NFL Power Rankings: Where Will the Pittsburgh Steelers be?

In the roundup of NFL Power Rankings this week, the storylines will be plentiful. Among the big-name teams to watch is the Pittsburgh Steelers, a team that could be put anywhere from around 10-20. Are they good enough to be considered true playoff contenders in a tough AFC North?

As things stand right now, it’s going to be extremely tough for the Steelers to crack into the playoffs as a Wild Card team. The San Diego Chargers likely have one spot locked down over there in the West, and the Ravens, Texans, and Chiefs are all going to be battling for position in the next few weeks.

As far as talent goes, it’s hard to trust the Steelers where they stand right now. The offense can provide firepower (when they want to), but the mix of a shaky defense and inconsistent play in all three phases of the game is hard to overlook. Mike Tomlin has some issues that need to be addressed and – while they are fixable – the team overall isn’t exactly convincing.

When we take a look around the AFC comparing other teams to Pittsburgh, it looks like the Ben Roethlisberger-led bunch is right around the middle of the pack. Here are a list of teams (as we mentioned above) to consider ahead of them in the Power Rankings this week:

• Houston Texans: This team definitely isn’t on the upswing with a tough road game against the Colts, but there is talent and big-play potential on the offensive side of the ball.
• Baltimore Ravens: The Ravens are anything but solid, but they have some staples on both sides of the ball to help them string together an impressive upcoming stretch.
• Kansas City Chiefs: Their record doesn’t show how good this team really is. They’ve faced a tough schedule and have actually fared fairly well. They’ll need to get the passing game going if they want to be considered legitimate.

Where should the Steelers rank in the NFL Power Rankings this week?