Last season was another disappointing year for the Pittsburgh Steelers, with the team once again failing to win a playoff game. However, it wasn’t a total disaster. For example, the Steelers won the AFC North for the first time since the 2020 season. That’s a step in the right direction, although many people don’t expect the Steelers to repeat that feat. However, former Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch has confidence in Pittsburgh finishing in first place in the AFC North again.

“People are sleeping on the Steelers,” Batch said Wednesday on his Snap Count podcast. “Of course, we’re both alums. We’re not saying this to play favoritism. I truly believe the Steelers are going to be better than what people think.

“Why? Because they’re gonna be able to score points. This is why [Mike] McCarthy was brought here. This is why Aaron Rodgers was brought back, and you add a Michael Pittman Jr. to this group. I think they’re gonna score and they’re gonna be better on defense. I think the Steelers win the division.”

Despite the Steelers taking home the division crown last year, many analysts see more potential in the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals this season. That’s not unfair, with the Ravens and Bengals both having franchise quarterbacks.

However, the Steelers shouldn’t be counted out. Few people expected them to win the AFC North last year. Yes, injuries hurt the Ravens and Bengals, but that shouldn’t diminish what Pittsburgh did.

Still, the Steelers repeating as AFC North champions would be quite the feat. They’ve only finished in first place in back-to-back years twice since the division was created in 2002. The first time was in 2007 and 2008, and the second was in 2016 and 2017. One of those teams won the Super Bowl, and two others were serious Super Bowl contenders, so the 2026 Steelers have a high bar to clear.

However, there are some parallels between the 2007 Steelers and today’s team. The biggest is that the Steelers had a new head coach each year. Mike Tomlin’s first season in Pittsburgh was 2007, and while he was inexperienced, he led the team to a first-place finish.

McCarthy is more experienced, having previously been a head coach for two other NFL teams. Perhaps he’ll be able to help the Steelers carry over the momentum they had last year. He could even surpass what Tomlin accomplished in his first year in Pittsburgh by winning a playoff game. It’s not going to be easy, but the Steelers could take home the AFC North crown again.