AFC North Power Rankings: Browns, Ravens, and Bengals making playoff push

It's inarguable that the Cleveland Browns play in the most competitive division in the entire NFL. With four games left to go, the AFC North is the only division where all four teams have a winning record. Juxtapose that with the NFC South which doesn't have a single team currently sitting at above .500.

Three of the four teams in the AFC North were able to come away with victories in Week 14, with the one lonely outlier being the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, if the playoffs were to start today the Steelers would be a part of it along with the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens. The Cincinnati Bengals would be on the outside looking in, even though their record puts them in a six-way tie, but they do not hold any tiebreakers.

AFC North power rankings heading into week 15

No. 4: Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6)

While it's true that the Steelers would be in the playoffs if they started today, the way things are trending that statement won't hold up for long. The Steelers are coming off back-to-back home losses against teams that only had two wins entering the contest. Needless to say, Steeler Nation is not handling the recent skid well.

With Kenny Pickett injured, the team has turned to Mitchell Trubisky to lead the Steelers’ offense. One game in with Trubisky at the helm and Steelers fans were already chanting for Mason Rudolph. The wheels appear to be coming off the Steelers season and if Mike Tomlin cannot get them back on track quickly it will be an interesting offseason in Pittsburgh.

No. 3: Cincinnati Bengals (7-6)

The Cincinnati Bengals recent glow-up with Jake Browning at quarterback is something that this writer didn't have on his bingo card. During their recent two-game winning streak, Browning has thrown for 629 yards with three touchdowns and only one interception while completing just over 80% of his passes. Those are not just numbers that a team can win with, those are numbers that a team can thrive with.

As stated previously, the Bengals sit at 7-6 but find themselves in the fifth spot of a six-team log jam. With no tiebreakers to elevate them, they'll need to do some heavy lifting over the final four games to climb their way into the playoffs. All four of Cincinnati’s remaining opponents currently have winning records.

However, there's not an un-winnable game on their schedule. With the sliding Minnesota Vikings up next, Cincinnati could easily find themselves on a three-game winning streak heading into their game with a free-falling Steelers squad in Week 16. Then, the Bengals finish up with a road trip to Kansas City and then wrap up the regular season by playing the Cleveland Browns in front of their home fans. As long as Browning does not turn back into a pumpkin, there is a path to the postseason for Cincinnati.

No. 2: Cleveland Browns (8-5)

The Cleveland Browns 2023 campaign can be summed up in three words: injuries and overcoming adversity. There hasn't been a more snakebitten team in the NFL in terms of season-ending injuries. With Nick Chubb, Jack Conklin, Deshaun Watson, Dawand Jones, Rodney McLeod, and Jakeem Grant all being placed on season-ending injured reserve, it would be logical the Browns should not be super competitive this season.

However, the Browns sit at 8-5 and are currently in the driver seat of the AFC wildcard race. Kevin Stefanski and Andrew Berry should receive some credit for holding this team together with super glue and duct tape. In the Browns eight wins, four different quarterbacks have led the team to victory. But it is the final Browns quarterback to earn a win in 2023 that has the fanbase excited.

Joe Flacco was plucked from his couch three weeks ago, and this past Sunday the former rival quarterback threw for 311 yards and three touchdowns in a Browns victory over a tough Jacksonville team. But it is not just the Jacksonville win that fans should be excited about. The Browns have a 6-3 record against teams that are above .500 and have wins against four teams that currently occupy playoff spots in the AFC, including the top seed in each conference. If they just continue to handle their business, they could make some noise in the postseason.

No. 1: Baltimore Ravens (10-3)

The Baltimore Ravens just continue to win. Since dropping a game to the Browns in mid-November, the Ravens have ripped off three straight wins, including their walk-off punt return in overtime against the Los Angeles Rams in week 14. In fact, the loss to Cleveland is their only defeat in their past eight games.

Baltimore’s 10-3 record currently has them sitting as the top seed in the AFC playoffs. Although, the Ravens have a tough row ahead in the final four weeks of the season. The Ravens next three games are against the current division leaders. With back-to-back road games against Jacksonville and then their NFC top seed counterparts, the San Francisco 49ers, followed by a home game with the current number two seed in the AFC, the Miami Dolphins.

That three-game stretch is truly a murderer’s row for any NFL franchise. But it is also the type of stretch that could battle harden the Ravens before heading into the postseason. As it always has been, the key to Baltimore’s success, be it in the regular season or playoffs, rides on the health of Lamar Jackson. The former NFL MVP was unable to finish the regular season in Baltimore’s previous two campaigns. As long as Jackson is able to remain healthy, Baltimore is a legit Super Bowl contender.