There are a few challenges in football that feel unavoidable. Competing for the AFC North title is one of them, and it’s a challenge Cameron Heyward and the Pittsburgh Steelers welcome with open arms. After a shaky campaign filled with injuries, mistakes, and untimely suspensions, the Steelers now find themselves exactly where football purists believe they belong—playing meaningful, playoff-style football with everything on the line.
For much of the season, Pittsburgh teased its potential. An impressive early stretch created legitimate belief, only for that momentum to be diluted by weeks of inconsistency and defensive identity crises.