It would have been natural to write off the Steelers after they lost quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (elbow) and opened the season 0-3.

Since then, however, they have pulled off one of their most impressive runs since coach Mike Tomlin was hired in 2006. They have won five of their past six games and pushed their way into the middle of the AFC playoff race.

Let's take a closer look at the playoff race through 10 weeks of the 2019 NFL season.

Jump to: AFC | NFC

AFC

1. New England Patriots (8-1)

The Patriots emerged from their bye week with a one-game lead in the race for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, though the Ravens hold the head-to-head tiebreaker if it comes to that. Now comes the Pats' opportunity to earn that top spot. After playing the NFL's easiest schedule to this point, according to ESPN's Football Power Index (FPI), they'll now face four consecutive playoff contenders, starting with the Eagles in Philadelphia in Week 11.

Next up: at Philadelphia

2. Baltimore Ravens (7-2)

It would be difficult to find a team that has played better over the past month or so. The Ravens decisively defeated the Seahawks and Patriots by a combined 31 points, and on Sunday they destroyed the Bengals to such a degree that quarterback Lamar Jackson got the fourth quarter off. The Steelers' surge will at least keep the Ravens honest in the AFC North, although they are a full two games ahead and already have won one of the teams' two regular-season matchups.

Next up: vs. Houston

3. Houston Texans (6-3)

The Texans got an unexpected boost in the division during their bye when the Colts lost a home clunker to the tanking Dolphins. That put the Texans ahead by a full game. But Week 10 also made clear that the Titans aren't going away, either. Regardless, the Texans need to be sharp as they return this week. They have a brutal stretch upcoming with consecutive games against the Ravens, Colts and Patriots.

Next up: at Baltimore

4. Kansas City Chiefs (6-4)

The Chiefs navigated Patrick Mahomes' knee injury only to ... lose upon his return? It happened Sunday in relatively freaky fashion, courtesy of a pair of fourth-quarter miscues by their field goal unit. The Chiefs' 35-32 loss to the Titans tightened the AFC West considerably. The Raiders have closed to within a half-game and will travel to Kansas City in three weeks. In between, the Chiefs have a must-win game next Monday night against another division rival, the Chargers. Kansas City has lost almost all of its wiggle room in what once seemed a weak division.

Next up: at L.A. Chargers

5. Buffalo Bills (6-3)

It might be time to ask if the Bills are a playoff team or one that has simply cleaned up against a really easy schedule. The combined winning percentage of the teams they've defeated is .214, the lowest of any team with at least one victory in the NFL. They looked pretty bad against the Browns on Sunday, but fortunately for them, the Colts' loss in Miami allowed the Bills to hold a relatively strong spot in the AFC race.

Next up: at Miami

6. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-4)

Well, well, well. Tomlin has remade the Steelers on the fly, behind a swarming defense and two quarterbacks (Mason Rudolph and Devlin Hodges) who had no real experience entering this season. The defense alone, fueled in part by newcomers Minkah Fitzpatrick and Devin Bush, appears equipped to keep the team in playoff contention. For the moment, the Steelers stand above the rest of the 5-4 field because they have a better conference record than the Raiders and they have a head-to-head victory over the Colts.

Next up: at Cleveland

Next four

7. Oakland Raiders (5-4)
8. Indianapolis Colts (5-4)
9. Tennessee Titans (5-5)
10. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-5)

NFC

1. San Francisco 49ers (8-0)

The Saints' loss adds another layer to what already was a huge Monday night game against the Seahawks. The 49ers already knew that a win would move them into the driver's seat in the NFC West. But now they have a chance to put some distance between them and the Saints in the race for the top seed in the conference. And, wouldn't you know it, they'll host the Packers -- their other prime competitor for the top spot -- in two weeks.

Next up: vs. Seattle (Monday night)

2. Green Bay Packers (8-2)

The Packers rarely make it easy; their plus-45 scoring differential is the second lowest among the eight division leaders. But they rebounded from their Week 9 loss to the Chargers with a tough win over a Panthers team that looks good enough to ascend into the playoff picture at some point. As they enter their bye, all goals are within reasonable reach, including the NFC North title and the No. 1 overall seed.

Next up: at San Francisco (after the bye)

3. New Orleans Saints (7-2)

Deep breaths are necessary in New Orleans. Yes, Sunday's home loss to the Falcons was perplexing and eye-opening. But in the big picture, the Saints remain firmly in control of the NFC South and are one 49ers loss away from getting back into the conversation for the top spot in the conference. And their schedule sets them up to follow that path, with three consecutive division games followed by a Week 14 game against the Niners at the Superdome.

Next up: at Tampa Bay

4. Dallas Cowboys (5-4)

A Sunday night loss to the Vikings ate up the rest of the Cowboys' breathing room in the NFC East. They still own the division lead over the Eagles by virtue of their Week 7 victory in the teams' first matchup of the season. And there is still time to galvanize in the second half. But short of that, the Cowboys are having one of the NFL's most vexing seasons. Are they the team that started 3-0? Or are they the team that has gone 2-4 since? There isn't a ton of time left to find out.

Next up: at Detroit

5. Seattle Seahawks (7-2)

If the Seahawks wants to make a run at overtaking the 49ers in the NFC West, they'll probably need to start Monday night in San Francisco. That is, of course, assuming the 49ers can hold up to a grueling schedule the rest of the way. If not, the Seahawks might ascend as a matter of attrition.

Next up: at San Francisco (Monday night)

6. Minnesota Vikings (7-3)

We shall see if the Vikings' win Sunday night in Dallas was a signature win against a playoff team, or one against a team that started hot and faded down the stretch. But regardless, the Vikings should have a pep in their step after quarterback Kirk Cousins won his first road game in prime time since Dec. 26, 2015. Their schedule gets a bit more favorable for the next few weeks, with home games against the Broncos (3-6) and Lions (3-5-1) sandwiched around a trip to Seattle.

Next up: vs. Denver

Next four

7. Los Angeles Rams (5-4)
8. Philadelphia Eagles (5-4)
9. Carolina Panthers (5-4)
10. Chicago Bears (4-5)