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Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) reacts to a call by NFL umpire Mike Morton (89) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022, in Miami Gardens, Fla.
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Paul Zeise: Weaker-than-anticipated AFC will allow Steelers to contend

Wilfredo Lee/Associated Press

Paul Zeise: Weaker-than-anticipated AFC will allow Steelers to contend

And then there were two — undefeated teams, that is.

That’s right, the NFL season is three weeks old and there are only two teams — the Dolphins and Eagles — left standing at 3-0. That means there is a really good chance the 1972 Dolphins’ status as the only undefeated team in the Super Bowl era of the NFL is likely secure.

I would actually be surprised if either of those teams even get to 5-0 or 6-0, much less make a run at 20-0. It isn’t going to happen this year in the NFL because there is just too much parity. There aren’t any elite or dominant teams this year. The Eagles and Dolphins could just as easily be 1-2 as they are 3-0.

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Take a quick look around the AFC if you are not convinced.

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The Bills were supposed to be the class of the AFC, and they looked really ordinary this past Sunday in a loss to Miami. Patrick Mahomes and company can say all they want about how their offense is more balanced without Tyreek Hill, but, clearly, it is not the same explosive unit that has been the class of the AFC the last few years. The Bengals are the defending AFC champs, and they can’t protect their quarterback even a little. The Dolphins have basically had two miracle wins in a row to get to 3-0, and New England wouldn’t be good even if Tom Brady was still under center.

And then, you have the Colts, who have talent but one of the worst coaches among the good teams and it shows every Sunday. The Broncos offense is terrible. The Chargers were supposed to make a big step forward this year but have a bunch of injuries and still don’t know how to win games. The Ravens look formidable but mostly because Lamar Jackson is playing at a different level. Their defense is not very good, though, and they are really vulnerable to big plays in the passing game. And the Browns are, well, the Browns.

Did that about cover the conference?

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The season began with many of us believing the AFC was going to be a juggernaut and a team like the Steelers, who are in some stage of rebuilding, would struggle to stay in the playoff chase. There was a lot of discussion about the top of the AFC being so strong the Steelers would really have to have a lot of things go right in order for them to stay in contention.

The first three weeks have changed my thoughts on that. I still think the Steelers will have to fight and struggle and may need a little luck to get to the playoffs this year, but it all of the sudden doesn’t look like some insurmountable task. Their schedule, while still presenting some challenges, is not nearly as difficult as I thought it would be.

I’m not saying the Steelers are definitely a playoff team or that they don’t have some fatal flaws that could hold them back, but there is no question they can hang in the playoff chase the entire season.

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The fact there are only two undefeated teams and only one, the Dolphins, are in the AFC means there are a whole lot of teams at either 2-1 or 1-2. I don’t expect that to change much this season, as I just don’t see many teams capable of running away from the pack.

The Ravens, for instance, will go where Jackson takes them. He is healthy and rested now, but let’s see how effective he is in the second half of the season as his body continues to absorb hits. That is always a factor for them, and the other factor this year is their suspect pass defense.

I do think the Bills are still the best team. They have always had trouble playing in Miami, a division rival, so maybe you chalk this past Sunday up to that, but they have suffered some key losses on defense. Josh Allen gives them a chance every week, and that is something — a dynamic quarterback — the Steelers don’t have. The same can be said about the Chiefs, though; without Hill, that offense looks a lot less scary. As for the Bengals, if you can’t protect your quarterback, you can’t win at a high level.

The rest of the AFC is comprised of a lot of teams just like the Steelers, and at that point, it becomes a matter of who wins the games they are supposed to win and who stays healthy. The Steelers have enough teams on their schedule — the Jets, the three teams not named Tampa from the NFC South, etc. etc. — they will have a chance to beat. Getting to nine wins is clealry doable, and I actually think the Steelers could get into the playoffs at 9-8 because there aren’t many teams in this conference who will do much more than hover around .500.

This is a transition year for the Steelers — that much is clear — and, in general, those tend to end without a trip to the playoffs. But it isn’t just about how good the Steelers are; it is also how good the competition is. In this case, it appears they are competing with a lot of other teams with many of the same deficiencies and flaws.

Paul Zeise: pzeise@post-gazette.com or Twitter: @paulzeise

First Published: September 27, 2022, 7:10 p.m.
Updated: September 28, 2022, 10:36 a.m.

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