AFC North Power Rankings Week 17: Browns, Ravens create separation

Throughout this entire season, the AFC North has been the toughest division in the NFL. That remains the case but the two teams at the top have started to separate themselves. Both the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens had impressive wins on Sunday, which keeps them on top of our AFC North Power Rankings.

For the Browns, they were able to knock off the Houston Texans on the road. Houston had a familiar face under center with Case Keenum taking over for an injured C.J. Stroud but they made sure to hold him in check. The Ravens were in action on Monday night and they made a statement against the San Francisco 49ers.

As for the Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers, they faced off on Christmas Eve with the Steelers winning easily. With all that out of the way, here's how the division ranks against one another.

4. Cincinnati Bengals (8-7)

After a three-game winning streak with Jake Browning under center, the Cincinnati Bengals were in the midst of the AFC playoff race. They then just about ended their chances with a 34-11 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 16. Not only did that crush their playoff hopes but it was their fifth loss in the division this year.

Cincinnati has a talented roster, which is how they made the Super Bowl in 2021 and then the AFC Championship Game again in 2022. Their problem continues to be their play within the division. This year, it's been a new low and even one win in their first five rivalry games would have had them close to locking up a spot.

Now, they find themselves at 8-6 with a triop to Kansas City on the schedule next. After that, they return home to host the Cleveland Browns, who have had their number as of late. They deserve credit for staying alive without Joe Burrow but this loss hurt quite a bit.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-6)

Many of us scoffed when Mason Rudolph was named the starter for the Pittsburgh Steelers but it's hard not to be impressed with what he did against the Bengals this weekend. In just his first start since 2021, Rudolph threw for 290 yards with two touchdowns.

He proved to not only be an upgrade over Mitchell Trubisky but he looked better than Kenny Pickett has all year. On his first drive alone, Trubisky found a way to get George Pickens going, hitting him in stride on a slant pass that Pickens turned into an 86-yard touchdown.

Pickens, who had been disgruntled for much of the year, finished with four receptions for 195 yards with two touchdowns. His second one was another long touchdown, this time going for 66 yards. It all added up to a 34-11 win for Pittsburgh who kept their slim playoff hopes alive. But even if they don't make it to the postseason, they can take solace in the fact that they might have done enough to keep the Bengals out.

Head coach Mike Tomlin has still never has a losing season as the head coach in Pittsburgh. For a while, it appeared that would change this year but that might no longer be the case. The Steelers are 8-6 and need a win over the Seahawks or Ravens in Week 17 or 18 to keep that streak alive.

2. Cleveland Browns (10-5)

Somehow, the Cleveland Browns just keep winning. Joe Flacco made his fourth start for them this weekend and for the third time in a row, he had more than 300 yards. He also had his fourth-straight game with at least two touchdowns, finishing with 368 yards and three scores.

In his four-game season, Flacco already has 1,307 yards with 10 touchdowns. He does have seven picks which is the one area he needs to clean up but even with the turnovers, he's been a welcome addition. Not only does he push the ball downfield more than Dorian Thompson-Robinson or P.J. Walker but he also gets everyone involved.

Amari Cooper and David Njoku have been the primary benefactors. Njoku has scored four touchdowns over the past three games whereas Cooper just set the franchise record for the most receiving yards in a single game. Even David Bell scored his first-career touchdown with Flacco and Cedric Tillman is flashing his potential.

Despite one injury after another, the Browns are still 10-5. They're one of the top teams in the AFC and the only thing keeping them from controlling their division right now is the way Baltimore is playing. For Cleveland, their performance is a testament to the culture Kevin Stefanski has created.

He's turned them into a winning franchise and they're now pulling out games they used to lose. Right now, they're playing well on both sides of the ball and there's no way anyone wants to see them in the playoffs. They can win on any given Sunday.

1. Baltimore Ravens (12-3)

As frustrating as this is to admit, the Baltimore Ravens are playing incredible football right now. They haven't lost a game since Cleveland knocked them off back in Week 10 by a score of 33-31. That's five wins in a row and while we could say their first four weren't against great teams, that changed on Monday.

The final game on Christmas night featured the Ravens going into San Francisco and putting on a clinic. With everyone praising Brock Purdy as an MVP candidate, Lamar Jackson showed us the difference between a system quarterback and a legit MVP. Jackson had 252 yards with two touchdowns and no turnovers.

Purdy, on the other hand, folded under the pressure the Ravens brought. When things got tough for him, he crumbled to the tune of four interceptions on 18-of-32 passing. Purdy, who completed just 44 percent of his attempts for 125 yards in a loss to the Browns, has struggled when Kyle Shanahan's script is taken away from him and Baltimore understood this — and took advantage.

Now with a record of 12-3, they're the favorites for the No. 1 seed. The good news for Cleveland is that they've already gone into the Ravens house and stole a game, so they shouldn't be too concerned about the AFC going through Baltimore — should that be the case.

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