Many look at the fact at all four teams in the AFC North currently being over .500 and believe it is the best division in football.
That very well may be true, but all four AFC North teams can thank a very weak out of division schedule that featured the AFC and NFC South, as a major reason why they are all in the position that they are in right row. Of the eight common non-division opponents all AFC North teams have played, or will play the rest of the season, only the Indianapolis Colts boast a winning record.
That especially rings true for the Pittsburgh Steelers, who have used one of the softest non-division schedules in the entire NFL to try and put an end to their two-year playoff drought.
That weak schedule also favors the Steelers down the stretch when compared to their division counterparts.
Thanks to finishing third in the division last season, the Steelers got the third-place schedule, which helped them avoid games against better competition.
To date, the Steelers opponents outside of the AFC North have compiled a 37-72-1 (.336) record. Baltimore’s opponents have a slightly better record 41-68-1 (.372) as do the Bengals 45-64-1 (.409). Only the Browns, whose opponents outside of the division have compiled a 35-74-1 mark, have had an easier go of things than the Steelers.
One game could be the difference between missing or making the playoffs and having the New York Jets on the Steelers schedule instead of both New England and Denver, which the Bengals do, or Miami and San Diego, which the Ravens do, could be the difference between playing an extra January game or two or watching for a third consecutive season.
But the Steelers didn’t take advantage of having a two-win New York team on their slate, which could prove to be big as season’s end nears.
Down the stretch, at least on paper, things should favor the Steelers as well.
The combined record of the Steelers final five opponents is 29-24-2. Three of those games will be played at Heinz Field, where the Steelers are a much better team. Their final two games (Kansas City and Cincinnati) will be against teams also likely fighting for playoff spots so it won’t be easy, but they should have a better time of things than their other division foes.
The Bengals have a tough slate in which their opponents combined record is 31-24 (.564). Three of five are at home, four of five against winning teams. In addition to two games against the Steelers, the Bengals still have to take a trip to Denver.
The Browns also play four winning teams, with three of the final five on the road. The combined record of those teams is 30-24-1. They still have a non-division matchup left with the Colts and Bills and two division games remaining against Baltimore and Cincinnati.
As for the Ravens, Baltimore is the only AFC North team whose remaining opponents are below .500. They still have games against San Diego and Miami that could prove to be tough.
In a very tight AFC playoff race, schedules play a big role in who makes it and who don’t.
The Steelers have had a cake schedule in 2014. Now they just need to capitalize on that soft schedule and take care of business the final five weeks of the season.
What will it take? 10 wins? 11 wins?
The opportunity will be there for the Steelers to do exactly that.
Now they have to not play down to the competition and just take care of what they have remaining.
Photo Credit: USA Today Sports
