The Steelers enter Week 3 with a 2-0 record ahead of a big AFC matchup against the also unbeaten Los Angeles Chargers. For Pittsburgh, it will be their toughest challenge yet this year, but also a chance to start the season off on an exceptionally strong note.

Earlier this week, we surveyed Steelers fans on their confidence in the direction the team is headed, where they think Pittsburgh will finish in the AFC North, and whether they would be surprised if the team started 3-0. Here's their response.

46% of Steelers fans predict second place in the AFC North

The Steelers are currently the only team in their division at 2-0, ahead of the 1-1 Browns, who have struggled on offense, and have a two-game lead over the winless Ravens and Bengals. The Steelers' schedule will be much more challenging in the second half of the season, and the other AFC North teams could certainly bounce back, but Steelers fans are confident Pittsburgh will finish in the top half.

46% of fans expect the Steelers to finish second in the division, while 31% expect the team to finish the regular season in first place. It will be a while before we know how it all plays out, but there's no denying that Pittsburgh is off to a great start in the race for the AFC North title.

The majority of Steelers fans will not be surprised by a 3-0 start to the season

Expectations for the Pittsburgh Steelers for 2024 were not particularly high. A winless preseason showed that Pittsburgh still had major problems with quarterback and offensive line. There were rumors that the Steelers would not make the playoffs.

However, a 2-0 start to 2024 has changed expectations for the team. Only 39% of fans said they would be surprised by a 3-0 start. We don't have data, but I can guarantee you that percentage would have been much higher before Week 1.

Confidence in the Steelers remains high but stable

Heading into this Week 3 Chargers game, 76% of Steeler fans are confident the team is heading in the right direction. That's a high number, but a very small jump from last week when the confidence level was 74%. At least, it's officially over three-quarters.

The lack of change is likely because the Steelers didn't really improve from Week 1 to Week 2. The offense finally scored a touchdown but scored fewer points overall. The defense continued to be excellent, but rookie Bo Nix isn't exactly a top-notch opponent at this point in his career.

However, a clear victory over the Chargers (2-0) could increase the optimism of Pittsburgh fans, who already have great confidence in their team.

Be sure to stick with BTSC for all the latest Steelers news and discussion leading up to game day on September 22 at 1 p.m. ET.