AFC North Power Rankings heading into Week 9 with Bengals-Steelers lurking

The AFC North power rankings have shifted as the Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers continued their winning ways, while the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens had a forgettable weekend.

Through Week 8, the division is still one of the best, along with the NFC North, as the only two divisions where every team has a winning record. Nevertheless, if we were to rank those two, the AFC North would be in second place, as the NFC North is the only division in the NFL to have all four teams with positive point differentials.

In the AFC North, the cream appears to be rising to the top, with the two teams with positive point differentials taking a step forward, while the other two with negative point differentials regress and look more in line with what we should expect going forward.

With all of the games in, here is where the AFC North power rankings lie as we head into week nine of an extremely fast-moving 2026 NFL season.

4. Ravens lose Jackson, Huntley, and a blowout to Bills

The Baltimore Ravens entered their game against the Buffalo Bills after already losing two straight games, including a divisional matchup to the Cincinnati Bengals.

Unfortunately for the Ravens, but luckily for the other teams involved in the AFC North, they had their wings clipped against the Bills, losing 36-10. 

But the game wasn't the only thing they lost, as on their very first offensive snap, Lamar Jackson, who had just returned from injury, hit his hand on a defender's helmet during his follow-through, injuring his thumb on his throwing hand, which will require surgery to repair. 

The Ravens wasted no time placing their starting quarterback, Lamar Jackson, on injury reserve, seemingly before the game was even over. 

The Ravens' bad luck at QB continued when their starter for the previous three weeks, Tyler Huntley, came into the game and attempted only four passes before suffering a turf toe injury, causing PTSD for Cincinnati Bengals fans.

Third-string quarterback Joe Fagnano entered the game and did what he could, completing 10 passes for 91 yards and one interception.

The Ravens now own the longest losing streak in the AFC North, dropping their last three contests.

However, they have no time to nurse their wounds as they take on the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday Night Football in a game without Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley.

Where Baltimore goes now at the position is anyone's guess. Nonetheless, the Ravens must start Fagnano and add a street free agent, since they don't even have a QB on their practice squad.

Perhaps they will be interested in making a trade with the Bengals for their former starting QB Joe Flacco. Although it is highly unlikely that Cincinnati would be as kind as the Cleveland Browns were in letting him go to a divisional rival in the middle of the season.

3. Browns dog-walked by Steelers in battle for 1st-place

In a battle for first place in the AFC North, the Cleveland Browns were dog-walked by the Pittsburgh Steelers, losing 27-6.

Quarterback Deshaun Watson had an impressive game in the loss, completing 27 of 39 passes for 324 yards. However, he could not overcome Pittsburgh's suffocating defense, which got to Watson for eight sacks and 13 QB hits.

Despite their loss to the Steelers, the Browns are still an impressive 5-3 overall with a 2-1 record in-division. Furthermore, unlike the Ravens, they know who their quarterback will be next week.

Yet, the Browns have the worst point differential in the AFC North at -34. Also, their defense isn't the stingy one we have become accustomed to over the past few seasons, as they've allowed the third-most points in the division.

Adding to their sorrow and possible lack of confidence in themselves is that they have scored the fourth-fewest points in the NFL, behind the 0-7 Chargers, 1-6 Dolphins, and 2-6 Eagles.

The Browns next travel out of conference to New Orleans to take on the Saints on Sunday, which is another winnable game for the ‘Elves.’

2. Bengals survive Titans in Burrow, Lawrence-led OT thriller

It took a while, but the Cincinnati Bengals eventually defeated the Tennessee Titans in overtime, 43-36.

Joe Burrow had a superb, though at times sloppy, performance against the Titans. The messiness came as the Bengals’ QB threw three interceptions, including a severely underthrown pass to Ja’Marr Chase that would have been an easy touchdown, as the star wideout beat Tennessee’s secondary by a large margin. 

Burrow's excellence came in completing 38 of 48 passes for 462 yards and five touchdowns. Four of those completions came in overtime on consecutive passes for 61 yards before Burrow ran in the winning touchdown himself on a nine-yard scramble. 

However, the game, and perhaps the season, was saved when Dexter Lawrence sacked Cam Ward as the Titans were driving for a potential game-winning field goal at the end of regulation. 

Cincinnati is now 5-2 overall with a 1-1 record within the division. However, they are pulling away with a +48-point differential, which is the best in the division.

Their 206 points put them atop the AFC North and fourth-best in the NFL despite playing only seven games. Only the Bills have scored more points while having played only seven games.

The Bengals next face the Atlanta Falcons in Madrid. But if you have a chance to be in Spain this upcoming weekend, remember that the best Chile con Carne con queso in the world is back home in Cincinnati, waiting for you.

1. Steelers cruise against Browns behind suffocating defense

The Pittsburgh Steelers maintain their spot at the top of the AFC North power rankings thanks to their 27-6 win over their division rival, the Cleveland Browns.

Pittsburgh got the win, despite having a less-than-pedestrian game from their starting quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, who completed 13 of 25 passes for 172 yards and one interception. 94 of those yards went to tight end Darnell Washington on just three receptions.

Nevertheless, they got another excellent game from starting running back Jaylen Warren, who ran for 143 yards on 17 carries and one touchdown.

In the end, Pittsburgh's defense was the MVP against the Browns, holding Cleveland to only six points while racking up eight sacks on Deshaun Watson.

The Steelers have allowed the seventh-fewest points in the NFL through eight games this season. This feat is incredibly impressive, considering the six teams above them in that category have played only seven games thus far.

The Steelers also share the NFL’s longest winning streak with the Denver Broncos, with four straight victories.

Pittsburgh is now tied with the Browns with a 2-1 record within the division. They also have the second-best point differential, +36, behind Cincinnati's +48.

Overall, Pittsburgh 6-2 and tied with the Denver Broncos for the AFC's second seed, half a game behind the Buffalo Bills.

The Steelers will spend Week 9 on their bye. But when they return, they'll face the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday Night Football, a game that could decide who leads the AFC heading into Week 11.

However, for Cincinnati to win the battle for first place, the Bengals must beat the Falcons in Madrid.

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