The AFC North is the best division in the NFL during the 2023 regular season. Entering the week, the division’s total record sits at 24-13, with all four teams holding winning records. First and fourth place in the division is only decided by a game and a half.
Following Week 9, all four teams held playoff positions. In Week 11, all four AFC North teams will face each other. The Cincinnati Bengals play at the Baltimore Ravens (Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET, Amazon Prime Video), and the Pittsburgh Steelers play at the Cleveland Browns (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS).
Here’s a look into the division’s standings before these pivotal matchups. There could be a new division leader by Monday.
AFC North Standings Post Week 10
1. Baltimore Ravens (7-3)
The Ravens hold the division lead and are currently the No. 2 seed in the AFC. They have a 2-2 division record and a 4-3 conference record. They are undefeated against NFC opponents. In Week 10, they faced the Browns at home and lost 33-31 after blowing a two-touchdown lead. Having finished with Cleveland for the year, Baltimore still has one more matchup with both Pittsburgh and Cincinnati.
Mayhem in the AFC North 🤯 pic.twitter.com/5ljRLQQ7yW
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX)
Their second matchup with the Bengals will come on Thursday Night Football when they look for a sweep. The two first faced off in Week 2 when the Ravens won 27-24. They will host Pittsburgh in their Week 18 season finale.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3)
Despite being out-gained in every game, the Steelers have prevailed to a 6-3 record thanks to their defense and late-game Kenny Pickett (don’t ask about the first three quarters). Thanks to a 2-0 division record and a 4-2 conference record, they hold the No. 5 seed.
They faced the Green Bay Packers in Week 10, where they won 23-19. They beat both the Browns and Ravens in their two division wins. The Steelers will face the Bengals twice and both the Ravens and Browns one more time.
This week, they travel to Cleveland looking for a second victory. Pittsburgh won the first matchup 26-22. If the Steelers win and Baltimore loses, they will have possession of first place in the division.
3. Cleveland Browns (6-3)
The Browns, despite many injuries, have found themselves as the No. 6 seed of the AFC Playoffs. The Browns have the best defense in the NFL and are led by Defensive Player of the Year contender Myles Garrett.
MORE: Week 11 NFL Power Rankings
They are 2-2 in the division and 4-2 in the conference. They split the series with Baltimore and lost to Pittsburgh while beating Cincinnati. They finish division play in Week 18 when they travel to play the Bengals.
Just like the Steelers, if they win this week and Baltimore loses, they will have possession of first place in the AFC North. However, starting quarterback Deshaun Watson has been ruled out with season-ending shoulder surgery.
4. Cincinnati Bengals (5-4)
The Bengals started the season slowly, going 1-3 in their first four contests. Since then, they have won four of their last five. An early season Joe Burrow calf injury was key in them dropping their first two division matches with Baltimore and Cleveland. They are 0-2 in division play and 1-4 in conference play. Their four-game win streak ended in Week 10 when they lost to the Houston Texans 30-27.
They will look for redemption when they face the Ravens on Thursday Night Football. They still have four division games left, including two against the Steelers, for them to shoot up the standings.
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