The Cleveland Browns fell to the Broncos in Denver by a score of 29-12. What began as a slow start for the Browns defense, quickly descended into a battle of attrition as the injuries started to mount up. But where does this recent loss slot the Browns in the hierarchy of the AFC North?
The AFC North is a division in transition as it currently stands. With two teams without their franchise quarterbacks for the remainder of the season, another team who just fired their offensive coordinator, and one team who just keeps chugging along and collecting wins along the way, the North is finally beginning to flesh itself out. Let’s take a look at how the NFL’s blood and guts division stacks up internally after week 12.
AFC North power rankings heading into Week 13
No. 4: Cincinnati Bengals (5-6)
Out of all the possible outcomes for the AFC North in 2023, no one had the Cincinnati Bengals ending up in the basement. But here they are. Sitting at 5-6, with the division's only losing record, and without Joe Burrow for the remainder of the season. It's difficult to imagine the Bengals making a push to climb out of their fourth-place spot.
With Jake Browing now as the team’s trigger man, the Bengals’ upper bound limits suddenly have an extremely low ceiling. It will be up to Cincinnati’s defense to keep them in games and turn them into rock fights for the remainder of the season. One might wonder if the Bengals’ brass could look to shut a few players down and start looking forward to the draft. Crazy spot to be in for a team that began the season with Super Bowl aspirations.
No. 3: Pittsburgh Steelers (7-4)
Don’t look now but the Pittsburgh Steelers offense finally showed a pulse in 2023. After firing their offensive coordinator, Matt Canada, the Steelers finally cracked 400 yards of total offense for the first time in 58 straight games. However, it should be noted that this sudden explosion of offense only yielded a meager 16 points against a hapless Bengals squad.
But it is undeniable that the vibes surrounding the Steelers after firing Canada are trending upwards. If the Steelers can find a way to get 20-plus points out of their offense on a weekly basis they are going to find themselves as a double-digit win team with a playoff spot awaiting them in the second week of January. Given their upcoming schedule, the Steelers and their fans should be optimistic about their opportunity over the final six games of the season.
Of their remaining six contests, the Steelers only face three teams that currently have winning records: the Seattle Seahawks, Indianapolis Colts, and the Baltimore Ravens. Only one of those teams, the Colts, is battling for a wildcard spot in the AFC. So, as per usual, Pittsburgh should once again be playing meaningful football all the way until week 17.
No. 2: Cleveland Browns (7-4)
What a difference a week makes. This time last week, the Cleveland Browns were sitting atop this very same power ranking. But after a disappointing outing in Denver where the Browns became the Broncos' fifth victim in as many games, the Browns slid down to the second spot in the AFC North power rankings.
There were many things that became apparent in the Browns road loss at the hands of the Broncos. The first observation jumped off the screen at the beginning of the game. This Cleveland defense, as talented as it is, is a completely different unit at home than they are on the road. Last Sunday marked the third straight road game where the defense started the game off flat and uninspired.
However, the elephant in the room is just how decimated this roster is due to injury. All season long the Browns have overcome adversity, but it is finally becoming apparent that the still growing list of injuries is simply too much to power through. Now the Browns must pivot and move forward with a mash unit and head to Los Angeles to take on the Rams.
The Browns sit at 7-4, and even with the injuries, Cleveland has several winnable games left on their schedule. As long as the Browns handle their business, they are in the driver’s seat to land a wildcard spot. It will be up to the defense to do the heavy lifting in the short term, as the Browns prepare to start their (checks notes) fourth quarterback of the season.
No. 1: Baltimore Ravens (9-3)
Since the Baltimore Ravens lost to the Browns in Week 10, it has been business as usual for the leaders of the AFC North. The Ravens dispatched both the Bengals and Chargers in back-to-back games, and now they are heading into their bye week with a 9-3 record. Their ability to keep the train on the tracks and keep it rolling is what puts them back in the top spot in this power ranking.
Given the season ending injuries to Deshaun Watson and Joe Burrow, which both came at the hands of Baltimore, the Ravens are the only AFC North team with a true franchise quarterback still standing. As long as Jackson is the Ravens’ trigger man and their defense is intact, Baltimore is going to be a tough out for any opponent.
With a two-game lead, it's difficult to imagine either the Browns or the Steelers being able to make up that ground in the regular season. Add in the fact that now the Ravens get a week to rest up before their final five games to end the season, and things are lining up nicely for Baltimore. However, the Ravens final four games are all against teams that are currently in the playoff picture: Jacksonville Jaguars, San Francisco 49ers, Miami Dolphins, and then the aforementioned Steelers.