The Pittsburgh Steelers rolled into their bye week scorching hot, riding a four-game win streak and sitting pretty atop the AFC North. Most teams lose a little juice during a week off, right? Not these guys. Turns out, the NFL media kept a close eye on the league, and the Steelers actually saw their stock rise in some major power rankings, setting them up for an absolute monster of a game this weekend.
Bye Week Buzz: Steelers Climbed Without Playing
It’s wild, but even with no game, the Steelers gained ground. FOX Sports bumped them from No. 13 to No. 12, with Ralph Vacchiano even saying they “probably deserved to move up more.” Their ancient QB, Aaron Rodgers, is apparently still drawing respect, even with a huge test against Joe Burrow and the high-flying Bengals looming. FOX thinks the Steelers will need to win a high-scoring game. The Athletic, however, dropped Pittsburgh one spot to No. 13, despite acknowledging their “surging defense” inspiring hope for the second half of the season.
But some outlets were all in on the Steelers. CBS Sports launched them from No. 10 to No. 9, highlighting their upcoming “big game for the division lead against the Bengals,” even if their defense will be challenged. Pro Football Talk was even bolder, moving them from No. 8 to No. 7, straight up calling a “sweep of the Bengals… critical to winning the division.” NFL.com and Yahoo! Sports both kept Pittsburgh at No. 12 and No. 13 respectively, but the sentiment was clear: these Steelers, who “dominated the Browns to take control of the AFC North” before their bye, are a force.
Rematch for the Division: Bengals Have No Excuse
Here’s the real talk: the stakes for Sunday night’s game are through the roof. The Steelers are headed to Cincinnati for a prime-time showdown against the 6-2 Bengals. And check this out, Yahoo! Sports dropped a huge nugget: the Steelers have a “big rest edge.” They’re fresh off a bye, while the Bengals are coming home right after playing a game in Spain. That is a brutal turnaround, no excuses for Cincinnati.
This isn’t just some regular season game. A win here means the Steelers will “clinch the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Bengals because of a season sweep.” Remember their first meeting? Pittsburgh took it 30-27, outgaining the Bengals 411-352. Yeah, Joe Burrow threw for 282 yards and three touchdowns, but Rodgers answered with 292 passing yards and Jaylen Warren absolutely gashed them for 127 rushing yards. Plus, the Steelers capitalized on a muffed punt and a huge roughing the punter penalty. You know the Bengals remember that.
So, the stage is set. This Sunday night, it’s not just a game, it’s *the* game for the AFC North. Can Rodgers keep pace with Burrow? Can that Steelers defense step up? This rematch is going to tell us everything about who runs that division. Get ready for some fireworks!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Behind the Steel Curtain.
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