For the first time ever, HBO's wildly popular Hard Knocks series will feature not just one team, but an entire division. As it was announced by the NFL Monday afternoon, Hard Knocks will chronicle the AFC North throughout the regular season and playoffs.
Dubbed "Hard Knocks: In Season with the AFC North," the documentary will give fans an all-access pass to the battle for the AFC North crown during the final six weeks of the NFL season, debuting Tuesday, Dec. 3 at 9 p.m. on HBO and available to stream on Max.
This is the first time the Steelers have ever been featured in Hard Knocks. The Ravens were the first team featured on the original Hard Knocks training camp series in 2001. The Bengals have been featured twice (2009 and 2013), and the Browns made their debut in 2018.
It makes a lot of sense for the NFL to want to chronicle the AFC North. Last season, the division was undoubtedly the best in football as the Ravens, Browns and Steelers all clinched playoff berths and all four teams finished with winning records.
The focus of this edition of Hard Knocks will focus on the division's rivalries, which have all intensified as all four teams have become more and more competitive. Of course, all four coaches will be heavily featured. Perhaps the most interesting coach of the bunch is Mike Tomlin since this will be his debut in the series. Love him or hate him, there is a league-wide fascination with Tomlin, and this series will give fans from all over a closer look at him.
The quarterback situation for all four teams have also been named as a central focus. Lamar Jackson is coming off his second MVP, Joe Burrow is looking to stay healthy and lead the Bengals back to the top of the division and Deshaun Watson is looking to finally become the quarterback the Browns expected him to be when they traded for him. Of course, the Steelers' situation with Russell Wilson and Justin Fields will undoubtedly be a big focus here, too.
One interesting thing about this is the Steelers' AFC North schedule. All six divisional matchups for Pittsburgh take place during the final eight weeks of the season, starting with the Steelers hosting the Ravens in Week 11. Four days later, the Steelers will travel to Cleveland for Thursday Night Football in Week 12. The Steelers will then travel to Cincinnati for their first matchup against the Bengals, then turn around and play their second game against Cleveland at home in Week 14.
The Steelers follow those four straight divisional matchups with a trip to Philadelphia in Week 15, which is a place the Steelers seldom play well. The Steelers will then have to travel to Baltimore for a Saturday matchup six days later, only to host the defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs four days after that on Christmas Day. The Steelers close out the regular season hosting the Bengals.
