Where do we stand?

So right now, the Pittsburgh Steelers are in a 7-way tie for first place in the AFC with the Broncos, Ravens, Jets, Colts, Patriots and Chargers. None of the other AFC teams really strike fear into opponents save for the Titans. Today we'll take a look at our AFC competition and try to figure out where the Steelers really stand among their peers.

1. The Tennessee Titans
We all know the Titans are a solid football team. Kerry Collins is somehow getting it done at QB, the running game is strong and their defense is still an excellent unit even with the loss of Albert Haynesworth. Playing in the AFC South is no easy task. They won't be the team they were in 2008, but they're still a contender. The good news is, they're out of our way for the regular season and we're a game and a half ahead right now.

2. The Denver Broncos
Denver struggled to beat Cincinnati and won on a fluke tipped pass for a touchdown. Joke.

3. The New York Jets
The Steelers won't play the Jets in the regular season, so this is less of an issue, but they could compete for a wildcard spot with Rex Ryan and the Jets' new defense. If Mark Sanchez holds it together at QB, this team looks good on paper. Again, not our problem until the postseason, assuming they make it to the end.

4. The Indianapolis Colts
Another team not on the Steelers' schedule, but the Colts will presumably take another division title and lose their first playoff game. I believe Peyton Manning is the best QB in the NFL (Brady barely calls any of his own plays) but since they aren't on our schedule, I'm only concerned with a playoff appearance, which they'll get to pretty easily for something like the 9th straight year, and then proceed to combust regardless of who they play.

5. The New England Patriots
Buffalo came so close to toppling this behemoth to open the season, but alas, Tom Brady worked his magic and wins with 13 points in two minutes. We won't see them in the regular season, but you can bet the road to the Superbowl will undoubtedly include a battle with the Patriots. I know, shocking. I'll alert the media.

6. The San Diego Chargers
This could be San Diego's year. Rather, it needs to be San Diego's year. They're a great, talented team that has just not managed to get their Superbowl yet. Time is running out for this team, and it's pretty much now or never to get their defense in order and make a run for the title. We'll see the Chargers in a few short weeks and I think that will be one of the more telling games of the season. It doesn't help their case that they almost lost to the Raiders on opening weekend, but then again they were 0-2 last season and put together their run at the end. This is a dangerous team.

7. The Baltimore Ravens
Okay, who are we kidding? When the schedule came out, Steeler fans and Ravens fans immediately circled two games: The two against each other. This rivalry has transcended the rest of the NFL. No game is quite as big, as meaningful as a matchup between Pittsburgh and Baltimore. The rest of the league got a taste of that when the rivalry reached the AFC Championship. The rest of the conference was insignificant. All that mattered was whether the Steelers or Ravens came out on top. That's what it's like every time we play them. If Joe Flacco can put together a game against the Steelers (as good as he is, he hasn't done that yet), the Ravens could be poised to finally take over the division, which would probably lead to a Superbowl in Baltimore. That is just unacceptable. Don't believe me? How did you feel suring the AFC Championship? Did you think that it was really the Superbowl? That the team that won the AFC would win it all? I think everyone kind of got that impression. The Steelers are the only thing standing between Baltimore and the Superbowl. Let's keep it that way.

The rest of the AFC competition is pretty thin. Chiefs, Raiders, Texans, Jaguars, Bills, Dolphins, Browns, Bengals. Any games we play against those teams, you've probably decided are going to be pretty simple wins.

Bears on Sunday, no Brian Urlacher. Not that we'll be doing any running anyway.

Here We Go.