The NFL might as well stand for 'not for long', because that's about how long any team in the AFC North can keep their spot atop the division without a shakeup in the standings. In Week 6, we saw a pivotal division matchup between the Baltimore Ravens and the Cleveland Browns... and the Pittsburgh Steelers benefited.
A Lamar Jackson-less Ravens team fell to Cleveland in Week 6. Now Baltimore is starting to show its flaws, and there's only so much head coach Jesse Minter can do to cover them.
All the while, the Steelers mounted a comeback win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the Bengals are fresh off their Week 6 bye. Once again, the AFC North power rankings were just thrown into chaos, this time as we gear up for an eventful Week 7.
Updated AFC North power rankings have Ravens taking a back seat, Steelers claiming the No. 1 spot
4. Cleveland Browns (4-2)
I know what you're thinking: how can a team that sits in first place in the AFC North and that just beat the Baltimore Ravens be last in the divisional power rankings? Quite frankly, that's how close this division is right now. And even though the Browns escaped with a three-point win on their home turf in Week 6, we need to add some context.
Cleveland avoided Lamar Jackson and faced backup QB Tyler Huntley in a game that wasn't pretty for either offense. Then, when you look at the grand scope of things and consider that the Browns are 26th in offensive EPA per play, per RBSDM Stats, and 21st in overall DVOA, it doesn't help their case.
To top it off, despite their record and current top standing in the AFC North, the Browns are the only team in the division with a negative point differential (-16). Being 2-0 against the AFC North matters, but they are still the worst team in the division on paper.
3. Baltimore Ravens (4-2)
Even with Huntley at the helm, the Ravens can't afford to lose against the Browns. When Jackson is healthy, Baltimore has one of the league's most explosive offenses. However, this team still has plenty of roster gaps, and just like last year, they are too reliant on the health and performance of their two-time MVP quarterback.
But the biggest reason for this ranking is that the Ravens have not yet beaten a quality opponent. Their four wins have come against the Colts, Cowboys, Titans, and Falcons—and their wins against Dallas and Tennessee came right down to the wire.
We know that Baltimore will be in the race until the bitter end, but they've already lost to the Browns and the Saints and have not beaten a team that currently has a winning record.
2. Cincinnati Bengals (3-2)
Coming fresh off a bye week, there isn't much the Cincinnati Bengals could have done to increase their standing within the division. Instead, it was more about what their AFC North opponents did (or didn't) do in Week 6.
Heading into last week's slate, I had the Bengals slotted as the No. 3 team in AFC North power rankings after back-to-back losses against the Steelers and Jaguars, respectively. This week, I have them moving up one spot—in essence, by default—thanks to the Ravens' Week 6 collapse against the Browns.
1. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2)
This means that the Pittsburgh Steelers claim the No. 1 spot in my Week 7 AFC North Power rankings. But will it last? That's the ultimate question.
Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers' offense had a dismal first three quarters against the Buccaneers this past Sunday before finally pouring it on in the fourth quarter and overtime. With another underwhelming performance like that, this team will almost certainly slide in the rankings.
However, the Steelers' defense is starting to step up, and their offense has shown flashes in spurts. The Ravens and Bengals are set to beat each other up this Sunday, and Pittsburgh will have a chance to make a statement against New Orleans in Paris.
We'll soon find out if they can hold down the No. 1 spot in the AFC North power rankings for more than one week.
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