Pittsburgh Steelers receive massive disrespect from oddsmakers who are still picking a division rival to win the AFC North
Safe to say that many aren’t buying what the Steelers are selling.
The Pittsburgh Steelers couldn’t have asked for a better bye week. Forget the win and trip to Ireland, with some much-needed rest coming after. But on Sunday, every single division opponent lost. That leaves the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns at 1-4 and the Cincinnati Bengals at 2-3 through five weeks.
Well, the Steelers, who are 3-1 aren’t exactly selling oddsmakers. In fact, FanDuel Sportsbook is giving Pittsburgh +130 odds to win the division, with the Ravens still listed as the odds-on favorite at -105.
That is sure to ruffle some feathers in Pittsburgh.
Sportsbooks not sold on Steelers winning AFC North
Part of me understands where oddsmakers are coming from. Just last year the Steelers were 10-3 and had a shot at the number one overall seed in the AFC, much less winning the division. Then came a historic collapse and Pittsburgh’s first-round exit after the team limped into the Wild Card round.
But 2025 is a new year right? Yes and no. The win over the Minnesota Vikings gives the Steelers a lot to build on. The run game looked the best it had in years and that’s a testament to the play of the offensive line. Aaron Rodgers is the best quarterback the Steelers have had since Ben Roethlisberger.
However, the WR questions have carried over with Calvin Austin III injured, and the defensive communication is still sub-par, and that was before Jalen Ramsey injured his hamstring. The question is, can the Steelers sustain this success?
My answer is yes, but only if. And that only if, would be if they dominate the trenches the way they did against the Vikings. With or without a playmaker at WR No.2, the Steelers can’t ask a 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers to carry them every game. They have to be able to run the ball.
And on the other side, it won’t be every week that you play an offensive line as beat up as the Vikings, but they need that kind of penetration consistently. Especially if the secondary is injured. If they achieve these feats, there is no reason to believe the Steelers don’t leave 2025 as AFC North champions.
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