Why Steelers could end up coasting to division title  

Tomlin's mindset is the right one for a coach to have, especially one facing pressure to actually advance in the playoffs for the first time in almost a decade. But at the same time, he also knows the division is now the Steelers to lose, which adds even more pressure on the likely future Hall of Fame coach to get the job done this year. 

Going into Week 6, the division standings show the 2-3 Bengals behind the Steelers and then both the Browns and Ravens sharing last place at 1-4. 

According to ESPN, the Steelers now have a 62 percent chance to win the division, a percentage that's a result of everyone else in the AFC North as much as Pittsburgh as a team.  

It's even very possible that figure increases by this time next week. Assuming a Pittsburgh win over Cleveland on Sunday, Baltimore falling into a 1-5 hole against a hungry Los Angeles Rams team who had extra time to prepare as they look to rebound from a tough loss on "Thursday Night Football" and Cincinnati with the freshly acquired Joe Flacco unable to upset Green Bay, the Steelers could have a stranglehold on the division less than halfway through the season.

The head-to-head matchups usually decide who claims the division crown. The Steelers will probably lose one or two of them, if for no other reason than anything can happen in rivalry games. 

But based on what's happened so far, the Steelers may end up winning the AFC North by default. Unless Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow return to their teams and they start making a run fast, there might be nothing the rest of the division can do about it. 

Barring an epic collapse, one that would have to mean Aaron Rodgers falls of that proverbial cliff, their traditional 10-7 record may be all they need to finish above three of the most snake-bitten teams in the NFL this season. 

Of course, the hope for Steeler Nation is that their team wins the division due to their play, not because they're benefiting off the plight of everyone else. Either way, a division title - the Steelers first since 2020 - would better position Rodgers and company to do the unthinkable - win a playoff game.