Steelers seem to have the easier road than the Ravens to winning the North

While the Steelers got their season back on track with a 32-point win Sunday, they also seem to have the inside track to winning the AFC North over their bitter rivals – the Ravens.

The Ravens do have more home games than the Steelers (4-3) over the final six weeks, and of course one of those is the critical game next Sunday night vs the Steelers, but if you look at the teams the two clubs play, the Steelers have the decided edge there.

The Steelers only face two teams (the Ravens and New York Jets) with winning records. Their opponents’ combined record is 23-37. The Ravens’ opponents are 30-30.

The biggest difference between their schedules is the Ravens play at home this week vs the 7-3 Tampa Bay Bucs, who have played well this year, Houston (4-6) and New Orleans (7-3). The Steelers face the Bills this week, they are 2-8, the Jets at home (8-2) and have a Thursday night game vs Carolina (1-9).

So this week, Steeler fans need to root for the Bucs to go to Baltimore and pull the upset, while the Steelers need to take care of business in Buffalo.

Again though, the critical game is next Sunday night vs the Ravens on the road. If the Steelers win there, the road to winning the North and being the #1 or #2 seed in the playoffs in the AFC all lines up.