The trade deadline came and went, and the Steelers stayed put.
Pittsburgh didn’t make a move, even though another wide receiver or a cornerback would have made sense. Still, at 6-2 and riding a four-game winning streak into Sunday night’s Week 10 road game against the Cincinnati Bengals, the Steelers remain in solid position. The bigger issue is the same one that’s been hanging over the AFC for weeks now: the gap between the top of the conference and everyone else has widened.
At the front of the pack sit the Buffalo Bills and Jacksonville Jaguars, and both teams only strengthened their grip on that status at the deadline.
Buffalo, already 7-1, sent a 2027 second-rounder and 2027 fifth-rounder to the Tennessee Titans for safety Amani Hooker, who is tied for the league lead in interceptions with five. That move gives the Bills a boost on a defense that has been a weak spot so far this season.
Jacksonville was even more aggressive. The Jaguars sent a 2027 second-rounder and 2028 fifth-rounder to the Atlanta Falcons for Jessie Bates, one of the top safeties in the NFL.
Then they flipped a 2027 first-rounder and 2029 second-rounder to the Philadelphia Eagles for nose tackle Jordan Davis. They also added defensive tackle Davon Godchaux for a conditional 2028 sixth-round pick.
That kind of firepower makes the climb tougher for Pittsburgh. Buffalo’s offense, led by Josh Allen, is setting the pace in the league with 386.4 yards and 32.0 points per game, and the Bills are tied with the San Francisco 49ers for the best record. Now the defense gets stronger too with Hooker in the mix.
Jacksonville looks even more imposing on paper. The Jaguars score the fourth-most points at 28.6 per game and allow the second-fewest at 15.1, and the new additions give them even more difference-makers on defense.
It’s not that Buffalo or Jacksonville can’t be beaten. It’s that doing it just got a lot harder.
Below those two, the AFC has a second tier that includes the Steelers, Bengals, Broncos and Chiefs. Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Denver and Kansas City are all clustered together at 6-2 or better, and there isn’t much separation between them.
If there’s an edge for the Steelers, it starts on defense. Pittsburgh is giving up the seventh-fewest yards per game at 305.6, the fourth-fewest points at 18.0, and it’s tied for fourth in the league with 26 sacks. That unit gives them a real chance against anyone in that group.
The offense is less certain because the Steelers haven’t consistently created explosive plays through the air. Even so, Aaron Rodgers has played well, and help could be on the way soon if Michael Pittman Jr. (foot) and Roman Wilson (finger) return from the reserve/injured list.
Jaylen Warren has also become a major piece of the attack, with 998 scrimmage yards, fifth-most in the NFL. That gives Pittsburgh a path to lean on the run game, control tempo and let its defense do the heavy lifting.
The other teams in that mix all bring their own problems and strengths. Kansas City has Kenneth Walker III, who has been excellent since signing in free agency this past offseason, and Patrick Mahomes still steering the offense while the defense plays at a very high level.
Cincinnati has taken steps forward defensively, but the real threat remains the passing game with Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. The Bengals are tied with Pittsburgh atop the AFC North, so they’ll stay in the Steelers’ orbit all season.
Denver is a different kind of challenge. The Broncos’ defense isn’t as good as it was in 2025, but it remains a tough unit.
Bo Nix and the offense have struggled badly, averaging the fourth-fewest yards per game at 277.3, yet Denver keeps finding ways to win. The Broncos have taken 16 straight one-score games under Sean Payton.
That’s the reality for Pittsburgh now: it’s right in the middle of a crowded race, sitting close to Cincinnati, Denver and Kansas City, with Buffalo and Jacksonville a step ahead. If the Steelers see any of those teams in the playoffs, it figures to be close enough to come down to homefield advantage and a little bit of luck.
Beneath Pittsburgh are the Patriots, Texans, Ravens, Browns and Raiders, teams that are all fighting for the final Wild Card spot. For the Steelers, that group shouldn’t matter much unless they stop taking care of business.
In Other News...
Ravens-Steelers Video Revives Ugly Debate Over Fan Behavior In Front Of A Child
A video from a Steelers-Ravens clash in December 2021 has started making the rounds again, and it is the kind of clip that instantly pulls the conversation away from the field and into the stands. The footage shows a confrontation between a Steelers fan and a Ravens fan, with the Pittsburgh supporters son present as the exchange turned heated after a drink was thrown.
The scene quickly escalated enough for officers to step in and remove the Ravens fan from the venue, but the original spark for the dispute was never reported. Even years later, the clip has revived an ugly familiar debate about where rivalry ends and basic fan behavior begins, especially when a child is caught in the middle. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Hot Start Still Comes With A Few Fears Fans Know Too Well
A 6-2 start and a four-game winning streak have given the Steelers plenty to feel good about, especially with the defense setting the tone and the team staying in the thick of the AFC North race. Even so, the road ahead is lined with the kind of tests that tend to reveal whether a hot start is sustainable, with divisional games, a tougher stretch of opponents and the usual margin-for-error issues that can show up fast in November.
There are also the familiar football problems that can linger beneath a strong record, from third-down execution to red zone finishing and the health of key players. Cincinnati is next on the list, and Joe Burrow has a way of making any AFC North matchup feel more complicated than the standings suggest, which is why Pittsburghs early momentum still comes with a few reminders that the season can turn quickly. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Face A Bengals Showdown That Could Shift Everything
Sunday night brings a rare early-November collision with real division weight, as the Steelers and Bengals both arrive at 6-2 and tied for the AFC North lead. For Pittsburgh, this is the kind of game that can change the feel of a season in a hurry, with first place on the line and the playoff picture already taking shape around a matchup that has the division's full attention.
Cincinnati comes in with stronger postseason odds on paper, but a Steelers victory would tighten the race in a major way and leave the Bengals staring at a more complicated path forward. For Pittsburgh, the stakes are even simpler: win the game, grab the edge in the standings, and turn a crowded division chase into something that looks a lot more favorable heading into the stretch run. [Read more 🡒]