Earlier within the week, our Ross McCorkle took a visit down reminiscence lane and famous the one hundred pc correlation between the Pittsburgh Steelers beginning a season 3-1 and making the playoffs. Each time it’s occurred underneath Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh has punched a ticket to the postseason. Taking that one step additional, what does historical past say if the Steelers start the season 4-1 with a Week 6 win over the Cleveland Browns? Historical past says Pittsburgh will win the AFC North.
Beneath Tomlin, Pittsburgh has began 4-1 5 occasions. And all 5 occasions, the Steelers ended the 12 months with a division title. Right here’s the historical past and outcomes.
12 months
Closing Report
AFC North End
2007
10-6
1st
2008
12-4
1st
2010
12-4
1st
2016
11-5
1st
2020
12-4
1st
Pittsburgh received the division with every kind of information. Ten, 11, and 12 wins. The AFC North standing remained the identical, a crown atop their heads.
Beating Cleveland would give Pittsburgh its first AFC North win of the season. And it might nonetheless solely be Week 6. That’s often too early to begin handing out the T-shirts and hats. The historical past of what occurred final 12 months, a scorching begin, a horrible end that gave away divisional management, can’t be forgotten.
However with a win, Pittsburgh can be arrange exceptionally properly. It’s affordable to imagine the Bengals with out Joe Burrow and the Ravens with all their accidents received’t do higher than break up their subsequent two video games. Even assume the Browns pull off the upset in London and, in fact, lose to the Steelers the next week. Right here’s how the standings would look exiting Week 6.
AFC North Doable Publish-Week 6 Standings
Pittsburgh Steelers: 4-1 (1-0 divisional play)Cincinnati Bengals: 3-3 (1-0 divisional play)Baltimore Ravens: 2-4 (1-0 divisional play)Cleveland Browns: 2-4 (0-3 divisional play)
Definitely, the Bengals and Ravens can be in mathematical play. As would the Browns however at 0-3 within the division, that’s a tough mountain to climb. Even on this situation, the Steelers are nonetheless within the driver’s seat. And if the Bengals lose to the Detroit Lions and Inexperienced Bay Packers, which is what the oddsmakers predict, they’ll drop to 2-4 with the Ravens and Browns.
There’s a variety of season to go. Even with a post-bye win (Mike Tomlin hasn’t misplaced a recreation post-bye since 2016), the Steelers have a variety of work to do. Taking good care of enterprise towards the division will likely be key, and Pittsburgh performs Cincinnati in Week 7 after taking up Cleveland. Nonetheless, historical past is on the Steelers’ facet. The correlation between 4-1 begins and division wins. And Pittsburgh’s basic success towards the division, ending .500 or higher each season since 2010. That’s the NFL’s longest lively streak.
Beating Cleveland isn’t a assure. The 2 sides have break up the season sequence every of the previous three years. But when Pittsburgh comes out on high, it’s one other signal this would be the 12 months the Steelers win their first division crown since 2020. They’d get to host a playoff recreation within the hopes of breaking the franchise’s postseason win drought.
