Category: AFC NORTH

Steelers fans react to Ravens taking AFC North divisional title

Steelers fans respond as the Baltimore Ravens clinch the AFC North title, overtaking Pittsburgh after a late-season collapse.

Although fans of the Black and Gold were prepared for the Baltimore Ravens to defeat the Cleveland Browns—and ultimately claim the AFC North crown—it didn’t make the outcome any easier to accept.

From the Pittsburgh Steelers holding a two-game lead in the AFC North to losing three straight games in Weeks 15–17, disappointment hangs heavy in the Steel City. The three-game losing streak—including a loss to the Ravens—allowed Baltimore to overtake the Steelers in the divisional title race.

Heading into Week 18, the Steelers’ only hope of finishing atop the AFC North rested on the Bailey Zappe-led Cleveland Browns pulling off an upset against Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens.

However, reality quickly set in as Zappe threw a pick-six to Ravens cornerback Nate Wiggins early in the contest.

The Browns fought back to close the gap but ultimately fell to the Ravens, 35–10—spelling disaster for the Steelers’ divisional title hopes.

Here are some of the most passionate Steelers fan reactions to the Week 18 contest between the Browns and Ravens.

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Steelers need a Browns-sized miracle to secure AFC North divisional title

The Steelers’ path to the AFC North crown depends on help from an unlikely ally in Week 18. Can the Browns deliver?

In moments of desperation in the AFC North, no one can argue that ‘the enemy of my enemy is my friend’ holds true. When it comes to the bitter rivalry between the Steelers and Browns, these moments are incredibly rare, but the Black and Gold may need an assist from Cleveland in Week 18.

After the Steelers dropped to 10-6 on the season and the Ravens improved to 11-5 on Christmas Day, Pittsburgh’s last hope for the divisional crown now rests with the Browns.

If the Browns can defeat the Ravens next week and the Steelers secure a victory against the Bengals, the Steelers will be crowned AFC North champions in 2024.

Steelers fans may recall a similar situation from the 2018 season when the Browns were once again tasked with saving Pittsburgh’s postseason and divisional aspirations. Rookie Baker Mayfield was challenged with taking down rookie Lamar Jackson, but Cleveland ultimately fell short in a defeat to Baltimore.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are hopeful that the outcome between the two AFC North divisional rivals will be different in 2024, but as it stands right now, a wild card spot seems more likely for the Black and Gold.

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Three ways the Steelers can secure the 2024 AFC North title

The Pittsburgh Steelers need any of these three scenarios to fall in their favor in order to be crowned the 2024 AFC North champions.

There is a plethora of reasons for concern with the Steelers seemingly on the verge of losing out on the opportunity to become 2024 AFC North champions.  However, there are three scenarios in which the Pittsburgh Steelers can secure the divisional title over the Baltimore Ravens.

Steelers win out vs Chiefs and Bengals

The Steelers can still control their own destiny by coming out victorious in Weeks 17 and 18. While difficult, if the Steelers defeat the Chiefs and Bengals, the Ravens will lose any opportunity to win the divisional title.

Ravens lose out vs Texans and Browns

Although incredibly unlikely, the Steelers could technically secure the AFC North crown—regardless of their performance in Weeks 17 and 18—if the Baltimore Ravens lose to both the Texans and Browns to conclude their season.

Steelers beat Bengals and Ravens lose to Browns

If the number one seeded Kansas City Chiefs defeat the Steelers, and the Ravens beat the Texans in Week 17, all hope is not lost!  The Cleveland Browns can provide the assist in defeating Baltimore, as long as the Black and Gold can defeat the Bengals in Week 18.

There are a variety of scenarios in which the Steelers can earn the right to call themselves ‘Kings of the North’, but only if the team can pull itself together after dropping two straight losses.

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Steelers take control of AFC North after busy Week 13

The Steelers have a comfortable lead over the Ravens in the AFC North.

The AFC North has become a conference of the haves and the have-nots. Week 13 was a wild one for the North with one team winning and two others losing with one left to play.

Thanks to the Pittsburgh Steelers huge win over the Cincinnati Bengals paired up with the Baltimore Ravens loss to the Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh has a comfortable lead over the Ravens in the AFC North. Nevertheless, with five games left to play, anything can happen and it’s definitely a two-horse race and it makes that Week 16 rematch in Pittsburgh weighty in the AFC playoff picture.

Steelers 9-3

Ravens 8-5

Bengals 4-8

Browns 3-8

Next week the Ravens are on their bye before the final stretch. The Steelers come back home for a rematch against the Cleveland Browns who upset the Steelers two weeks ago.

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Mike Tomlin creates new AFC North competition via Hard Knocks demands

Mike Tomlin aims for the Steelers to outshine their AFC North rivals in handling the distractions brought by Hard Knocks: In Season.

The AFC North is no stranger to intense and competitive matchups for divisional supremacy. However, it appears Head Coach Mike Tomlin is looking to introduce another competitive aspect to the division.

Tomlin wants his team to handle the distractions brought by the new Hard Knocks: In Season with the AFC North better than their three divisional rivals.

During Tuesday’s press conference, ESPN reporter Brooke Pryor noted that Tomlin views this opportunity, like many others, as a chance to push his team to conquer the challenges that being featured on Hard Knocks would bring.

In what will be the first-ever feature of an entire division, Hard Knocks: In Season with the AFC North will debut on December 3rd at 9:00 PM EST. In the meantime, the Pittsburgh Steelers are gearing up for Week 13 to take on a formidable divisional opponent, the Cincinnati Bengals.

