STEELERS ARE STILL THE TEAM THE BROWNS MUST BEAT

By STEVE KING

The Browns have righted the ship – at least for now – in having overpowered the New York Jets 23-3 on Monday night to even their record at 1-1.

Future Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers is out for the season with an elbow injury suffered in Sunday’s 28-26 loss to the Seattle Seahawks to drop their record to uncharacteristic 0-2.

The defending division champion Baltimore Ravens are 2-0 with wins over two horrible teams in the Miami Dolphins and Arizona Cardinals.

And the Cincinnati Bengals are exactly where everyone thought thry’d be at this point, standing 0-2 and not appearing to be in the same class as the other three teams.

So, then, what’s going to happen the rest of the way in the AFC North?

That’s a good question – actually, a very, very good question.

Here are my thoughts:

I still maintain that the Steelers are the team to beat. Yes, I know, in addition to Roethlisberger, they also don’t have running back Le’Veon Bell and wide receiver Antonio Brown, who were the most lethal offensive threesome in the NFL when they were together. And I also know it won’t be easy, or pretty at times, but the Steelers have a great organizational structure and so they will circle the wagons and ask that everyone give a little more to make up for the loss of their heart-and-soul quarterback. They aren’t dead by any stretch of the imagination. On the contrary, now, with the target off their backs and with their backs to the wall and everyone doubting them, they will become even more dangerous in a way.

In addition, let’s be clear about this: Mike Tomlin is in no trouble of being fired. He remains a great head coach and will prove it by coaxing everything out of this team that’s there to be coaxed. Plus the Rooneys don’t operate that way.

But there’s no doubt the Steelers are, at least on paper, much less than what they were. They certainly don’t scare anybody now. They’re as ripe for the taking as they’ve ever been, but the Browns still have to go out and do it. And to be able to do it, that offensive line has to get much better. It’s the team’s weak link.

As for the Ravens, I still don’t believe in them – not yet, at least. If it’s a three-team race, then they’ll be in it, but if it’s only a two-team race, which I think it will end up being, then they will be the odd team out.