If you ask anyone, even Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, where the most important games reside on the regular season schedule, the answer is always similar.

No, it isn’t the amount of prime time games, the bye week, or even if they have to play on a short week. Instead, it all surrounds one thing: Divisional games.

While fans love to pour over the schedule to make predictions, it all comes down to how your favorite team performs vs. their division opponents. And when you’re talking about difficult divisions in the NFL, none are more difficult as the AFC North.

A few weeks ago on my “Let’s Ride” podcast I had FFSN representatives from both the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on my show to talk about the respective offseasons and expectations for the 2023 season. It doesn’t take a genius to know I didn’t have a Baltimore Ravens representative on the show.

Well, that changed when I had Brandon and Josh from the Caw Podcast on my podcast Friday to talk all things Steelers vs. Ravens heading into the 2023 regular season.

We talked at length about the fan reaction to Lamar Jackson’s contract, the timing of it, and if fans were happy or upset with the final numbers when they were released.

On top of the Jackson talk, plenty was talked about the change in offensive philosophy with Greg Roman being dismissed and a college, pass-happy offense ready to be unveiled. On top of throwing the ball more, additions to the wide receiving corps with the likes of Odell Beckham Jr. and Zay Flowers have fans of the purple-and-black excited about the potential which resides in 2023.

What surprised me was how even though they were excited about the new-look offense, they were equally excited about a young and up-and-coming defense. While thin at cornerback, the Ravens are hoping they’ll return to the Baltimore defense Steelers fans know all too well anchored by Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen in the middle.

As you can tell, the Ravens fan base is excited for this season, but you have to ask how the Steelers match up with Baltimore. A lot of the Steelers offense vs. the Ravens defense will come down to Kenny Pickett’s overall command of the offense and if he can push the ball down the field to his receivers to abuse the Ravens’ questionable secondary.

As for the flip side of the argument, pressuring Lamar Jackson, if they Ravens choose to be a pass-happy team, will ultimately decide the game. Any Steelers fan will tell you the only time Jackson has beaten the Steelers was in 2019 when Ben Roethlisberger was lost for the season after injuring his elbow.

The entire AFC North finished 3-3 last season in divisional play. Can the Steelers somehow find a way to sweep the Ravens? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, and be sure to check out the “Let’s Ride” podcast I spoke of in the player below: