After the Pittsburgh Steelers Week 6 win, the AFC North continues to deliver plenty of intrigue through the first six weeks of the NFL season. The Cleveland Browns have emerged as an early surprise atop the division, while the Baltimore Ravens are trying to regain their footing after a frustrating loss. Meanwhile, the Cincinnati Bengals are coming off their bye week with an opportunity to build on some encouraging performances.
For the Steelers, the division remains wide open, and every week could bring another shakeup in the standings. With Cleveland looking to prove its early success is sustainable, Baltimore hoping to overcome injury concerns, and Cincinnati aiming to carry its momentum into the second half of October, the AFC North race is shaping up to be one worth watching. Here’s where each team stands heading into Week 7.
Cleveland Browns (4-2)
Scott Galvin-Imagn ImagesIMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
No one expected Cleveland to get off to this kind of start. However, the Browns have enjoyed similar stretches in seasons such as 2013 and 2014. The big question is whether they can sustain their early success. To his credit, head coach Todd Monken has this team fully bought in, and its performance reflects that commitment. That’s exactly what you want to see from a head coach.
Cleveland has played much better at home than on the road. After beating the Ravens, who were without their starting quarterback, the Browns claimed the top spot in the AFC North. Still, everyone is asking the same question: How will they manage to mess this up?
Next: at Titans
Baltimore Ravens (4-2)
Scott Galvin-Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
After a thriller in Atlanta, Baltimore returned home and squandered a 10-0 lead in a loss to Cleveland. The low-scoring affair played right into the Browns’ hands. After previously holding first place in the division, the Ravens have dropped to third based on the early divisional tiebreakers. All eyes are now on Lamar Jackson‘s ankle injury, which could determine whether Baltimore wins the division or finds itself fighting for a wild-card spot.
One major takeaway from Baltimore’s season so far is how head coach Jesse Minter has revitalized the defense. The unit hasn’t been perfect, but it looks much more like the classic Ravens defense fans have come to expect. That’s not encouraging news for the rest of the AFC North.
Next: vs. Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals (3-2)
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
Cincinnati had the division’s lone bye in Week 6, making for a relatively quiet week around the team. The Bengals didn’t have any major developments, instead using the extra time to address areas for improvement, as teams typically do during their bye weeks. Before the break, Cincinnati showed plenty of promise that it can build on moving forward.
The Bengals’ defense has improved and made meaningful strides. Will it become an elite unit? Probably not. However, the personnel and recent progress suggest Cincinnati can develop into an average defense at worst. That alone could be enough to keep the Bengals in contention. The question now is whether they can carry that defensive progress into the second half of the season.
Next: at Ravens
More on the Pittsburgh Steelers
- Which Steelers Outperformed, Underperformed in Week 6 Win Over Buccaneers
- Reasonable or Overreaction? 3 Steelers Takes After Week 6 Win Over Buccaneers
- Grading Mike McCarthy’s Steelers Performance in Week 6 Win Over Buccaneers
- Aaron Rodgers Identifies Who Steelers Offense Needs to Get Involved More Often
