The Pittsburgh Steelers still have doubters as they sit atop the AFC North.

The Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves in a very nice spot heading into their Week 9 bye. After defeating the Cleveland Browns 27-6 in Week 8, they now have sole possession of the AFC North at 6-2. Meanwhile, the Baltimore Ravens seem to have lost quarterback Lamar Jackson for the foreseeable future, and maybe even the rest of the season.

However, former All-Pro safety Justin Simmons still doesn’t believe it will be the Steelers wearing the AFC North crown by the end of the regular season.

“Give me the Cincinnati Bengals,” Simmons said on CBS Sports HQ. “Some people over here think the Pittsburgh Steelers are running off with the North. I’m not buying it. [The Bengals have] an improved defense. Before this game, they were league-best in sack differential. … Way improved for Joe Burrow. He’s not used to being this clean going into eight weeks into the season.”

The Bengals do seem to be the Steelers biggest competitor to win the division, sitting in second place at 5-2. But Pittsburgh already handled business in its first meeting with Cincinnati in Week 3.

That’s not to say the Steelers will sweep the Bengals this season, but they certainly have the momentum in their favor.

That answer is coming very soon, though. The Steelers are scheduled to face the Bengals for the second time when they come off their bye in Week 10.

So, it’s safe to say Pittsburgh’s Week 9 bye is coming at the perfect time as it will not only give the team an opportunity to rest up for the second half of the season but also give it a little extra time to prepare for Cincinnati in a game that could have major playoff implications.

The game is also fittingly scheduled to be played on Sunday Night Football with an 8:20 p.m. ET kickoff.