Grades for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the rest of the AFC North through Week 5

Grading performances can be difficult this time of year. In a dozen weeks, the entire league could be turned upside down. A year ago at this point, Sam Howell led the NFL in passing yardsThe Philadelphia Eagles were 5-0 and offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey had Josh Allen torching the opposing defense.

However, we had enough sampling over the five weeks of the season to get an idea of ​​where each AFC North team stands. Of course, injuries, a few unfortunate jumps or luck in scheduling can change records.

For example, the 3-2 Baltimore Ravens appear to teach a high school AP version of the same sport that Pittsburgh plays. They can do more and have more of a lead than Pittsburgh did in its three wins. Meanwhile, Cincinnati is playing below its potential while Cleveland is struggling. How they perform is subjective, but the AFC North leader is obvious.

Todd Monken's offense is as inventive pre-snap as any in football. Even after that, overwhelmed defenses have to expect Zay Flowers to be at full speed in their version of Cheetah Motion, Lamar Jackson handing off to Derrick Henry in an RPO, Mark Andrews rushing off the line as a decoy, and Isaiah Likely as the No. 1 pick. 2 tight end in football in the slot. Then, if you defend those targets perfectly, your secondary will be littered with Charlie Kolar or Lamar Jackson doing donuts in the parking lot and throwing touchdown passes, making all three levels of defense look silly.

The Ravens are currently scoring more on average Rushing yards per game than any team since the 1976 Steelers and is on pace to break the single-season record set in 2019, while Jackson is setting a career-high in passing average.

Unfortunately, her defense is the only thing that stopped her from getting a better grade. The Ravens brought in former defensive coordinator Dean Pees as an outside consultant to assist current defensive chief Zach Orr. Nothing illustrates a struggling junior coordinator like a tutor brought in to support a disappointing unit.

Every year the Bengals seem to need a little pick-me-up at the end of their faltering season. Joe Burrow usually starts the season slowly. However, Lou Anarumo's defense is painful to watch. They have allowed 32.3 points in their last four games, putting Burrow in a hole he may not be able to get them out of.

On Sunday, Zac Taylor's conservative play helped them slump to an overtime loss to the Ravens after Baltimore almost handed them on a silver platter. They've incorporated more play-action into their shotgun-focused offense, and Chase Brown was the explosive force for a Bengals ground game that ranked 31st nationally a year ago, but at 1-4, they're running out of time this one Saving the season with a passing grade.

Cleveland entered 2024 with question marks on offense, buoyed by a defensive unit that was the league's star in 2023, led by Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett. Instead, their defense was torn to shreds and in Week 5, a rookie quarterback left them in shreds.

Deshaun Watson deserves a failing grade in more ways than one. But it was incredible to watch the defense fall from its position in 2023. The Browns allowed a league-high number of yards after contact allowed per rush. The eventual return of Nick Chubb should give the Dawg Pound a boost to its ground offense or serve as the final nail in the coffin if he takes a while to get back into the swing of things about a year after a gruesome knee injury. As of now, the Browns’ D class stands for “Dead on Arrival.”

The Steelers' 3-2 record feels like the NFL's 2024 version McLovin's fake ID.

The Steelers, who are at the top of the division, deserve some love. They could easily be as disjointed as the Robert Saleh Jets. However, Tomlin has instilled an identity in these Steelers that endures even through difficult times. They tackle better, TJ Watt and Nick Herbig are dynamic pass razors, Justin Fields led a game-winning drive before being outclassed by Dak Prescott, and Cam Heyward is still a disruptive force.

You deserve just as much praise as a 25-year-old organ donor. On the other hand, they are a Fugazi contender. Unfortunately, the offense tends to break down for several quarters at a time, the rushing attack is under construction, the play-calling can feel like improvisational theater, and when Fields does his “Yes, and…” routine, things can get chaotic and he stops tends to fumble. George Pickens is on the verge of implosion, Najee Harris is struggling to find running lanes and yet everything seems to be going well with Mike Tomlin always ready on test days.

The next three games are all winnable, but the tough stretch comes after the bye week when they play all three division opponents and the Washington Commanders twice.