It had to happen eventually. After a month-and-a-half-long stretch of dancing with the AFC's elite teams, the Cleveland Browns turned back into a pumpkin in Week 8, fitting for the day after Halloween.
The Browns' blowout loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers forced them to face a harsh reality that they're still at least a few pieces away from competing at the top of the conference. To be clear, this season is far from over. Cleveland still has a chance to make a playoff push. But this loss was a brutal wake-up call for Todd Monken's squad.
On the bright side, the rest of the AFC North was far from perfect in Week 8. Here's how things stand in the division.
AFC North power rankings after Week 8
Week 8 results:
- Ravens lost to Bills 36-10
- Bengals beat Titans 43-36 (OT)
- Steelers beat Browns 27-6
1. Pittsburgh Steelers bring Browns' momentum to a grinding halt
The Steelers were the better team from start to finish in this game. They were more physical, more disciplined, and more explosive than Cleveland.
Recent history still leaves some doubt about whether the Steelers can make a run once they get to the playoffs, but they have easily looked like the most competent team in the division this season, especially over the last six weeks.
Next game: Sunday, Nov. 15 at Bengals
2. Cincinnati Bengals barely survive Titans
When Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins put on their superhero capes, there isn't a team in the league that can hold them back. The Bengals haven't been able to find much consistency on offense, though. Turnovers and a leaky defense nearly gave the Tennessee Titans the cushion they needed to pull off an upset.
Cincinnati certainly has the potential to outpace any team in the conference, but it needs to string together a few comfortable victories before being taken seriously as a threat.
Next game: Sunday, Nov. 8 vs. Falcons
3. Cleveland Browns fall flat in crucial Steelers matchup
The magic melted away for the Browns in Week 8, revealing some glaring problems that their improbable wins had previously covered up.
Cleveland lost in the trenches against Pittsburgh, especially on offense. Deshaun Watson was constantly under pressure, and the Browns were unable to get any sort of running game going. Monken's unit simply didn't have an answer against a buttoned-up Steelers defense.
Again, a playoff appearance could absolutely still be in the cards, but this team has some work to do in the coming weeks.
Next game: Sunday, Nov. 8 at Saints
4. Baltimore Ravens fall out of AFC North race with another Lamar Jackson injury
The idea of the Baltimore Ravens is as dangerous as any team in the NFL. Unfortunately for Baltimore, it's still nothing more than an idea. Jesse Minter's defense has failed to come together, and Lamar Jackson's consistent injury issues have hamstrung the offense.
After missing multiple weeks with an ankle injury, Jackson lasted one play before going down again against the Buffalo Bills. He's now expected to miss significant time again, potentially ending the Ravens' season.
Next game: Thursday, Nov. 5 vs. Jaguars
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