The Cleveland Browns aren't the dark horse AFC title threat that they looked like in the first seven weeks of the season. They aren't a complete disaster, either. In reality, this team falls somewhere in the middle. Todd Monken has drawn more out of this roster than its level of talent should produce, but the Browns are still a year or two away from being truly competitive.
While Cleveland stumbles, its AFC North foes are hitting their stride. At least, the Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers are. The Bengals put on an explosive performance in Week 9, drawing level with the idle Steelers. Both teams are now a game and a half ahead of the Browns in the division title race.
With Week 9 in the books, here's how the AFC North stacks up.
AFC North power rankings after Week 9
Week 9 results:
- Ravens lost to Jaguars 33-10
- Bengals beat Falcons 34-17
- Browns lost to Saints 23-22 (OT)
1. Cincinnati Bengals look unstoppable with this version of Joe Burrow
Since the Bengals' Week 6 bye, Joe Burrow has been playing better than any other quarterback in the NFL. He leads the league in EPA per play, passing yards, and passing touchdowns in that stretch, and the Bengals have scored at least 34 points in each of those three games. Burrow's connection with Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins has been impossible to defend.
The defense hasn't been anything special, ranking 19th in EPA per play since the bye, but it just has to avoid being a complete disaster to support the offense.
None of the teams that Cincinnati has faced during this dominant run have been particularly threatening. That will change in Week 10, when the Bengals take on a buttoned-up Steelers squad in a battle for the top spot in the division.
Next game: Sunday, Nov. 15 vs. Steelers
2. Pittsburgh Steelers' bye week came at the worst time
The Steelers didn't play this week, but they did lose. With Cincinnati's dominant win over the Atlanta Falcons, Pittsburgh now has to share the top spot in the AFC North. The head-to-head win in Week 3 still looms large, but the Steelers can't afford to slip up moving forward.
Coming out of the bye, Pittsburgh will need to lean into its identity as a team that wins in the trenches to take down Cincinnati.
Next game: Sunday, Nov. 15 at Bengals
3. Cleveland Browns are suddenly in a free fall
The Browns' midseason situation went from bad to worse in Week 9. With Shedeur Sanders leading the offense, Cleveland came up short against a New Orleans Saints team that offered the win on a silver platter.
Entering Week 9, the Saints had allowed the most EPA per rush in the NFL. Still, the Browns failed to reach 100 yards on the ground.
If a two-point conversion in overtime goes differently, the Browns are tied with the Steelers and Bengals atop the division. Still, this team looks much less put-together than it did earlier in the season.
Next game: Sunday, Nov. 15 vs. Texans
4. Baltimore Ravens will need more than Jacoby Brissett to recover
The Baltimore Ravens haven't scored more than 13 points in a game since Oct. 11. Without Lamar Jackson, their offense has completely fallen apart. Derrick Henry seems to have taken a significant step back, and without any passing threat, he hasn't had any space to work with on the ground.
Jacoby Brissett should make the Ravens' offense functional, at least. He may not be a starting-caliber quarterback at this point in his career, but he's certainly an upgrade from Joe Fagnano.
Still, Brissett alone won't turn this team into a playoff contender. Unless the other teams in the AFC North collapse in the back half of the season, Baltimore's playoff hopes are over.
Next game: Monday, Nov. 16 vs. Chargers
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