(Photo by Justin K. Aller/ Getty Images)
The Steelers stand as the lone unbeaten team through 10 weeks of the NFL season and are 9-0 for the first time in franchise history. With their 36-10 win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, the Steelers became the first 9-0 team since the New England Patriots and Carolina Panthers both started out 2015 with that record. The Patriots ended up losing in the AFC Championship Game that season and the Panthers finished the regular season 15-1 and ultimately lost to the Denver Broncos, 24-10, in Super Bowl 50.
In the Super Bowl era, there have been 21 previous teams to start a season 9-0. Seven of those teams ended up winning the Super Bowl, with 12 total teams making the Super Bowl. The last team to win a Super Bowl that started off 9-0 was the 2009 New Orleans Saints. The Saints started that season 13-0 up until losing their final three games of the regular season.
Time will tell if the Steelers make a Super Bowl appearance or end up winning the whole thing, but they are certainly in a good position with currently holding a 3.5 game lead over the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North. Winning the division guarantees a home playoff game and potentially another one in the Divisional Round.
The Steelers will be looking to capture the No. 1 overall seed in the AFC, which would mean the road to Super Bowl LV goes through Pittsburgh in the AFC. The defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs are right behind the Steelers right now in the standings with a record of 8-1. With seven spots now available in each conference for the playoffs, only the top seed will get a first-round bye.
With the Steelers having an unexpected bye in Week 4 due to a COVID-19 outbreak in the Titans' organization, the Steelers will have played 13 consecutive games by the end of the regular season, so getting that first-round bye week in the playoffs is crucial.