The Pittsburgh Steelers joined the AFC North in 2002 with the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, and Cleveland Browns. The division was pared down to four teams when the AFC Central was dissolved and the Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars were shifted to the AFC South. The reconstituted expansion Cleveland Browns and the original franchise that moved to Baltimore remained with the Steelers and Bengals to keep as many of the traditional rivalries intact as possible.
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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Terrell Suggs.
The Steelers are 86-39-1 since the AFC North was formed and they have won nine division titles out of 21 possible and appeared in the playoffs 14 times, winning two of their three Super Bowl appearances. The Ravens at 71-55 are the next closest team to Pittsburgh with six division titles and 12 playoff appearances. They also are the only other AFC North team to win a championship since the division was formed. The Bengals also have six division titles and nine playoff appearances, but are only 58-68 overall.
The remaining team in the division is the Cleveland Browns who have never won a division title. The Browns have made the playoffs twice in 21 seasons and their only victory was a shocking upset over the Pittsburgh Steelers 48-37 after the 2020 season. The Browns are a woeful 36-58-1 in 21 seasons of AFC North play.
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Steelers TJ Watt and Myles Jack chasing down Ravens QB
Since the AFC North was formed, the division has claimed 10 berths in the AFC Championship game and is 5-5 in those appearances. The Steelers and Ravens are the only two AFC North teams to face each other in the conference championship in 2008. In a rare matchup between the two teams that was not decided by one score or less, the Steelers prevailed 23-14 en route to a Super Bowl victory over the Arizona Cardinals.
The AFC North has appeared in five of a possible 21 Super Bowls since its inception and has won three Lombardi Trophies, two for the Pittsburgh Steelers and one for the Baltimore Ravens. The Steelers lost to the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XLVI and the Bengals fell to the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LVI. The division’s five Super Bowl appearances trail the AFC East and NFC West who have eight each and the AFC West and NFC South with six apiece.
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Bill Belichick and Mike Tomlin shake hands
The New England Patriots are solely responsible for the AFC East appearances and lead the entire NFL with five Super Bowl championships since the NFL went to the current divisional format. The AFC North’s three Lombardi Trophies are good enough for a four-way tie between the AFC West, NFC East, and NFC South. Surprisingly, despite the Hall of Fame runs by Peyton Manning, Brett Favre, and Aaron Rodgers, the NFC North is last in both Super Bowl appearances and titles tied with the AFC South.
Steelers Insider Predicts They Will Sink To Bottom Of AFC North
It is a popular position in some betting circles and for certain prognosticators to pick Pittsburgh to finish last in the division because of the belief that Kenny Pickett is the worst quarterback in a division that includes Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, and Deshaun Watson. The Steelers have had the most division titles, wins, playoff wins, Super Bowl appearances, and Lombardi Trophies since the AFC North was founded and they have never finished last in the division. Pittsburgh has only been under .500 once in 21 seasons against its current divisional opponents.
Matt Freed / Associated Press
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (14) celebrates a touchdown with quarterback Kenny Pickett (8), a fellow rookie, in a 28-14 victory against the Cleveland Browns in Pittsburgh, Jan. 8, 2023.
Nothing lasts forever, but the Steelers have produced 21 seasons worth of reasons that it would be foolish to bet on them doing anything but returning to the playoffs and contending for their 10th division title in 2023. Prognosticators and speculators would do well to remember that before risking reputations or cold hard cash in the fall.
What do you think, Steeler Nation? Are you surprised that with their divisional record that Pittsburgh is being discounted so easily? Please comment below or on my Twitter @thebubbasq.
