NFL.com's Gil Brandt believes the Steelers won't repeat as AFC North Champions in 2015

The AFC North is a difficult division. When you have three teams who made the AFC Playoffs in 2014 represented in your division, it is going to be tough sledding. No wonder back-to-back division champions are rare in the AFC North. Nonetheless, when NFL.com's Gil Brandt released his list of division champions who are the most 'vulnerable', the Pittsburgh Steelers made the list.

Brandt views the Baltimore Ravens as the team's biggest threat to take the crown of AFC North champions from the Steelers, but it might have more to do with the schedule the Steelers play than the rest of the division.

Take a look at Brandt's logic:

Pittsburgh Steelers

Biggest threat in the AFC North: Baltimore Ravens

Ben Roethlisberger had a phenomenal 2014, setting career bests in completion percentage (67.1) and passing yards (4,952). I'm just not sure we can count on him hitting those high-water marks again. When you succeed like that, opponents tend to adjust, game-planning different tactics to stop you. I also worry about the looming absence of running back Le'Veon Bell, who is facing a three-game suspension to start the season. We saw how much the Steelers struggled in their playoff loss to the Ravens when Bell was out. Yes, Pittsburgh signed veteran back DeAngelo Williams, but he's 32, played in six games last year and has averaged just 4.1 yards per carry over the last three seasons.

Finally, the Steelers face a daunting challenge in the very tough AFC North, as they're just one of three teams -- including the Ravens and Bengals -- who could conceivably win the division. At the end of the day, I like the Ravens' chances the best.

Some might say Brandt could be on to something. After all, in 2014 the AFC North set NFL records for all four teams in the division being at least two games over .500 after so many weeks in the regular season.

Steelers fans will dispute this claim of vulnerability and rightfully so. DeAngelo Williams was brought in to carry the load in Bell's absence, and Roethlisberger has been given possibly the best group of weapons he has ever had at his disposal since being drafted in 2004. There would be no logical reason, barring injury, for his numbers to decline to the point of concern.

The schedule changes form year-to-year. Granted, there are teams who will be formidable come Fall, but at the same time there are always teams who seem daunting, but have a disappointing season making the once 'murderer's row' schedule look not-so-tough.

The Steelers could lose out on another division title, with the Ravens and Bengals in the division it isn't out of the realm of possibility; however, if the Steelers had to choose between a division title or a Super Bowl title, well, that's a no-brainer. As long as the team makes it into the postseason, all bets are off.