Ahead of the 2024 season, ESPN’s Football Power Index gave the Baltimore Ravens a 46.4% chance, the best in their division, to win the competitive AFC North.
After a 6-2 start, however, the Pittsburgh Steelers (who were given a mere 8.1% chance to win the division) look primed to contest Baltimore and provide a photo finish for the divisional crown.
Let’s take a look at how each of the teams can win the AFC North.
Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2)
The Steelers were aggressive at the trade deadline, shipping a 2025 fifth-round pick to the Jets for WR Mike Williams and a 2025 seventh-round pick to the Packers for DE Preston Smith.
The addition of Williams provides Pittsburgh with a true No. 2 option behind WR George Pickens for QB Russell Wilson, while Smith will help complement a stacked front-seven headlined by LB T.J. Watt and DT Cameron Heyward.
Loading up on reinforcements was a necessity for Pittsburgh as it enters a tough stretch of games to conclude the season.
Of their nine remaining games, six are divisional matchups against Baltimore, Cincinnati and Cleveland — one home and one away per team. The Steelers’ three non-divisional games are at the Washington Commanders (7-2) and Philadelphia Eagles (6-2) and a home game against the Kansas City Chiefs (8-0) on Christmas.
