Should the Steelers be worried about the AFC North?

Erik Drost, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Cleveland Browns vs. Pittsburgh Steelers on Nov. 14, 2019. The Browns won 21-7.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are now on a two-game losing streak, but should they be worried about the Browns in the AFC North? The answer is no.

The Steelers can actually clinch the division on Monday against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals, who are struggling without starting quarterback Joe Burrow, are currently 2-10-1. The Steelers just need to focus on Monday night and clinch the title.

The Ravens’ win keeps Baltimore’s playoff hopes alive, but it put a huge dent into the Browns’ hopes of winning the AFC North. The Browns already have three division losses, and the most the Steelers can have is two. The 9-4 Browns still have a chance to clinch the AFC North, but it is very slim. Cleveland would have to win out and be 12-4 and the Steelers to lose the rest of their games to be 11-5.

For as good as the Cleveland Browns are playing, and as bad as the Pittsburgh Steelers are playing, this can very much be possible. The Browns will have to beat the Giants (5-8), Jets (0-13), and Steelers (11-2).

As long as the Pittsburgh Steelers defeat the horrific Bengals on MNF, then they will clinch the title of the AFC North and not have to worry about playing starters throughout the rest of the season.