It's been a rollercoaster ride in the AFC North through the first five weeks of the season, and the division has never felt tighter. After a disheartening Pittsburgh Steelers loss against the Cleveland Browns on Thursday Night Football in Week 4, these two rivals came away with opposite results in Week 5.
The Steelers have quietly strung together three successful offensive performances in a row, as the Browns failed to muster up more than a dozen points in their latest (and most disappointing) loss against the New York Jets.
Meanwhile, the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals built on their strong starts to the season with victories in Week 5. Still, we've witnessed a seismic shift in the power dynamic between the Steelers and Browns from where these teams were in the AFC North power rankings just last week.
The Pittsburgh Steelers skyrocket in AFC North power rankings as the Browns take an all-too-familiar spot
4. Cleveland Browns (3-2)
Let's get something straight: a 3-2 record entering Week 6 is nothing to scoff at—especially when the team holding this record is the Cleveland Browns. For years now, we just assumed the Browns would be bottom-feeders, but that hasn't been the case.
But despite their hot 3-1 start, we can't disregard their lackluster 17-12 loss against the Jets in Week 5. Quarterback Deshaun Watson and the offense came crashing back down to earth for what proved to be, by far, their worst offensive performance of the year. This might take the wind out of head coach Todd Monken's sails.
I don't want to jinx it by saying 'the Browns are the Browns', but they looked more like the Browns we all expected them to be.
3. Cincinnati Bengals (3-2)
I have a hard time slotting the Cincinnati Bengals, as I still don't know what to make of this team. While the Bengals' defense has taken a step forward, the offense isn't quite the elite unit we thought it was going to be.
Currently, Zac Taylor's team is 10th in offense EPA per play and 12th in defense EPA per play, per RBSDM Stats. This makes them a respectable team overall. However, it's worth mentioning that the three teams the Bengals have defeated this season—the Dolphins, Buccaneers, and Texans—have a combined record of 2-13.
That's not exactly the cream of the crop, and they lost to the only winner-record teams they've played (the Steelers and the Jaguars). I need to see them do well against better competition before I move them higher in my AFC North power rankings.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2)
Look, I expected the Steelers to defeat the Colts by 10 points, given the circumstances of both teams in Week 5 (they won by 12). Indianapolis was traveling back across the pond from a London game in Week 4, while Mike McCarthy's team had 10 days to prepare for a home game against the Colts.
But I don't want to take away from the impressive offensive showing they recently had. Jaylen Warren was electrifying, and the offensive line is starting to carve out running lanes. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh's run defense held Jonathan Taylor to just 45 rushing yards on 15 carries.
The Steelers still don't look like bona fide AFC contenders, but at least we've seen the flashes, and they're trending in the right direction.
1. Baltimore Ravens (4-1)
It took an overtime win over the Atlanta Falcons for the Baltimore Ravens to advance to 4-1 on the season. But it likely would have never come down to this had Lamar Jackson been able to suit up. The fact that Declan Doyle—the Ravens' 30-year-old first-time offensive coordinator—was able to lead his offense to 30 points in the road victory with a backup quarterback is telling.
The Ravens still have a few glaring roster holes, and the defense is only average. But Jesse Minter's team is sixth in both offensive EPA and team DVOA, while being third in offensive DVOA. The Ravens look legit, and they have the record so far to prove it.
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