First Call: Steelers are 3-0. Their opponents are 0-9. But who have other AFC favorites beaten so far?

If you are a fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers, you can’t complain about being 3-0.

However, you can point out that all three of their opponents are 0-3.

You can.

You don’t have to. But you can.

If you do that, though, make sure you point out how the other power brokers in the AFC have attained their records.

You know, be balanced n’at.

For “First Call” Monday, let’s take a look at how the Steelers and some of the other pre-season playoff picks in the AFC have managed to build the records they have to this point.

Because there appears to be a clear “have and have nots” situation developing in the AFC.

Pittsburgh Steelers: The Steelers have beaten the New York Giants, Denver Broncos and Houston Texans.

The organizations are a combined 0-9. The Giants’ points differential of minus-41 is the worst in the NFC. The Texans are at minus-38. The Broncos are at minus-25. Only the New York Jets are worse in the AFC at minus-57.

We all know that a frequent criticism of the Mike Tomlin Steelers is how often his clubs lose to significantly substandard competition. As a result, maybe giving a “yeah but” to the Steelers’ results so far would be hypocritical.

Just know that it gets a lot harder next week when the Steelers go to Tennessee to play the 3-0 Titans.

Tennessee Titans: Speaking of the Titans, how did they amass their 3-0 mark?

Well, they managed to outlast Denver as well, 16-14. They outgunned the 1-2 Jacksonville Jaguars 33-30. And they barely clipped the 0-3 Minnesota Vikings 31-30 on Sunday.

Therefore, the Titans’ opponents are a combined 1-8 and they’ve won their three games by a total of six points.

Buffalo Bills: They’ve won some nail-biters, too.

Buffalo managed a 27-17 victory the 0-3 New York Jets in Week 1. They needed a fourth-quarter comeback to win by a field goal (31-28) to avoid an upset in Miami against the 1-2 Dolphins. Then, on Sunday, they outslugged the 2-1 Los Angeles Rams 35-32.

Hence, for Buffalo, it’s been a mixed bag.

New England Patriots: The Pats (2-1) have had the toughest road so far, as they just beat the 2-1 Las Vegas Raiders 36-20.

New England also had the tough task of visiting the 3-0 Seattle Seahawks, losing in an early candidate for game of the year by a final score of 35-30.

And, in Week 1, Bill Belichick’s club took care of business against the Dolphins 21-11.

None of us knew what to expect of the Patriots coming into 2020. Maybe we still don’t. But it’s clear they shouldn’t be dismissed.

Baltimore Ravens (2-0) and Kansas City Chiefs (2-0): These two teams play each other Monday night. It’s being billed as a September Super Bowl.

The franchises were the two favorites to win the AFC and the Vince Lombardi trophy. But neither club has had an extremely difficult schedule until Monday’s game. Like the Steelers, Baltimore dispatched the Texans last week, 33-16.

And the Ravens throttled the usually hapless Cleveland Browns 38-6. But at least the Browns have managed to win their next two games since then, beating Washington and the Cincinnati Bengals.

Make of that what you will.

The Chiefs piled on Houston, too. Beating them in the Week 1 Thursday night opener 34-20, then needing overtime to squeak by the 1-2 Los Angeles Chargers 23-20.

See where we’re going with this?

Granted, the Steelers haven’t exactly played Murderers’ Row. But few in the AFC have been significantly battle-tested either.

This conference will be determined based on how the upper crust fares against one another throughout the season.

And in the playoff bracket come January.

So if you want to throw an asterisk on the Steelers’ 3-0 start so far, go ahead. But some of their peers may deserve one as well.

If the Steelers do, next week’s host in Tennessee certainly does.