30 Scenarios in 30 Days: The Pittsburgh Steelers will win the AFC North in 2025
The Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing for the 2025 regular season, but before the real games begin, the team has to head to training camp back at Saint Vincent College in order to fine tune their skills. As we here at SCN prepare you for the start of camp, we give you a series called “30 Scenarios in 30 Days” which gives you a Steelers scenario every day leading up to the start of camp.
It is simple how it works. We provide you the scenario, reasons why it will or won’t happen, and then our prediction for what we think will take place.
Let’s get to the scenario…
Scenario: The Pittsburgh Steelers will win the AFC North in 2025
Why it will happen: The AFC North is one of the best divisions in football, if not the best division in the NFL. You can find the homers of all divisions, like the NFC North, to try and argue their division is better. With all that said, 3 of the 4 teams had a winning record in 2024, with two making the postseason. However, the Steelers, probably more than any other team who calls the AFC North home, play the division extremely well. It doesn’t matter the team or the venue, the Steelers typically end the season with a .500 or better divisional record.
But winning the division is much more than just playing well against those rivals, it’s also winning enough games throughout the rest of the schedule. This year the Steelers have a 2nd place schedule, despite their 10-7 record last year, and that could only help them in many instances. Those “toss up” games are against 2nd place teams, helping them avoid another matchup with teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and the Houston Texans. Instead, they’ll play the Los Angeles Chargers and Indianapolis Colts.
However, we should know nothing is easy when it comes to winning games in the NFL, and the Steelers schedule isn’t a cake walk. For them to win the division, they’ll have to not only play well against division rivals, but also have to win games they should win.
Why it won’t happen: The Steelers 2025 schedule might be a 2nd place schedule, but let’s not pretend it is easy.
The second half of the schedule is brutal, with a significant portions of their divisional games jammed into that time period. It might not be the gauntlet we saw in 2024, but still a difficult task down the stretch. When you consider the Steelers history of not finishing strong, it seems like wishful thinking to believe the team will have enough to win enough games to take the division.
As I said earlier, the Steelers division is difficult, and they all have a tough schedule. It may come down to health, but it seems as if the Steelers are facing an incredible uphill battle to potentially win the AFC North.
Prediction: There are a lot of factors to consider here in this scenario. Division schedule, overall regular season schedule, expectations for the team, and the division as a whole.
When I factor in all of these things, I find it extremely difficult to envision the Steelers winning the division. But that doesn’t mean I think the Steelers will be lousy.
In fact, I believe the team’s floor in 2025 will be 9 wins, but the ceiling will be 12 wins. If the team is able to muster a 12-5 record, they will be right in the thick of the division race. If they are a middle-of-the-road team at 9-8, they’ll be fighting for their playoff lives instead of focusing on hosting a home game in the postseason.
Sadly, I don’t see them winning the division this year.
Miss a scenario? You can see the full list of scenarios below, and be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for training camp.
The Steelers will go above and beyond their win-loss prediction in 2025
The Steelers will throw more INTs than last season
The Steelers will eclipse 50 sacks in 2025
The Steelers Defense Will Have More Takeaways This Season
Aaron Rodgers will start all 17 games in 2025
DK Metcalf Will Have Double-Digit Receiving TDs
T.J. Watt will break the single-season sack record
The Steelers Will Rush For More Than 2000 Yards In 2025
The Steelers will have a Top 5 Rush Defense
Jalen Ramsey will return to the Pro Bowl in 2025
The Steelers will have a winning record in the AFC North
The Steelers will have a kickoff return for a TD in 2025
Pat Freiermuth will lead the Steelers in touchdowns in 2025
The Steelers will have a winning record at home in 2025
Jaylen Warren will lead the Steelers in rushing
The Steelers will have 30 passing TDs in 2025
Alex Highsmith will have double-digit sacks in 2025
The Steelers will have at least one 2025 starter who is not yet on the roster
Cam Heyward will be named All-Pro in 2025
The Steelers will have a winning September in 2025
Patrick Queen will set career highs in sacks and INTs
The Steelers will have a winning December in 2025
T.J Watt will win Defensive Player of the Year in 2025
The Steelers will not play a meaningless regular season game in 2025
Aaron Rodgers will surpass the Steelers 2024 passing statistics
The Steelers defense will keep opponents under 20 points a game
Three scenarios to go… Warren Sharp pegs Week 7 onward for Pgh as ’25 NFL season’s most difficult, highlighted by three rest-disadvantaged games versus the Bills, Ravens, and Lions, two of which are away. That murderous three-game stretch in ’24 did not include rest distadvantage, at least.
Pgh will still be good for 11 regular-season wins, anyway… or maybe six. We’ll see. Those OTs are supporting the Steelers’ world in many ways. Hope that they’re strong like Atlas, but less dumb.
I feel like this was the formula the Steelers were trying for Ben’s last season. Elite defense, strong running game, with a smart veteran at qb. I think they’re set out much better this year than they were in 21. We’ll see. It’s a tough schedule.