BE.It’s hard to imagine the Steelers having a better start to the season — while the rest of the division struggles even more.

It’s hard to imagine the first four weeks of the 2025 NFL season going any better for the Pittsburgh Steelers—and any worse for the rest of the AFC North.

At 3-1, Pittsburgh sits alone atop the division, showing resilience in close games and leaning on the dominance of their defense to set the tone. Despite being outscored overall (96 PF, 98 PA), the Steelers have found ways to win in critical moments, a hallmark of Mike Tomlin–coached teams. With T.J. Watt wreaking havoc off the edge and the offense doing just enough to capitalize, Pittsburgh has positioned itself as the early leader in one of football’s toughest divisions.

Meanwhile, the Cincinnati Bengals have struggled to find rhythm at 2-2. The offense, once feared for its explosiveness, has looked disjointed, scoring just 61 points through four games—the lowest in the division. Worse yet, the defense has given up 119 points, leaving Joe Burrow and company constantly playing from behind. Cincinnati has work to do if they want to climb back into contention.

The Baltimore Ravens present one of the league’s most puzzling cases. At 1-3, they’ve managed to put up a division-high 131 points but have surrendered 133, highlighting issues with consistency and execution. Lamar Jackson has produced sparks of brilliance, but turnovers and defensive lapses have erased opportunities. Baltimore’s high-powered offense hasn’t translated into wins, leaving them chasing stability.

The Cleveland Browns, also 1-3, sit at the bottom of the standings after generating only 56 points through four weeks. With offensive production lagging and a defense unable to fully pick up the slack (102 points allowed), the Browns are already facing an uphill climb. The flashes of potential are there, but without consistent quarterback play and discipline, Cleveland risks falling further behind.

For Pittsburgh, the formula has been simple: play disciplined football, capitalize on turnovers, and trust the defense to deliver. For the rest of the AFC North, Week 5 and beyond will be about rediscovering identity and closing the gap before the Steelers build too much separation.

After just a month of football, the picture is clear—the division everyone expected to be the most competitive in the NFL has, so far, been dominated by one team that refuses to beat itself.

And right now, that team wears black and gold.