The Pittsburgh Steelers previously ruled the stacked AFC North with a 12-4 record for the 2020 regular season. However, they weren't able to sustain their success as they went through a downward spiral in the postseason when they lost to division rival Cleveland Browns in the Wild Card round.
It will definitely be a tough 2021 season for the Steelers as both the Browns and the Baltimore Ravens are expected to heavily challenge them for the top spot in the division. The Cincinnati Bengals still have a long way to go but they remain to be an upstart team with the looming return of QB1 Joe Burrow on the field.
Among all those teams, the Browns will definitely be the biggest threat to challenge the reign of the Steelers in 2021. Their first campaign under head coach Kevin Stefanski went well last year and they are expected to get even better as a unit in the upcoming season.
Still, the Browns are going to be headed by Baker Mayfield who solidified his case as a legitimate QB1 in the league last season. Playing alongside the starting quarterback are Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry, and Nick Chubb who are expected to put up points and contribute week-in and week-out for the Browns. On the other end of the field, the team also has a capable defensive unit led by Myles Garrett, Jadeveon Clowney, and Denzel Ward.
Not to mention that they also have young studs in Greg Newsome II, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, and the returning Grant Delpit who is poised to make his NFL debut next season. Any team that has a loaded roster that possesses a great level of chemistry is definitely in a good spot to make a strong playoff push in 2021 — not to mention be a threat to the Steelers in the AFC North.
Like the Browns, the Ravens will also cause a ton of problems for the rest of the division. Similar to previous years, star quarterback Lamar Jackson will continue to utilize his two-way style of play in order to lead their fast-paced offensive attack on the field. Additionally, the Ravens' defensive unit should never be taken lightly by anyone else as well.
However, they are expected to lose a step in 2021 as running back J.K. Dobbins recently suffered a season-ending torn ACL injury in preseason proceedings. The Ohio State product is expected to have a breakout sophomore season after he notched 805 rushing yards and nine touchdowns for the Ravens in his rookie campaign last year. Losing a key player like Dobbins will certainly hurt Baltimore's chances and will affect their ability to keep up with the Steelers and the Browns next season.
Despite the tight competition, the Steelers are still in great shape to retain their division title next season. Mike Tomlin and his men are definitely going to make the most out of Ben Roethlisberger's farewell tour and will aim to give him a desirable send-off for his illustrious career. Not to mention that the Steelers' defensive corps are still a nightmare to deal with for many teams in the league.
Though the Browns do have a promising future, they will definitely have to perform at a high level in order to overcome their strong rivals and climb to the top of the division. Ultimately, fans should keep their eye peeled on the AFC North as all four teams will definitely be exciting to watch in the upcoming season.
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