The Pittsburgh Steelers had about as good a bye week as a team can have. The Browns, Bengals, and Ravens all lost, leaving the Steelers alone at the top of the AFC North after five weeks of football.
Baltimore’s
fate is particularly surprising after it entered the season as one of the favorites to win the Super Bowl. Some of their early struggles have been exacerbated by injuries to key players, and now the Ravens find themselves with a 1-4 overall record.
Despite the Baltimore Ravens’ unexpected slow start, the Steelers aren’t counting them out.
Juan Thornhill is a veteran of the AFC North, having previously played with the Cleveland Browns. When Thornhill spoke to the media on Tuesday, it was clear that he still sees the Ravens as a viable threat in the AFC North.
“I really don’t want anybody to think that the Ravens are done. They aren’t done. I promise you that.” Thornhill said. “I’ve seen them enough, and I have played enough ball to know. They have a lot of guys injured right now and a lot of bad things happening for them, but once they figure it out, I guarantee they are not done. By the time we play them, they will be back to form.”
This message from Thornhill should be echoed throughout the entire locker room. Although the Ravens are not playing well now, they will have a bye week to recover and get healthy after their game against the Rams this weekend. With Lamar Jackson potentially sidelined until after the bye, and the Ravens’ defense among the worst in the NFL this season, it could take a monumental effort for the Ravens to make the playoffs.
With all of the drama surrounding the Ravens, the Steelers continuing to stack wins will only better their chances of reclaiming the AFC North crown for the first time since the 2020 season.
Do you think the Ravens are still a threat to the Steelers in the AFC North? Join the BTSC community and let us know in the comments down below!
