The Pittsburgh Steelers will be competing in one of the most tenacious and talented divisions in the entire NFL in 2023. The AFC North features four star-studded teams. The Cincinnati Bengals are favorites to win the division, and rightfully so as they have one of the best receiving cores in the league and Joe Burrow calling the shots. Lamar Jackson finally has a good receiving core surrounding him with the Baltimore Ravens, and if Deshaun Watson can take a step forward with the Cleveland Browns, they will be a force to be reckoned with. The Athletic recently asked all four team's beat writers about the Bengals' chances to win the division for a third year in a row, and who in the division has the best chance to dethrone them.
AP
Cleveland Browns QB Deshaun Watson (left), is tackled by Pittsburgh Steelers DT Cam Heyward during the first half of a game on January 8, 2023.
Steelers Seen As The Team With Best Chances To Dethrone The Bengals
The Bengals have found a lot of success through recent years, even making a Super Bowl appearance during the 2021 NFL season. They have won the AFC North two years in a row, and are the odds-on-favorite to win it again in 2023. As much as Steelers fans don't like to hear this, it is warranted. Burrow is one of the best quarterbacks in the league and will be throwing to one of the best receiving corps in the NFL. However, since the division was formed, no team has been able to win the North three seasons in a row. When writers were asked which AFC North team has the best chances to dethrone the Bengals, Cincinnati's own, Paul Dehner Jr., chose Kenny Pickett and the Steelers.
"My personal splitting of the AFC North title pie would be Bengals at 35 percent, Steelers 25 percent, Ravens 22 percent, Browns 18 percent. I don't know if Kenny Pickett will ever touch the level the other three quarterbacks have in this league, but his potential year two bump, momentum from the end of last season and a quietly impressive offseason of solid additions make me think Pittsburgh has a push in them."
Dehner Jr. addresses the success Steelers GM Omar Khan has had through his first full offseason in his position. Khan has managed to address all glaring weaknesses the Steelers had during the 2022 season. Khan has revamped the inside linebacker room by signing Cole Holcomb and Elandon Roberts, and bolstered the secondary by signing Patrick Peterson as well as drafting Joey Porter Jr. The Pickett-fence has also been improved by signing guard Isaac Seumalo and using the team's top draft pick on Broderick Jones. All of these additions improve on the Steelers' weaknesses, and will make it easier to compete with any team in the AFC North.
Matt Freed / Pittsburgh Post Gazette
Steelers General Manager, Omar Khan speaks to the media.
Other AFC North Writers Glowing Remarks Regarding The Steelers
Despite the animosity that is seen between fans of every AFC North competitor, each team's writers for The Athletic had good things to say about the Steelers and their successful offseason with some even expecting big things from second-year quarterback, Pickett. All writers seem to believe the Steelers have a chance to win the North or make the 2023 playoffs by securing a Wild Card spot. These predictions are all backed by the glowing reports about Pickett and the rest of the young offensive core that came out of OTAs this offseason. Ravens' beat writer, Jeff Zrebiec, had praise for Khan's offseason moves and Pickett.
"I like what the Steelers did this offseason, and the reports on Pickett coming out of Pittsburgh have been glowing."
This was shocking to hear as the Steelers and Ravens have been at each others throats for the past 20 years and are widely considered one of the bigger rivalries in the NFL. The Steelers are 5-1 in the last three seasons against the Ravens, sweeping them in both 2020 and 2021 before splitting the season series in 2022. With both teams making significant additions to their rosters this past offseason, it can be expected to see at least two tight and gritty match-ups between the teams in 2023 that will have a large impact on each teams chances to make the postseason.
Gene J. Puskar / AP
Steelers edge rusher, TJ Watt (#90) chases down Ravens elusive quarterback, Lamar Jackson (#8) during a regular season game in Pittsburgh, PA.
The Browns and Steelers rivalry has seemed to grow ever since the Steelers' unfortunate loss to the Browns during the Wild Card round of the 2020 NFL playoffs. Ever since the Browns signed Watson as their quarterback during the 2022 offseason, it's seemed that the team and their fans have been expecting to be able to make playoff runs and be more competitive with teams in the North such as the Steelers. The Browns' beat writer for The Athletic, Zac Jackson, even chipped in some kind words and stated his expectations for Pittsburgh for the upcoming season.
"I absolutely think the Steelers are a playoff team this year."
All three of the Steelers' AFC North rival's writers showing respect and praise to Pittsburgh reassures Steelers fans of what they have been saying all offseason. We expect Pickett to make a year two jump and the offense to show some more explosiveness, which will ultimately lead to more team success. Maybe even resulting in the Steelers wearing the AFC North crown at the conclusion of the 2023 season.
Where do you think the Steelers will finish in the AFC North, Steeler Nation? Let us know in the comments below!
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