AFC North standings: Steelers in first place heading into Week 4

The Steelers find themselves headed into a Week 4 that could be in jeopardy on top of the AFC North.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are 3-0 following their win over Houston on Sunday. Next up are the Tennessee Titans, who have fallen victim to a COVID-19 outbreak threatening the game this weekend.

The original plan was to play the game as scheduled. However, recent reports suggest that Pittsburgh will not take the field in Tennessee until Monday or Tuesday night.  ProFootballTalk reported yesterday that the game could be flexed at least a day, potentially giving the Steelers their second Monday Night Football appearance in four weeks.

But, not to bury the lead too much, the Steelers are in exclusive control of first place in the AFC North! How’d they get there?

How Steelers are in first place after three weeks

The Baltimore Ravens laid an egg in their Week 3 showcase matchup: a meeting with the Kansas City Chiefs on MNF. Lamar Jackson disappointed Ravens fans and fantasy owners alike with his 15 completions on 28 attempts, 97 yards, and one touchdown in a 34-20 loss. Baltimore’s crowded backfield wasn’t much better, Jackson was the leading rusher with 83 yards on 9 carries.

Steelers fans will salivate at these words from Mike Preston of the Baltimore Sun:

"These are the kind of losses that scar teams, sometimes for the entire season.The Kansas City Chiefs didn’t just physically beat the Ravens on “Monday Night Football,” but might have damaged their psyche as well. After two straight close losses to the Chiefs in the regular season, the Ravens were blown out by the defending Super Bowl champions."

The Cincinnati Bengals conspired with the Philadelphia Eagles to perpetrate a tie at Lincoln Financial Field, both teams equal at 23 after an overtime period. In a major indictment of the  Eagles’ quarterback, rookie Joe Burrow (31/44, 312 yards, 2 touchdowns) outplayed Carson Wentz (29/47, 225 yards, 1 touchdown, 2 interceptions) despite being sacked an astounding eight times.

Finally, there’s much rejoicing in Cleveland as the Browns are 2-1 and over .500 for the first time since 2014 following a 34-20 win over the Washington Football Team.

Looking at the team stats, I was struck by how even the game was in many facets, and I was wondering how Cleveland could have won by multiple scores. Then I saw it: Washington 5, Cleveland 0 on the turnover front. That’ll do it.

The Steelers take on Tennessee next at a time that seems to still be determined. With another win, they could solidify their first-place status in the AFC North even further. Three games later, Pittsburgh will have an all-important divisional game against the Baltimore Ravens. But for now, here’s to potentially being 4-0 for the first time since 1979.