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AFC North QB Power Rankings: Joe Burrow is carving out his place

By Jordanna Clark

Nov 7, 2021; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) throws a pass against the Cleveland Browns in the first half at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 7, 2021; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) throws a pass against the Cleveland Browns in the first half at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports /
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Pittsburgh Steelers, Ben Roethlisberger
Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers (Photo by Charles LeClaire/USA TODAY Sports) /

The Cincinnati Bengals were hoping to enter their bye week with a rebound win over the Cleveland Browns, but instead were annihilated 41-16 at Paul Brown Stadium. Cincinnati now sits at 5-4 and is currently in last place in the AFC North. In a division that can go any which way, Joe Burrow and the Bengals don’t need to overreact to the team’s previous two losses.

Two weeks ago, Cincinnati was at the top of the AFC. The Bengals can still return to that form, especially considering how bizarre the conference has fared through the first half of the year. The outlook isn’t looking too good in Cincinnati’s division right now, but Burrow’s a top-10 quarterback in the NFL and one of the best in the AFC North.

Now that we’re on the topic of quarterbacks in the north, how does Burrow fare in a power ranking against Baker Mayfield, Ben Roethlisberger and Lamar Jackson?

No. 4: Ben Roethlisberger

This should come to absolutely no surprise. Not only is Ben Roethlisberger the oldest quarterback in the division by 13 years, but he’s also the worst.

The 39-year-old is in his 18th season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who are currently in second in the division with a 5-3 record. After stunning Buffalo in Week 1, Pittsburgh lost its next three games but is currently riding a four-game win streak.

Roethlisberger, who may or may not be retiring at the end of the season, has managed to not turn the ball over in the Steelers’ past four games. He looked like a huge liability at the beginning of the year, and while he still is one, his performance has improved. Roethlisberger holds a 65.6 completion percentage (196-of-299) and has thrown 10 touchdowns and four interceptions in eight games. His rating is 90, the lowest in the division.

It’s painfully evident that his arm isn’t what it used to be, which is why Pittsburgh’s offensive average of 324.1 yards per game is towards the bottom of the totem pole in the league. Perhaps his season-ending shoulder injury in 2019 is the reason for this, or it could be his age.

Either way, he’s a ghost of the player that won two Super Bowls for the Steelers. However, his wisdom and experience are things that Pittsburgh is going to use to their advantage as long as he’s taking snaps under center.

Overall, it’s hard to count the Steelers out, but the team’s recent success isn’t because of Roethlisberger’s production.

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