We're only two games into the season, but the Pittsburgh Steelers don't come close to resembling a playoff-caliber team. Fans expected the defense to be improved in 2025, but they've been exploited in each of their first two games, and against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 2, they were put to shame in all three phases of the game.
But it's nothing compared to what the Cincinnati Bengals are going through.
As the Steelers attempted to hang with the Seahawks, superstar quarterback Joe Burrow went down with an injury after getting tackled and quickly hobbled off the field. It was later diagnosed as a toe issue for Burrow, but the latest diagnosis couldn't be more discouraging for Bengals fans.
On Monday morning, ESPN sources told insider Adam Schefter that Burrow will need toe surgery that will sideline him a minimum of three months.
Even if the star quarterback and former Comeback Player of the Year returns on the short side of this window, he's looking at a return by mid-December... and that's not going to cut it for a Bengals team that had playoff aspirations this year.
Cincinnati just got a sucker punch delivered to their 2025 season hopes. Now their distress becomes the Pittsburgh Steelers' advantage.
The Pittsburgh Steelers' playoff chances just increased with Joe Burrow injury news
Let me say that we never root for anyone to go down with an injury. Hearing the news about Joe Burrow's injury had me sick, and I could feel for Cincinnati Bengals fans. At the same time, we can't help but think about the ripple effect this catastrophic toe injury will have on the AFC North and teams in the AFC playoff race. The Steelers are one of them.
Sitting on a 1-1 record with not much to be optimistic about, the Steelers need to improve. There's not a chance they can scratch and claw their way into the playoffs this year if their defense doesn't get better. But with the Bengals seemingly out of the picture, their path to the postseason just got a whole lot wider.
As far as backups go, Jake Browning has had some respectable moments. But he's not Joe Burrow, and the Bengals' playoff odds just took a nosedive.
The Steelers also have two head-to-head matchups still on the horizon with the Bengals this year. The first will come on October 16 in Cincinnati, and the second will be on November 16 in Pittsburgh. Based on the timetable Schefter gave for Burrow's recovery from toe surgery, the two-time Pro Bowl quarterback won't be playing in either of these games.
The Pittsburgh Steelers still have a significant amount of work to do if they want to prove that they are a serious contender this year. However, the Cincinnati Bengals' struggles could provide the Steelers with a golden opportunity in 2025.