We are starting to believe every AFC North game will end in some crazy fashion, with the Cincinnati Bengals on the verge of grabbing defeat from the jaws of victory every weekend.
Last week, the AFC North Power Rankings were turned upside down. This week, they were turned inside out. And you would’ve never guessed who sits on the division’s throne after Week 4 before the season began.
Here is where the AFC North Power Rankings land after a surprising Week 4, heading into Week 5.
4. Bengals 2-0 start looking like a distant memory
In a similar fashion to last season, the Cincinnati Bengals’ start wasn’t the issue. Rather, what happened after their 2-0 start was more concerning.
After a gut-punching loss to the Steelers last week, the Bengals suffered a conference loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Bengals aren’t panicking after the loss to the Jags, as Joe Burrow alluded to. He used the word “confident” several times to describe his feelings after the game. He would go on to say, “We had our opportunities in the last two weeks. This isn’t Armageddon or anything. We’re still in a great spot.“
A 2-2 start is not the end of the world with 13 more games to play. And the Bengals have the Miami Dolphins next up on the schedule.
However, while panic isn’t setting in just yet, if the Bengals drop a game to the Dolphins, the worst team in the NFL, then all hands will be on deck of a ship taking on a deluge of water.
And the Bengals could be without both their star receivers, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Chase suffered a concussion in the first half, and Higgins sustained an injury to his groin in the fourth quarter.
The Bengals have the best scoring defense in the AFC North. They have the second-best scoring offense and point differential in the division. Unfortunately, that hasn't translated into wins over the past two weeks.
Cincinnati is 0-1 in the division and 1-2 in the conference. But they have a chance to improve those records when they take on the winless Dolphins on Sunday.
3. Steelers fumble chance to rule the North
Before the Pittsburgh Steelers took the field against the Cleveland Browns, they sent cornerback Joey Porter Jr. to the Dallas Cowboys for a sixth-round pick in 2027 and a second-round pick in 2028.
That move ended their offseason-long saga of Porter not participating without a new deal, while also setting off alarm bells throughout the Bengals’ front office about what awaits them this upcoming offseason as they hope to strike a deal with starting cornerback DJ Turner and Dax Hill.
After business was taken care of off the field, the Steelers had an opportunity to put distance between them and the rest of the division with a victory over the Browns on Thursday Night Football. However, they did not take advantage.
The Steelers lost to the Browns 27-24 in a game where Pittsburgh moved the ball, but two interceptions and relentless pressure on Aaron Rodgers proved too much.
The Steelers have scored the fewest points in the North (77) and have the second-worst point differential (-10).
Losing to Cleveland dropped the Steelers to 1-1 in the division and 2-2 overall. Still, thanks to their win over the Bengals in Week 3, they own the tiebreaker in the standings and the power rankings over Cincinnati.
Next up for the Steelers are the streaking Indianapolis Colts, who are 2-2 after a 0-2 start.
2. Ravens soar against Titans
After four games, the Ravens are the only team that hasn't played a divisional game yet. So far, they surely aren't complaining.
Nevertheless, after a win over the Titans on Sunday, Baltimore is 3-0 in the conference, whereas the Bengals, Browns, and Steelers are 1-2, 1-1, and 1-2, respectively. Baltimore is 3-1 overall.
Zay Flowers looked like one of the best and most exciting receivers in football against the Titans, hauling in eight catches for 188 yards and a touchdown.
Lamar Jackson had another incredibly efficient game, completing 15 of 20 pass attempts for 222 yards and two touchdowns.
After a late scare with the Titans scoring a touchdown and two-point conversion with just over a minute left in the game, the Ravens won 24-18.
The Ravens own the largest point differential among their divisional foes. They have also scored the most points in the AFC North, by a wide margin.
After taking care of Tennessee, the Ravens take on the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday Night Football in another game where Baltimore should be the favorite.
That is, if quarterback Lamar Jackson’s ankle allows him to play.
1. Browns bite proving louder than their bark
It is with great surprise that we announce that the Cleveland Browns have claimed the throne in this week’s AFC North Power Rankings.
The Browns take control thanks to their Thursday Night victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, 27-24.
The game ended eerily similar to the Ravens-Cowboys matchup. Right when we thought the game was destined to go into overtime, Watson, like Lamar Jackson did with Baltimore, took the Browns down the field for a game-winning field goal.
The details don’t matter as much as the outcome this week, as the Browns are 3-1, just as everyone surely predicted in all of their preseason prognostications.
They own the longest winning streak in the division, with three consecutive wins, and hold the ultimate tiebreaker with a divisional record of 1-0.
On the bright side for the rest of their divisional foes, the Browns are playing themselves out of any hopes of getting the top draft pick that would land them their quarterback of the future.
But if they keep winning, Cleveland won’t have to worry about such things.
The Browns take on the New York Jets next in a matchup where the Browns should find themselves as the favorites.
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