Fansided

One thing every NFL team can be thankful for in 2016

By John Buhler

Sep 11, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys guard Zack Martin (70) and center Travis Frederick (72) celebrate with running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) after he scored a touchdown in the third quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 11, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys guard Zack Martin (70) and center Travis Frederick (72) celebrate with running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) after he scored a touchdown in the third quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 20, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Josh McCown (13) is tackled by Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Stephon Tuitt (91) during the fourth quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Steelers won 24-9. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 20, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Josh McCown (13) is tackled by Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Stephon Tuitt (91) during the fourth quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Steelers won 24-9. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports /

Pittsburgh Steelers: The AFC North is awful this year

The Pittsburgh Steelers need to get it together. Congratulations, you beat a winless Cleveland Browns team on the road to get back to .500 at 5-5 and you’re still not even in first place.

That isn’t the end of the world, as somebody is going to have to win the AFC North and it won’t be either Cincinnati or Cleveland. The only two teams that can realistically win the AFC North are Pittsburgh and the Baltimore Ravens. Baltimore may have the head-to-head tiebreaker, but the Steelers are very much in the AFC North mix.

The truth is Pittsburgh has to win the AFC North to reach the 2016 AFC Playoffs. The Broncos, Chiefs and Dolphins are all better football teams than the Steelers with above-.500 records to show for it. Pittsburgh is on par with the 5-5 Bills, who are good but almost out of it entirely.

Both North divisions in the NFL are terrible this year. Pittsburgh has the roster to win their gaggle, but the are Steelers aren’t anywhere close to being buttoned-up as a football team. Thankfully for the Steelers, they play in a putrid North.

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