The AFC North is the oldest division in football, with each team being created for the NFL’s first season back in 1920. Since then, all four teams have won multiple championships, but it remains to be seen if they’ll continue their dominance this year. This week on The Game Plan podcast, Sean Salisbury breaks down what’s ahead for each team and how they can avoid a drop-off from last year.
The “afc north standings” is a division in the National Football League. The AFC North has been one of the most competitive divisions over the last few years. With teams like the Steelers, Bengals, and Ravens all fighting for playoff spots, this year’s AFC North race will be a close one.
6 a.m. ET
-
ESPN’s NFL Nation
The Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, and Pittsburgh Steelers are one of just two NFL divisions without a club below.500 this season, meaning the AFC North title fight will likely come down to the wire.
Baltimore (5-2) is in first place after eight weeks, with Cincinnati (5-3), Pittsburgh (4-3) and Cleveland (4-4) close behind. The Ravens are favored to win the division by 47.4 percent, followed by the Bengals (27.3 percent), Steelers (14.1 percent), and Browns (14.1 percent) (11.1 percent ).
The hardest division in the NFL may finish in any order, and all four teams have shown us something we didn’t anticipate before the season began. Barnwell, Bill »
• NFL analysts’ game predictions » • ESPN Chalk » | PickCenter » Additional NFL coverage »
The Browns have been the talk of the division this week when wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. was waived after his father uploaded a video on Instagram showcasing occasions when quarterback Baker Mayfield either didn’t pass the ball to Beckham or missed him when he was wide open. Beckham’s release was approved on Friday, and he will be placed on waivers the following week.
We invited Jamison Hensley of the Baltimore Ravens, Ben Baby of the Cincinnati Bengals, Brooke Pryor of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Jake Trotter of the Cleveland Browns to review the season so far and look forward.
The biggest shock
Quarterback Lamar Jackson’s downfield throwing, according to Hensley. Jackson was expected to go to the next level of his growth as a quarterback. Rather, it’s been a leap of faith. In seven games, Jackson has completed 14 throws of 20 yards or more, virtually matching his total from last season (17). With Baltimore’s patched-up backfield failing to produce, the Ravens will depend on Jackson’s arm more than ever to win the division.
Ja’Marr Chase’s performance as a wide receiver. The fifth overall selection has defied all expectations as a rookie and has established himself as one of the league’s most dynamic receivers. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, he and quarterback Joe Burrow have the second-highest yardage total of any quarterback-wide receiver duo. Chase ranks third in the NFL with 786 receiving yards.
• A look at Adrian Peterson • Breaking down the AFC North • Spytek to commemorate daughter in marathon A Josh Allen showdown • Hayward’s leadership • A rematch of a wild Ravens-Vikes conclusion
Pryor: The Steelers’ defense has been adequate, but not exceptional. The pass rush hasn’t been as constant as it has been in recent seasons, and the defense isn’t creating turnovers at the same rate. Pittsburgh is tied for sixth in the league with 19 sacks. The Steelers have just two interceptions, which is tied for the second-fewest in the NFL, and six total takeaways. However, they haven’t been at full strength as a unit, with defensive end Stephon Tuitt being placed on injured reserve after roster cuts. The closest they came was a Week 1 triumph at Buffalo, but nose tackle Tyson Alualu went down with a broken ankle the next week.
Baker Mayfield and Odell Beckham Jr.’s connection is finished, according to Trotter. It’s hardly unexpected that the two haven’t been able to pull their act together this season. However, the fact that it all came to a head in the midst of the season, with the Browns cutting Beckham on Friday, is incredible. Cleveland’s season, which had so much potential at one point, is now in free fall.
The most important narrative to keep an eye on is
Hensley is in charge of the Ravens’ pass defense. Baltimore is bottom in the NFL in pass defense after allowing three 400-yard quarterbacks in the first seven games of the season for the third time in league history. This is a proud defense with a lot of history. Let’s see whether the Ravens can rebound against Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers, Matthew Stafford of the Los Angeles Rams, and Burrow of the New York Jets.
Can the Bengals make a serious push at the division title? If Cincinnati wins Cleveland in Week 9, it would be the first time the Bengals have won their opening three divisional games since 2015, when they made the playoffs. Cincinnati, on the other hand, will not have it easy. According to ESPN statistics, the Bengals are predicted to be underdogs in their last four games (at Denver, vs. Baltimore, vs. Kansas City, and at Cleveland).
Pryor: The offense was always going to be a work in progress, particularly early on, with a new coach, a rookie running back, and a rebuilt offensive line. However, the remainder of the season will be watched to see how it develops. Against the Browns, the Steelers played their best balanced football of the season, cementing an identity that had begun to emerge against the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks. Ben Roethlisberger threw 35 times and Najee Harris carried the ball 26 times. Harris is a real lead runner, but with an additional game on the schedule, the Steelers must keep an eye on his and the 39-year-old quarterback’s health. Roethlisberger isn’t playing like his former self, but the offense will continue to improve if the Steelers can sustain a balanced approach and the offensive line prevents hits on Roethlisberger.
Mayfield’s reaction without Beckham, according to Trotter. Following Beckham’s season-ending knee injury last year, Mayfield went on a tear, finishing third in the NFL in QBR from Week 7 through Week 15 while leading the Browns to their first playoff berth since 2002. Will Mayfield be able to rise above the turmoil and provide an encore? It won’t be easy, particularly with that sick left shoulder that won’t throw.
The most crucial game is yet to come.
Hensley: Bengals in Week 16. This has all the makings of a championship matchup in the AFC North. The Ravens will be fired up after being humiliated by Cincinnati on Oct. 24, when the Bengals crushed Baltimore 41-17, their worst loss under Lamar Jackson. The last time Cincinnati swept Baltimore was in 2015.
• NFL analysts’ game predictions » • ESPN Chalk » | PickCenter » Additional NFL coverage »
Week 16 versus. Baltimore, Baby. After being crushed at home in Week 7, the Ravens will be out for vengeance. To defeat them again, Cincinnati will need a repeat effort. Depending on how the rest of the season plays out, the victor of the Bengals-Ravens game might have an advantage in the AFC North championship battle.
Pryor: With both the AFC and AFC North races wide open, it’s more about critical games than a single game. To have any chance of reaching the playoffs, the Steelers must finish strong in their season-ending four-game gantlet, which includes games against Tennessee, Kansas City, Cleveland, and Baltimore.
Trotter: It’s possible that it’ll happen this weekend in Cincinnati. The Browns’ reaction to the OBJ situation will likely predict how the remainder of the season will go. Cleveland’s season is already on the verge of collapse, having dropped three of its last four games. Cleveland’s playoff aspirations would be all but extinguished if they suffered another divisional setback.
The “ravens division” is a division of the NFL that consists of the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers. The AFC North has been one of the most competitive divisions in football for a long time. There are a lot of storylines going into this upcoming season.
Related Tags
- afc north
- steelers division
- browns division
