Paul Zeise: The AFC suddenly seems in play for the Steelers

Paul Zeise, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Oct 2, 2025

Published in Football

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PITTSBURGH — It is amazing how much things can change in the NFL thanks to parity, injuries and unexpected performances. Every week there is a complete overreaction to whatever happens, and every week there is another team declared dead or championship-caliber based on one game.

The Steelers looked awfully good Sunday against the Vikings, as they seemed to solve some of the issues that had plagued them the first three games. They ran the football well, they stopped the Vikings from running the ball, and the connection of Aaron Rodgers to DK Metcalf looks like it could become something pretty special.

I don't know how good the Vikings really are, and my gut tells me with Carson Wentz/J.J. McCarthy as their quarterbacks, they will struggle to make the playoffs. But they were coming off an impressive win the week before over the Bengals. And a lot of people looked at that performance and that of the Steelers against the Patriots and said, basically, the Steelers would get crushed.

It didn't happen that way, and I suppose that is what makes the NFL fun. But in reality, the Vikings beat up a Bengals team that had its best player — Joe Burrow — sitting on the sidelines, and we have seen the last two weeks how bad that team really is without him to carry it.

That's why I don't want to jump to too many conclusions after one good win by the Steelers, but there are a lot of factors that make me believe it isn't a stretch to suggest that the road to the AFC title for them looks a lot more realistic than it did one or two weeks ago. The only words of caution I would use is that things could change for the Steelers as quickly as it has for some of these other teams.

But it isn't really just about the Steelers. Let's look at the other teams that were/are standing in their way:

— The Chiefs were impressive in beating up Baltimore, but they have lost twice, looked vulnerable for most of this short season, and I am not sure the Ravens are the same team we thought they were. The Chiefs still lack offensive firepower, and while Patrick Mahomes is magical, he is almost a one-man offense. And teams built like that are almost never destined for great things.

— The aforementioned Ravens are supposed to be one of the best teams in the NFL, but they already have three losses. Lamar Jackson is hurt, and they have had to fight through myriad injuries on both sides of the ball. They will get Jackson back in a few weeks, but with that defense and if Cooper Rush is at quarterback, I could see them losing two or three straight to fall way behind in the race.

— The Bengals lost Burrow and now look like candidates to have a top-five draft pick.

— The Chargers were the flavor of the month after starting 3-0, but their offensive line is devastated by injuries and they just lost to an awful Giants team.

— Houston was supposed to be the young team that takes the next step, but the Texans have been incredibly average. And both Jacksonville and Indianapolis are flawed teams that will likely come back to earth soon.

— I suppose the Bills are still the Bills, but their offensive line has been suspect and they are one big hit on Josh Allen (who has gotten hit too much) away from being a team that struggles to make the playoffs.

— The Broncos might be better than their record, but I don't think it is an impossible task for the Steelers to beat a team led by Bo Nix.

Again, a lot can change and I am sure we can revisit this idea in five or six weeks. But from where I sit right now, there is no reason to believe the Steelers can't compete in the AFC for a conference championship. The teams that were supposed to be in their way look very vulnerable, and the teams that were supposed to be up and coming don't look like they are ready, either.

The Steelers played really well Sunday, and maybe there is a case to be made that they lost the only game they played against a playoff team (Seattle), but they can't control who they play; they can only control how they play. And suddenly their schedule looks a lot easier than it once did, and their path looks a lot clearer.

Things could change, of course, and a couple of key injuries could go against them. But injuries are always a part of it and are not controllable. I just know I watched a lot of football this weekend, and there aren't any teams in the AFC the Steelers can't beat in a playoff situation.

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