Tough schedule for the second half awaits the 6-2 Steelers

But the Steelers aren’t far off themselves, averaging 23.4 points per game, which ranks 15th in the league.

And defensively, the Steelers are second in the NFL in points allowed per game at 14.9.

While they will see better offenses in the second half, the Steelers also have four second-half games against defenses that are in the bottom 10 of the league in points allowed. Baltimore is allowing 26.1 points per game. game, while the Bengals are at 25.4.

The defense will also get a boost coming off the bye week with the addition of cornerback Cameron Sutton. Sutton, who was signed in the offseason following his release by Detroit, was reinstated by the NFL and is eligible to return after serving an eight-game suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.

With the NFL’s trade deadline coming up on Tuesday, getting Sutton back is almost like acquiring an extra veteran cornerback via trade.

At 6-2, the Steelers currently have an 82.5 percent chance to make the playoffs based on what has happened in the league since 2000. They have a 54.5 percent chance to win the AFC North.

How they perform during the second half of the season — especially with all of their AFC North opponents still on the road — will largely determine when they play in the postseason as a Wild Card or whether the team hosts its first playoff game since 2020.

But the NFL didn’t make it easy.

The Steelers play twice in short weeks – both times after games against the Ravens.

The first instance comes in Week 12. After hosting Baltimore on Nov. 17, the Steelers travel to Cleveland for a Thursday night game.

They then follow a Saturday, Dec. 21 game in Baltimore by hosting the Chiefs on Christmas Eve at Acrisure Stadium.

To be the team they want to be, however, games and scheduling issues like those will help test the team’s abilities. As head coach Mike Tomlin likes to say, “Iron sharpens iron.”