At 8-3, the Steelers lead Baltimore by a game in the AFC North and have positioned themselves as a top playoff contender. However, given the dynamics of head-to-head matchups and tiebreakers, the next four weeks could determine the Steelers' playoff position -- or if they even will advance to the postseason for the second consecutive year under coach Mike Tomlin.

Starting with Sunday's game at New England, the Steelers will face their toughest stretch of games under Tomlin.

After facing the 7-4 Patriots, the Steelers will host Dallas (7-4) before returning to the road against Baltimore (7-4) and Tennessee (10-1).

The combined 31-13 record of those four opponents is good for a .705 winning percentage. The winning percentage of the Steelers' first 11 opponents this season was .450.

"I didn't care about the schedule in March. I don't care about the schedule now. I really don't," Tomlin said Tuesday at his weekly news conference. "We play New England this week, and that's where we're at. That's where our attention needs to be. I (couldn't) care less what's going to happen in the upcoming month, or the subsequent weeks. That's never been our mentality and won't be."

Four of the Steelers' first 11 opponents have winning records. The Steelers defeated Baltimore, in overtime, and Washington (7-4), but lost to the New York Giants (10-1) and Indianapolis (7-4).

New England, Sunday's opponent, overcame the loss of superstar quarterback Tom Brady in the opener to trail the New York Jets by one game in the AFC East.

Quarterback Matt Cassel, Brady's understudy who never started a game in college, has posted back-to-back 400-yard passing performances. He will test a Steelers defense that hasn't permitted an opposing quarterback to pass for 250 yards this season.

"Our guys know about New England. They're a great Football team," Tomlin said. "Well-coached. Rock solid in all three phases (offense, defense, special teams)."

Last season, New England won, 34-13, marking the largest scoring output against the Steelers.

The Steelers haven't beaten the Patriots on the road since 1997.

"It's good to have a veteran Football team, one that undrestands what this time of year is about and what we're trying to do," Tomlin said. "But at the same time, as a coach, you don't take that for granted. You talk about what's required this time of year, you talk about what's necessary for us to continue to move in the direction that we're headed."