Since the start of the new millennium, the two most consistent teams in the AFC have been the Steelers and Patriots. That will once again be the case in 2016, according to ESPN's AFC North beat writers.

Earlier this offseason, Bengals beat reporter Coley Harvey, Ravens reporter Jamison Hensley, and Browns reporter Pat McManamon tabbed Pittsburgh and New England as the favorites to represent the AFC in Super Bowl 51.

"The AFC is setting up to be New England vs. Pittsburgh as long as the Steelers can find playmakers on that rebuilt defense who can make the difference late in games," Hensley wrote. "Remember, this is a Steelers team that lost by just a touchdown to eventual Super Bowl champion Denver in the AFC divisional playoffs. In that game, Pittsburgh allowed 11 points in the final 10 minutes, which was a recurring problem all season; the Steelers gave up the 10th-most points in the fourth quarter (123). If this defense can get better at finishing off teams, Pittsburgh is one of the favorites in the AFC. The prevailing favorite will be New England as long as Tom Brady is under center. The dark horse in the AFC is the Oakland Raiders."

While the Patriots may be the favorite, they'll be without Tom Brady for the first month of the season. This could be an opportunistic time for the Steelers to distance themselves from New England if the Patriots struggle without their future Hall of Fame quarterback for the first quarter of the season. Pittsburgh will face three playoff teams from the 2015 season during that span, while the Patriots will face two playoff teams during the first four weeks of the season. The two teams will meet in Pittsburgh in Week 7, nearly 12 years to the day when Roethlisberger and the Steelers snapped New England's record 21-game winning streak during Big Ben's rookie year.

Pittsburgh hopes to have a similar outcome in 2016, while supplanting the Patriots as the AFC's front runner throughout the season and into the playoffs.