PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers are in first place in the AFC North. It just doesn’t necessarily feel like it.

Three losses in four games, each troubling in its own way, will do that. The optimism that followed Pittsburgh’s hot start has been met with a steady dose of reality that, while the Steelers (5-4) can compete with anyone when they’re at their best, manufacturing their best regularly has proven more difficult than all involved would prefer.

“It’s just consistency,” said quarterback Aaron Rodgers, coming off his worst game of the season last Sunday night in a lopsided setback against the Los Angeles Chargers. “If the process is right, you don’t have to make any major changes or freak out. It’s the nature of the league. There’s going to be a stinker every now and then.”

Rodge

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