In a division where everyone is 2-1, the margins make all the difference, as the Cincinnati Bengals can attest.
The Browns, Ravens, and Steelers all won, with varying impacts on their rankings. Conversely, the Bengals suffered the most impactful loss of the year so far among the division rivals.
Here is where the AFC North Power Rankings land after a heart-pounding Week 3, with one of the victories not quite like the others.
4. Bengals bounced to cellar
Wise men say perspective matters. When the schedule came out, if you had told most people that the Bengals were 2-1 in the first two games, many would have been ecstatic. However, how they got there also matters.
It was a comedy of errors for the Bengals. The final gut punch came when Derrick Harmon beat Dalton Risner to the sack and fumble, which the Steelers recovered, ending any chances of a Cincinnati comeback.
All three phases let the Bengals down on Sunday in a winnable, but ultimately lost, game against the Steelers. Head coach Zac Taylor spoke about the disappointment of letting the game slip through their paws after everything seemed to go wrong at once.
“All three phases had a chance to win that game. In the fourth quarter. Had a chance to score on offense. Had a chance to get a stop on defense. Had a chance to make some plays on special teams that we didn’t make. I think all three phases share in that one.”
Early in the fourth quarter, returner Ke’Shawn Williams muffed a punt at Cincinnati’s 14 with the Bengals up 27-24. However, the defense did well, surrendering only a field goal.
It wasn't the best day for the defense overall. It appears that missed tackles are going to be a theme from the usual suspects again.
The Pittsburgh offense that looked abysmal in the first two weeks came alive for 411 total yards. Aaron Rodgers, who had thrown only one touchdown on the season, threw three on Sunday. And running back Jaylen Warren is still running through Cincinnati’s defense.
Cincinnati falls to 2-1, but is critically 0-1 in the division with only five more such games left in a season that already heads into Week 4.
3. Browns tied for first in the North
As it turns out, the Cleveland Browns have entered the 2026 season ready to shock the NFL world.
If someone had told you that the Browns would be tied for first place in the division, heading into Week 4, that is a bet you would have made, and subsequently lost.
With their win over the Carolina Panthers, the Browns improved to 2-1 and looked competent in the process. That competence extends to QB Deshaun Watson, sort of, who went 16 for 30, for 144 yards and two touchdowns.
Watson’s second touchdown pass went to tight end Harold Fannin Jr. for what would end up being the game-winning touchdown with 1:48 left.
Cleveland’s defense, like Cincinnati's, also faced similar adversity, including holding Carolina to a field goal after a turnover on special teams. Nevertheless, the Browns held Carolina to one touchdown and four field goals, surrendering only 18 points.
The Browns sealed the game with an interception off the hit arm of Bryce Young.
The Browns still have the worst point differential among the four teams at -17. Nevertheless, they now hold the division’s longest winning streak at two.
Next, the Browns face the Steelers and have a chance to take control of the AFC North in Week 4. Surely no one saw that coming.
And Cleveland has a chance to take control of the division in front of a national audience on Thursday night football.
2. Ravens “Siuuuu” in Rio
As much as it pains NFL fans outside of Baltimore to say it, there might not be a better celebration than the collective Christian Ronaldo “Siuuuu” that the Ravens performed after their walk-off field goal in Rio de Janeiro.
But how the Ravens got in a position to go for the walk-off field goal in the first place will get people talking about Lamar Jackson for MVP again.
Trailing 28 to 24 with one minute and 30 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Jackson threw a touchdown pass to none other than tight end Matt Hibner.
Who? Exactly.
But Baltimore's defense couldn't stop the Cowboys from driving the length of the field to kick a field goal with eight seconds left on the clock, seemingly guaranteeing overtime.
However, with seven seconds left on the clock and from their 35-yard line, Jackson threw a pass to Zay Flowers for a completion down at Dallas’ 39. That set up the game-winning 56-yard field goal from Tyler Loop and a sure-to-be iconic Ravens celebration.
Baltimore has scored the most points of any team in the AFC North, the fourth most points in the NFL.
Quarterback Lamar Jackson could be heading towards another season where he is in the MVP conversation until the end. He had an efficient day against Dallas, completing 15-of-20 passes for 186 yards and two touchdowns.
However, the Ravens seem to have a defensive problem on a par with Cincinnati's over the past few seasons. Unfortunately, for Trey Hendrickson, that seems to be an issue he is accustomed to.
Nevertheless, Baltimore's +14 point differential is the second-best in the division, behind the Bengals.
Baltimore remains in second place after their exciting victory over the Dallas Cowboys.
Next week, the Ravens take on the Tennessee Titans in a home game in which they should be heavy favorites.
1. Steelers go from worst to first with critical win
What a turn of events for the Pittsburgh Steelers. They went from worst to first in this week’s divisional power rankings.
That will happen when you’re the only team in a division with three 3-1 teams to have a victory within the division.
And as it turns out, the Steelers’ offense is not bad. They just needed a game against the Bengals and to keep some drives alive, thanks to several missed tackles, a dropped interception, short fields off of turnovers, and the defensive backs crashing into each other in the end zone.
After having only one touchdown through two games, the Steelers scored three while putting 30 points on the board.
Pittsburgh rebuilt its offensive line on the fly, going with a new right tackle and right guard. That paid off.
In the end, it was Pittsburgh’s defense that sealed the deal for the Steelers, with a defensive tackle getting a strip-sack and fumble recovery to end the game.
Now, after getting off to a less-than-ideal start, the Steelers sit at the top of the AFC North table. And they do so by securing the first victory within the division this season.
Next up for the Steelers are the Cleveland Browns for what could be a battle for outright first place in the AFC North.
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