The AFC North is the most competitive division in the NFL. It is not better than the NFC West or perhaps even the AFC West, but certainly the balance is unparalleled. With four teams above .500, it is conceivable that any of the four could walk away with the division title.
So, who actually takes the crown? Let’s look at the remaining schedules of each team and go from there:
Cincinnati Bengals (8-4-1)
Week 15: at Cleveland Browns
Week 16: Denver Broncos (MNF)
Week 17: at Pittsburgh Steelers
This is a brutal schedule. Cincinnati is getting lucky with Johnny Manziel making his first start on Sunday, a matchup its defense should take advantage of. However, it is tough to see the Bengals winning either of their final two games. Denver will be playing for a bye week and Pittsburgh for its life. Not only will Cincinnati lose out on the division, it won’t make the playoffs.
Projection: 9-6-1
Pittsburgh Steelers (8-5)
Week 15: at Atlanta Falcons
Week 16: Kansas City Chiefs
Week 17: Cincinnati Bengals
Pittsburgh is impossible to accurately handicap. The Steelers have been a mess this year against bad teams with a record of 3-3 against below .500 squads. However, Atlanta has no defense, so you have to lean towards Pittsburgh. The contest against Kansas City is basically a playoff game, and should be the toughest of the bunch. The turning point here is Kansas City’s last-ranked defense on yards per carry (4.9). In the final week, Cincinnati will be hard-pressed for a win at Heinz Field.
Projection: 11-5
Baltimore Ravens (8-5)
Week 15: Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 16: at Houston Texans
Week 17: Cleveland Browns
Easiest schedule of the bunch. It is hard to see Baltimore screwing up in any of these games, especially with two of them at home. The Ravens are a battle-tested group that can smell the playoffs, with the only possible hiccup coming in Week 16 against Houston. The Texans are not a great team, but they have players like Arian Foster and J.J. Watt who can wreck a game.
Projection: 11-5
Cleveland Browns (7-6)
Week 15: Cincinnati Bengals
Week 16: at Carolina Panthers
Week 17: at Baltimore Ravens
Cleveland has enjoyed a terrific season under first-year head coach Mike Pettine, but the joy ride is about to end. The Browns are going to have a tough time beating Cincinnati with Manziel under center, no matter how talented he is or may become. The Panthers are bad and certainly beatable, although they will be playing for plenty. The Browns have a daunting task in the season finale. Baltimore will likely need to win and it’s tough to see Cleveland spoiling the party.
Projection: 8-8
Final word
Due to a better divisional record, Pittsburgh would be the champion of the AFC North. While the Steelers have their warts, it would be a tough task for any wild-card team to go into Heinz Field and beat them in January. Baltimore certainly has the second-best shot to take the division, but needs a slip-up from Ben Roethlisberger and the boys.
