In 2025, partially thanks to a weakened AFC North, the Pittsburgh Steelers were able to make the playoffs. However, they didn\u2019t do much once getting there, suffering a brutal loss to Houston at home in the Wild Card round.<\/p>\n
This version of the Steelers is going to look different in a lot of ways. Yet, they\u2019re far from the only team in the AFC North that can say that about itself. To ESPN\u2019s Evan Cohen, the Steelers won\u2019t be able to sneak back into the playoffs without a better season in 2026.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m 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\u2019re the Pittsburgh Steelers, and not make the playoffs,\u201d Cohen said Thursday on ESPN\u2019s Unsportsmanlike<\/a>.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Cincinnati remains talented offensively, led by Joe Burrow, Ja\u2019Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. And Cincinnati has made plenty of changes defensively, including swinging a big trade for Dexter Lawrence<\/a>. 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.<\/p>\n Baltimore was a mess to begin 2025 and just couldn\u2019t recover. Although he hasn\u2019t been great against the Steelers, a healthy Lamar Jackson should put the Ravens back into contention. Like Cincinnati, they\u2019ve 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.<\/p>\n