In 2025, partially thanks to a weakened AFC North, the Pittsburgh Steelers were able to make the playoffs. However, they didn’t do much once getting there, suffering a brutal loss to Houston at home in the Wild Card round.
This version of the Steelers is going to look different in a lot of ways. Yet, they’re far from the only team in the AFC North that can say that about itself. To ESPN’s Evan Cohen, the Steelers won’t be able to sneak back into the playoffs without a better season in 2026.
“I’m just not sold, that this is all gonna work, unfortunately. Mike McCarthy always brings you double-digit wins, I get it. But that may not even be enough to make the playoffs in that division this year. If you buy into Baltimore, you buy into Cincinnati, you could win 10 games if you’re the Pittsburgh Steelers, and not make the playoffs,” Cohen said Thursday on ESPN’s Unsportsmanlike.
Until Cleveland figures out its quarterback situation, it will likely continue to be left out of these conversations. But Cohen does bring up the Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens, who both have reason for optimism heading into 2026.
Cincinnati remains talented offensively, led by Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. And Cincinnati has made plenty of changes defensively, including swinging a big trade for Dexter Lawrence. There are still questions on that side of the ball, but if those changes pan out the Bengals should be in the hunt for the AFC North title.
Baltimore was a mess to begin 2025 and just couldn’t recover. Although he hasn’t been great against the Steelers, a healthy Lamar Jackson should put the Ravens back into contention. Like Cincinnati, they’ve got their own roster issues, including plenty of starters lost in free agency. But with a new head coach and a healthy quarterback, the Ravens could make a run.
Both those teams potentially have a higher ceiling than the Steelers. However, after winning 10 games last year, the Steelers come into 2026 with a better roster. Aaron Rodgers has a better supporting cast around him, and the Steelers have made a few key additions on defense, like Jaquan Brisker and Jamel Dean.
We’ll have to see how the new coaching staff starts the season, and whether or not the Steelers start slow. On paper, they have the talent to compete. But if the Steelers want to make the playoffs, Cohen thinks they’re going to need more than 10 wins.