The Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing for the 2024 regular season, but before the real games begin, the team has to head to training camp back at Saint Vincent College in order to fine tune their skills. As we here at SCN prepare you for the start of camp, we give you a series called “30 Scenarios in 30 Days” which gives you a Steelers scenario every day leading up to the start of camp.

It is simple how it works. We provide you the scenario, reasons why it will or won’t happen, and then our prediction for what we think will take place.

Let’s get to the scenario…

Scenario: The Pittsburgh Steelers will win the AFC North

Why it will happen: There is no better division in football than the AFC North, and you’d have to find the homer of all homers, in another division, to try and argue this simple fact. Last year the AFC North encompassed four teams with winning records, and three of which made the postseason. With all that said, the Steelers, probably more than any other team who calls the AFC North home, play the division extremely well. It doesn’t matter the team or the venue, the Steelers typically end the season with a .500 or better divisional record.

But winning the division is much more than just playing well against those rivals, it’s also winning enough games throughout the rest of the schedule. This year the Steelers have a 3rd place schedule, despite their 10-7 record last year, and that should only help them in many instances. Those “toss up” games are against 3rd place teams, helping them avoid another matchup with teams like the Buffalo Bills and the Houston Texans. Instead, they’ll play the New York Jets and Indianapolis Colts.

However, we should know nothing is easy when it comes to winning games in the NFL, and the Steelers schedule isn’t a cake walk. For them to win the division, they’ll have to not only play well against division rivals, but also have to win games they should win, unlike what they did vs. the Arizona Cardinals and New England Patriots in consecutive weeks in 2023.

Why it won’t happen: The Steelers 2024 schedule might be a 3rd place schedule, but let’s not pretend it is easy.

The last half of the schedule, after their bye week, is absolutely brutal with all six division opponents jammed into that time period. Throw in the distraction of HBO Hard Knocks covering the team in those waning weeks and it seems like wishful thinking to believe the team will have enough to win enough games to take the division.

As I said earlier, the Steelers division is stacked, and they all have a tough schedule. It may come down to health, but it seems as if the Steelers are facing an incredible uphill battle to potentially win the AFC North.

Prediction: There are a lot of factors to consider here in this scenario. Division schedule, overall regular season schedule, expectations for the team, and the division as a whole.

When I factor in all of these things, I find it extremely difficult to envision the Steelers winning the division. But that doesn’t mean I think the Steelers will be lousy.

In fact, I believe the team’s floor in 2024 will be 9 wins, but the ceiling will be 12 wins. If the team is able to muster a 12-5 record, they will be right in the thick of the division race. If they are a middle-of-the-road team at 9-8, they’ll be fighting for their playoff lives instead of focusing on hosting a home game in the postseason.

Sadly, I don’t see them winning the division this year.

Miss a scenario? Check out yesterday’s scenario below, and be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for training camp.

30 Scenarios In 30 Days: The Steelers Will Set A Franchise Record In Punting