Are the Steelers the top team in the AFCN?

[TimmayLake]

Ravens look like they may be the best in the AFC, maybe the NFL.

[SteelerDayTrader]

Ravens

Until further notice

QB whisperer Tomlin often has their number though

[punum123]

Ravens offense best - not sure about their D.

[Pabst]

So long as they're not playing juggernauts like Cleveland or Vegas, yes.

[Stlcrtn1974]

So long as they're not playing juggernauts like Cleveland or Vegas, yes.

Beat me to it.

[TimmayLake]

Both the Ravens and Bengals put up 41 points yesterday. Both teams can score big.

Russ will need to keep slinging it. We can't win games scoring 20 any more.

[Jizz Mop]

Team Jizz says Ravens are top dawg in da Norff

[lifelongsteel]

The less you see Lamar, the more he gets you. So, the Ravens destroy NFC teams. Are good against AFC South, West, Central teams. They underperform against the North. Lost to the Browns and should have lost to the Bengals already.

They are likely the best team in the AFC. But not necessarily the best bet for their own division. Weird how that works.

[CKSteeler]

Ravens aren't beating the Chiefs in a game that matters.

I don't think the Steelers are beating the Chiefs in a game that matters.

[Pabst]

Something to keep an eye on - Baltimore has been the NFL's healthiest team this year.

For some context: Baltimore's 22 Opening Day Starters have missed a combined total of 6 games this season. The Steelers' interior OL alone has missed 10.

[bradshaw2ben]

The less you see Lamar, the more he gets you. So, the Ravens destroy NFC teams. Are good against AFC South, West, Central teams. They underperform against the North. Lost to the Browns and should have lost to the Bengals already.

They are likely the best team in the AFC. But not necessarily the best bet for their own division. Weird how that works.

Steelers are the opposite... for years.

[CKSteeler]

The less you see Lamar, the more he gets you. So, the Ravens destroy NFC teams. Are good against AFC South, West, Central teams. They underperform against the North. Lost to the Browns and should have lost to the Bengals already.

They are likely the best team in the AFC. But not necessarily the best bet for their own division. Weird how that works.

Steelers are the opposite... for years.

Because Mike Tomlin is a lazy thinker.

[TimmayLake]

Ravens are still the tops. Lamar is going to with the MVP.

[Texas Black & Gold]

Yes.

[VeritasSteel]

Ravens have the best offense in football. But they are not the best team in the AFCN. Their defense is struggling mightily and allowing teams to do whatever the fuck they want.

I know that Chase is awesome but that defense made him look like Megatron or Moss vs the Cowboys. Ravens aren’t scaring teams that can run the ball.

[steelmann58]

We know soon

[Deebo]

We'll find out next week

[TimmayLake]

Ravens have the best offense in football. But they are not the best team in the AFCN. Their defense is struggling mightily and allowing teams to do whatever the fuck they want.

I know that Chase is awesome but that defense made him look like Megatron or Moss vs the Cowboys. Ravens aren’t scaring teams that can run the ball.

I expect a shootout next week. I think the Steelers will need to score 35+ to win.

[swissvale72]

Ravens have the best offense in football. But they are not the best team in the AFCN. Their defense is struggling mightily and allowing teams to do whatever the fuck they want.

I know that Chase is awesome but that defense made him look like Megatron or Moss vs the Cowboys. Ravens aren’t scaring teams that can run the ball.

I expect a shootout next week. I think the Steelers will need to score 35+ to win.

I'm thinking we get the typical Steelers-ravens 19-16

[TimmayLake]

Ravens have the best offense in football. But they are not the best team in the AFCN. Their defense is struggling mightily and allowing teams to do whatever the fuck they want.

I know that Chase is awesome but that defense made him look like Megatron or Moss vs the Cowboys. Ravens aren’t scaring teams that can run the ball.

I expect a shootout next week. I think the Steelers will need to score 35+ to win.

I'm thinking we get the typical Steelers-ravens 19-16

These are 2 different team now. Ravens offense is the best in the NFL but their defense is not great. We, for what seems like the first time in 5 years, have a QB capable of throwing more than 5 yards beyond the line of scrimmage, but our defense is not exactly the Steel Curtain. All signs point to this being a high scoring game and not a battle of attrition 9-6 type classic.

[Louis Lipps Service]

I expect a shootout next week. I think the Steelers will need to score 35+ to win.

I'm thinking we get the typical Steelers-ravens 19-16

These are 2 different team now. Ravens offense is the best in the NFL but their defense is not great. We, for what seems like the first time in 5 years, have a QB capable of throwing more than 5 yards beyond the line of scrimmage, but our defense is not exactly the Steel Curtain. All signs point to this being a high scoring game and not a battle of attrition 9-6 type classic.

To be fair, no defense is the Steel Curtain anymore. Those defenses just don't exist anymore. Even the best defenses have a high probability of getting torched by one of the good offenses in the league on any given week. Offenses have just become too good for defenses to be able to shut down week after week.

That said, I think our defense is better than people think.

2nd in the NFL in points allowed
6th in yards allowed
T-2nd in turnovers

Sure we've beat up on some less than stellar teams to start the season, but what about Washington?

Washington was averaging 392 yards per game before yesterday's game.

We held them to 242 yards.

Yes, they scored 28 points. But we also gifted them one of those TDs after the special teams dropped a gimme pass. Take away that TD and we keep them WELL under their average of 29 points per game.

All without even getting a defensive turnover, which is something we've excelled at all season.

There are definitely going to be games in the back half of our schedule where we're going to get burned, for sure. We play too many really good offenses for it not to happen.

But I honestly do think this might be the best defense we've fielded since Deebo and Troy where patrolling the gridiron on Sundays.

[Mick]

To the original topic, we are not the top team in the afcn so long as we are ending up home underdogs against a division rival.

Even if we win, i would guess if they played the game over again the next week we would still be underdogs. I’m optimistic but we aren’t there yet.

[VeritasSteel]

Ravens have the best offense in football. But they are not the best team in the AFCN. Their defense is struggling mightily and allowing teams to do whatever the fuck they want.

I know that Chase is awesome but that defense made him look like Megatron or Moss vs the Cowboys. Ravens aren’t scaring teams that can run the ball.

I expect a shootout next week. I think the Steelers will need to score 35+ to win.

We aren’t trying to get into a shooting match here. The game plan is to limit Jackson’s chances by putting long drives together. A 15 play 7:00 drive in the second half that ends in TD- then it’s a 24 or 28 point game.