Bengals rule the division and Week 3 AFC North power rankings

There was significant movement in the AFC North power rankings this week, with the Cincinnati Bengals coming out on top. 

Perhaps the most shocking result came from the Browns. But that is if you do not believe that the way the Baltimore Ravens lost rises to the level of the jarring Cleveland result. 

This week, Ohio carried the North on Sunday. And as we head into the first inter-divisional matchup this upcoming weekend, here is where the AFC North power rankings stand heading into Week 3.

4. Steelers going to Browns, we suppose

Heading into Week 2, ex-Steelers and current NBC Sports analyst Mike Tomlin rocked the Browns’ boat when he stated, "In the words of my friend JuJu Smith-Schuster, the Browns is the Browns."

However, it was Tomlin’s old team, the Steelers, that did the Browns-ing, we suppose. 

The Pittsburgh Steelers had a rough outing against the New England Patriots, losing 20-3. As the final score shows, not much went right for the Steelers. 

Despite two defensive turnovers, the Steelers’ offense managed only three points and looked uninspiring in the passing and running game, aside from a few highlights. 

Aaron Rodgers threw for 187 yards on 23 of 39 passes and one interception, while averaging 4.8 yards per attempt. 

The Patriots averaged more yards per attempt rushing, 4.9, than Rodgers did passing. 

However, Pittsburgh’s defense showed up, holding the Patriots to only 13 points after a New England turnover and short fields off special teams. 

The Bengals must be aware of the usual suspects against the Steelers’ potent pass rush on Sunday. TJ Watt led Pittsburgh with 1.5 sacks. Alex Highsmith added one sack and three QB hits. 

3. Browns didn’t Browns

After his first victory as Cleveland’s head coach, Todd Monken got off his response to Tomlin, and everyone else, when he said, “The Browns are going to Browns, (expletive) that. Okay. The guys took that to heart.”

Yeah, the Browns and their HC took Tomlin’s remarks personally. Nevertheless, they had to go out and show they could do something about it. 

Prior to the Browns taking the field against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, ESPN’s Ian Rapoport reported that Cleveland would reevaluate their QB situation before Week 3. 

Already declaring that Deshaun Watson would most likely get replaced even before taking a snap against the Bucs was probably not the best way to go about things. However, it appears that Watson may have taken that personally.

Watson was very efficient, completing 24 of 30 passes for 238 yards and two touchdowns, outdueling Baker Mayfield.

The Browns’ defense looked more like what we have seen over the past few years, keeping Cleveland in the game by allowing nine points in the first half and 19 for the game. 

We should see the Buccaneers fall in any offensive line rankings after Cleveland recorded three sacks, five QB hits, and seven tackles for loss. 

We’ll have to wait and see if the Browns go through with their not-so-veiled threat to sit Watson. But do not count on that happening after his performance and the win. 

The Browns face the Carolina Panthers on Sunday in their home opener of 2026. 

2. Ravens fall from perch

The Baltimore Ravens sat atop the AFC North in last week’s rankings. This week, they fell to second after a heartbreaking, shocking loss in which they blew a fourth-quarter lead. 

The Ravens were holding court, with Derrick Henry leading the way with 11 carries for 55 yards in the first half. However, they handed him the ball five more times after halftime.

Nevertheless, the Ravens had a 17-9 lead entering the fourth quarter. That did not last long. New Orleans quickly tied the game at 17 before later having the ball in Tyler Shough's hands with a chance to win the game with a little over a minute left.

Bengals fans slept even better knowing that the Saints were aided late by a Trey Hendrickson roughing-the-passer call on New Orleans final drive of the game. 

After that, the Saints also got the benefit of the doubt on a Tyler Shough touchdown on a QB sneak that we are sure no one will have any issues with. 

Baltimore sits second in the division. They have the second-best point differential (+11) and a 1-0 conference record.

The Ravens next play a “home game” against the Dallas Cowboys in Rio de Janeiro, where reports are already surfacing of poor field conditions. 

1. Bengals sit on AFC North throne after Week 2 

It's been a while since we could say the Bengals lead the AFC North in point differential. It's been even longer since we could say they are top-3 in the conference and top-10 in the NFL in that category. Yet, that is where they stand after the first two weeks of this season, with a +20 advantage. 

Unlike their in-state counterparts, the Bengals knew who their QB would be in Week 3. That is, if Joe Burrow made it out of Houston unscathed. He almost didn't. 

The Texans recorded three sacks and six QB hits by halftime. They finished with five sacks and ten QB hits on Joe Burrow.

Furthermore, Cincinnati went into the locker room with eight penalties for fifty yards. But the damage was a lot worse than that, with some of those ill-timed flags coming at critical moments, like Chase Brown's explosive run for 26 yards. 

Nevertheless, the Bengals overcame 12 penalties for 78 yards to defeat the Texans 20-6 on the strength of their defense, which played amazingly for the second straight week. 

After Houston scored 31 points against the Bills last week, Cincinnati held the Texans to six points on Sunday. The offense looked good enough. Chase Brown averaged 4.0 yards per carry on his way to 80 rushing yards.

Tee Higgins had five catches for 95 yards while Ja’Marr Chase recorded seven receptions for 75 yards and two touchdowns. 

Still, there were more yards and points to be had if it weren’t for all of those pesky penalties and pressure on Joe Burrow. 

Next week, the Bengals will defend their first-place standing in the division against the Steelers in Pittsburgh. 

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