NFL Standings and the Steelers’ Potential

As we look at the NFL standings about six weeks into the 2025 season, one question emerges. What’s really going on here?

It seems the league’s push for competitive balance is working well this year. The legendary 1972 Miami Dolphins finally had a reason to celebrate after a Week 5 defeat of the last undefeated team, the Philadelphia Eagles, while the Buffalo Bills were also in the mix. With Week 7 on the horizon, just four teams have a single loss.

And one of those teams? The Pittsburgh Steelers.

Is Mike Tomlin on the verge of another successful run? Every year, it feels like he manages to steer his team to a winning record, and last season, he brought a Steelers squad with Russell Wilson and Justin Fields to the playoffs.

But can they do even more in 2025? That’s worth a deeper look.

Challenges Ahead for Pittsburgh

If you want to make a case against the Steelers as serious contenders, the schedule provides some ammunition.

It’s true that winning is winning in the NFL, but honestly, Pittsburgh’s four victories might not be very convincing. They barely scraped by the winless New York Jets in Week 1, and then they fell to the Seattle Seahawks.

Since that loss, they’ve managed to beat New England, Minnesota, and Cleveland. However, when you total up those victories, the combined record of those teams stands at just 8 wins against 15 losses this season.

The challenges will only intensify from here. Starting Week 7, Pittsburgh faces off against Joe Flacco and the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday night, followed by matchups against tough teams like Green Bay, Buffalo, Indianapolis, and Detroit. Plus, they still have two games remaining against the Ravens, who could be a tough test if they’re firing on all cylinders.

Now, let’s delve into some metrics. Looking at expected points added (EPA), both offensively and defensively could give us insight into how Pittsburgh measures up—even beneath a less-than-daunting schedule.

The Steelers rank above average in both offensive and defensive EPA, but not by much. This puts them in the same conversation as teams like Seattle and New England, and in a tier with Dallas, Jacksonville, Atlanta, and Minnesota.

That certainly doesn’t scream competition, does it?

Supporting the Steelers’ Case

But hold on, there might be something brewing this year.

For Pittsburgh, the current standings matter significantly.

As of Tuesday morning following Week 6, the top four teams in the AFC standings are the Indianapolis Colts, Steelers, Los Angeles Chargers, and New England Patriots.

Yes, it’s true. You might feel a bit nostalgic glancing at these rankings, expecting to see titans like Peyton Manning and Tom Brady battling it out. But this is 2025, not 2006, and those are the AFC’s leading teams at this point in the season.

The NFL has emphasized parity, and this year showcases that perfectly. Established contenders like Baltimore, Kansas City, and recently, Buffalo have stumbled early, creating an opening for other teams.

You know, it seems a wee bit early for conclusions about the playoff picture, but we’re already into October, and Halloween is practically around the corner.

If you’re looking for metrics supporting the Steelers’ credibility, consider their defensive adjustment value (DVOA). Through the first six weeks, they sit ninth overall and fourth in the AFC, right behind the Colts, Chiefs, and Texans, and ahead of the Bills.

What makes Pittsburgh a legitimate AFC contender this year? Well, despite the mixed opinions about signing Aaron Rodgers, their offense this season has been noticeably better than last year’s version.

Just last season, their offense ranked below average in EPA/play.

This season, they seem to be showing some real improvement—albeit slight, it’s translating to victories for the Steelers.

Over these six weeks, Arthur Smith has managed to maximize Aaron Rodgers’ potential. Rodgers is averaging 6.95 adjusted net yards per attempt, placing him 13th in the league; better than the 5.87 he recorded with the New York Jets last year.

In fact, this performance is his strongest since he clinched the MVP award in 2020.

Quarterback improvements are a welcome change for Pittsburgh, yet one constant remains: turnovers are still crucial to their success. Before the season, they had 33 takeaways, tied for the league lead with the Vikings.

So far this season, they’ve already secured 10 takeaways through five games, keeping pace with last year’s numbers.

Will these factors ultimately lead to a title for Pittsburgh? It appears that there’s a solid chance as this season unfolds.