Trying to figure out what in the world is going on in the AFC North through the first two weeks of the NFL season is impossible. One constant has been the disappearance of last year's dominance across the board. This division looks like a shell of its last year's self.
Each week is different and Week 2 provided us with some confirmation that this could be a long season for all four of these teams. Every team moved up or down the board from last week's ratings. It's a testament to how truly open this division is.
There’s still plenty to figure out, but we have to work with what we’ve seen so far. At the very least, we can make some educated guesses, and that’s exactly what we’re doing with our AFC North Week 3 NFL Power Rankings.
(Note:Number in parentheses indicates last week's ranking.)
AFC North power rankings Week 2
4. Cleveland Browns (3)
It wasn’t the prettiest win, but at the end of the day, a win is still a win. After a rough showing in Week 1, the Cleveland Browns had their fanbase feeling a bit anxious. They managed to get back on track with a win against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 2, but it’s tough to get too excited given how the game played out.
The defense showed up big, but the offense hit a wall after an impressive opening drive. And let’s be honest, they nearly let the game slip away before getting saved by a late penalty on Jacksonville.
Deshaun Watson is still a huge question mark, which is a tough pill to swallow when the team is counting on their defense to keep things close—especially when he’s one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the league. Unfortunately for the Browns, until they show marked improvement, they're still in the basement.
3. Cincinnati Bengals (4)
The Cincinnati Bengals played much better in Week 2 than they did in Week 1. Traveling to Arrowhead Stadium to take on the Kansas City Chiefs is no easy task. While they showed improvement, it still wasn’t enough to knock off the defending champs. Now, sitting at 0-2, it feels frustrating, but this is familiar ground for Cincinnati.
It’s the third season in a row they’ve started 0-2. However, even after the slow start, last year they turned it around to finish with a winning record. Also, let's not forget, the year before, they made it to the AFC Championship. So, it’s not time to hit the panic button—yet. Until Joe Burrow can find Ja'Marr Chase and the ground game can get going, this team is going nowhere.
2. Baltimore Ravens (1)
The Baltimore Ravens came into Week 2 against the Las Vegas Raiders with one goal in mind: shake off the Week 1 loss to the Chiefs and reestablish themselves as an AFC frontrunner. For most of the game, it looked like they were doing just that. They started to resemble the team everyone expected coming into the season. The defense dominated in the first half, holding the Raiders to just six points and setting the tone early.
But while the defense did its job early on, things unraveled quickly. Derrick Henry finally found some rhythm, but Lamar Jackson and the offense struggled to move the ball when it mattered most. With 12 minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Ravens had a 10-point lead and seemed in control. Then everything fell apart. They gave up 13 unanswered points, leading to a brutal 26-23 loss.
A costly defensive pass interference call late in the game sealed their fate, but the truth is, this was a game the Ravens should have closed out easily. Instead, they let their first win of the season slip right through their fingers. Panic is starting to mount in Baltimore.
1. Pittsburgh Steelers (2)
Who would have thought the Pittsburgh Steelers would be 2-0 to start the season? Who would have figured they'd be led by former Chicago Bears disappointing quarterback Justin Fields? It wasn’t the prettiest game, but the Pittsburgh Steelers found a way to edge past the Denver Broncos in Week 2, marking their second straight road win to kick off the 2024 season.
Scoring hasn’t come easy for Mike Tomlin’s squad—they’re averaging just 15.5 points per game through the first two weeks. But when you’ve got a defense that’s only giving up eight points per game, you can afford to grind out those low-scoring wins.
The Steelers had an opportunity to take control of the division early, and they didn’t let it slip. Now sitting two games ahead of both the Ravens and Bengals in the AFC North, Pittsburgh’s chances of taking the division are on the rise. With an undefeated start, the Steelers have soared up the board and taken custody of the top spot in this week's power rankings.