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Ravens kicker blames Week 11 field conditions for missed field goals

Justin Tucker says the field surface in Pittsburgh “wasn’t ideal” after missing two field goals in Week 11, while Chris Boswell was perfect.

Sorry, Justin Tucker: no one is buying the excuses you’re trying not to make for your lackluster Week 11 performance. For fans unaware of the recent developments behind Tucker’s post-game comments, the Ravens kicker initially accepted fault for his two missed field goals during the contest but ultimately pointed to poor field conditions in Pittsburgh as a contributing factor.

When asked if the field conditions at Acrisure Stadium directly contributed to his two missed field goals, Tucker tried to avoid deflecting blame, but ended up doing just that: “I wouldn’t say the surface was an issue, but it wasn’t ideal.” He doubled down on the less-than-ideal field claims, adding, “Throughout the course of the game, the most action takes place between the hashes, and it naturally just gets chewed up.”

While some speculated that the field conditions could have been affected by the Panthers-Clemson CFB game on Saturday, Steelers kicker Chris Boswell had no issues. Boswell made all six of his field goal attempts in Week 11, including an impressive 57-yard bomb.

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Is Lamar Jackson’s Kryptonite the Pittsburgh Steelers?

Lamar Jackson has struggled mightily against the Steelers, with seven INTs and just one win since 2019. Will Week 11 be any different?

Make no mistake, Pittsburgh Steelers fans: Ravens QB Lamar Jackson is one of the most talented players this league has ever seen. However, much to the dismay of Baltimore fans, Jackson seems to struggle heavily against the Steel City.

In his four starts against the Black and Gold, the Steelers have come out victorious three times. For fans curious about the last time Jackson pulled off a win against the Steelers, they would need to look all the way back to the 2019 season.

Throughout those four contests, the two-time MVP has looked awful, to say the least. Jackson has thrown for four touchdowns, seven interceptions, and an abysmal average passer rating of 66.8.

Failing to throw more TDs than INTs in any of the four contests, and throwing at least one INT in every start he has made against the Steelers, it isn’t a stretch to assume he’ll struggle once again in Week 11 when the Baltimore Ravens visit Pittsburgh on November 17 at 1:00 PM EST.

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Sorry, Baltimore: Steelers know exactly how to stop Derrick Henry

Pittsburgh has consistently contained Derrick Henry, with wins over him in 2017, 2020, and 2023—a testament to their resilience.

King Henry may rule in Baltimore, but he has bowed several times to the impressive display of determination and resilience that the Steel City represents. The Pittsburgh Steelers have faced a Derrick Henry-led offense three times during his career—in 2017, 2020, and 2023—and emerged victorious each time.

In 2017, the Pittsburgh defense limited Henry to 32 rushing yards on 7 attempts. In 2020—a season many consider one of the greatest by a running back, with Henry averaging 5.4 yards per carry on 378 attempts, rushing for 2,027 yards, and scoring 17 rushing touchdowns—the Steelers once again tamed the king in their Week 7 matchup with the Titans, holding him to just 75 yards on 20 attempts. When the teams met again in 2023, Pittsburgh held Henry to the same 75 rushing yards.

The Baltimore-based king is one of the greatest running backs of his era, but his lack of production speaks volumes about HC Mike Tomlin’s ability to scheme effectively and prevent him from taking over the game. While Henry is an elite player in the NFL, make no mistake: just like the Baltimore Ravens over the past few seasons, Pittsburgh will have his number once again in Week 11.

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Mike Tomlin on the villainous Week 11 matchup with Baltimore

In the Steelers-Ravens rivalry, ‘villains’ like Patrick Queen and Arthur Maulet are set to add fuel to the fire in Week 11.

There is no love lost between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens. Within an AFC North rivalry that burns so intensely hot it could mimic the sun, there are bound to be players deemed ‘villains’ by opposing sides.

During the Monday press conference, Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin highlighted former Steelers CB Arthur Maulet, now in Baltimore, and former Raven, current Steelers LB Patrick Queen, as two players who have crossed over to the other side of this heated rivalry.

Early in the 2024 offseason, Queen further stoked the flames, declaring, ‘I wanna be that villain; I wanna be that guy.’ When asked about Queen’s potential to embrace this ‘villainous’ role against his former team in Week 11, Tomlin responded emphatically, noting that while Queen will have his opportunity, he won’t be the only one: ‘There’s a lot of villains on both sides of this rivalry.’

With both teams hosting a variety of potential villains, including Queen, Maulet, and newly acquired Ravens WR Diontae Johnson, this matchup’s bad blood will be on full display in Week 11 on November 17th, at 1:00 PM EST.

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Should Pittsburgh be worried about Baltimore?

With the Ravens looming in the AFC North race, should the Steelers be worried about Baltimore’s surging challenge for division supremacy?

While competition breeds excellence, the Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves on the verge of a potential upset in the AFC North divisional race against the intimidating Baltimore Ravens.

This storied rivalry between Pittsburgh and Baltimore has recently favored the Steel City, with the Steelers winning five of the past six meetings between the two teams.

The Ravens are only half a game behind the Steelers in the divisional race, and are set to lock horns with them in Week 11, with AFC North title implications on the line.

The Steelers face a tough road ahead, as their remaining opponents’ records from Weeks 11 to 18 combine for 38 wins and 32 losses. Securing victories against tough opponents—such as the Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles, and the underrated Cincinnati Bengals (twice)—will be pivotal in maintaining their lead over the Ravens.

Pittsburgh typically dominates AFC North matchups, but is this 2024 Ravens team the best they’ve faced yet? Only time will tell. First, the Steelers must focus on their Week 10 matchup against the Washington Commanders on November 10 at 1:00 PM EST.

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