browns.
Those aren’t easy wins by any stretch, but they’re winnable. The key will be whether Pittsburgh can find some consistency-especially on defense.
Right now, that unit is living and dying by turnovers. When they’re forcing takeaways, they can hang with anyone.
But when they don’t? Things unravel quickly.
Only the Bengals and Commanders have allowed more points on drives that don’t end in a turnover. That’s a stat that should raise eyebrows in Pittsburgh’s film room this week.
As for Baltimore, they’re trying to regroup after that loss to Cincinnati. The Ravens have had flashes of promise this season, but they haven’t been able to sustain momentum. A win over their biggest rival could be the spark they need-or the moment their season slips away.
One thing we do know: barring a tie, someone’s coming out of Sunday’s game with a winning record and a leg up in the AFC North. It’s a pivotal game, not just because of the standings, but because of what it could reveal about these two teams.
Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET on CBS.
Steelers. Ravens.
First place on the line. It doesn’t get much better than that.