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By James Brizuela
Contributing Writer
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The Pittsburgh Steelers currently have a quiet dominance in 2025. The team is currently 4-1 on the season, and things appear to be moving right along. However, they have an important AFC North divisional game ahead.
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Pittsburgh will face off against the Cincinnati Bengals, who are a much worse team on paper. But divisional matchups can often be very unpredictable, and Joe Flacco showed that he can lead the team following his first performance in Week 6.
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Regardless, the Steelers could take a commanding lead in the AFC North with a win and do something that has not been done in over 20 years in the NFL.
According to NFL analyst Cameron Wolfe, "If Steelers beat Bengals tonight, they’ll have a 3 1/2 game lead on rest of AFC North. That’d make the widest AFC North lead in Week 8 or earlier since 2002 NFL expansion/realignment."
The Steelers can take a three-and-a-half game lead in the AFC North with a win against the Bengals, which will start to set them up nicely for the divisional crown. The issue is that Pittsburgh has a tough schedule ahead, and a win against Cincinnati is needed for that reason.
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Following the Bengals showdown, the Steelers will face the Green Bay Packers in Week 8, the Indianapolis Colts in Week 9, and the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 10. All three are would-be playoff contenders, and all three post some serious issues for most teams.
Should the Steelers beat the Bengals and go 5-1, they would be in a good spot if they can take down one of their next three opponents, or even two. One win over the next few weeks would set the team at 6-3, two would set them at 7-2, and they could be 8-1 with wins against all four of their next opponents.
With the trade deadline fast approaching, there is a strong chance the Steelers could be way ahead in the AFC North and AFC, and look to bolster their roster for their playoff push. Following the Colts showdown in Week 9, the trade deadline ends two days later on Nov. 4.
If the Steelers can be 7-1 or 6-2 by that time, a wide receiver upgrade could help propel them to the next level. That, and they can evaluate their roster to see if there are other glaring holes that have led to multiple losses in a row.
The Steelers have been a surprise in the AFC, along with Aaron Rodgers playing a wonderful season thus far. Though they have a tough schedule ahead, a commanding lead in the AFC North could prove the team is ready to give Rodgers his ride off into the sunset season.
For more on the Steelers, head to Newsweek Sports.
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