AFC North Proving Itself as NFL's Toughest Division

Face it. If you’re looking for a dominant team this season in the NFL, we have not seen it. Inconsistency has been the hallmark of much of the league to date. The ups and downs of their roller-coaster year would make Coney Island proud.

But isn’t it interesting that once again, one division has a certain look to it? And while no one’s making any playoff or Super Bowl predictions based on this limited body of work, recent history suggests that you don’t discount a team from the AFC North from winding up in Glendale less than four months from now.

Eight weeks into the NFL’s latest season and all four teams in the division boast winning records. The Cincinnati Bengals (4-2-1) lead the Baltimore Ravens (5-3), Pittsburgh Steelers (5-3) and Cleveland Browns (4-3) by the slightest of margins.

Yes, all of these teams have stubbed their toes along the way but most of that stubbing has come at each other’s expense. In fact, at one time or another each of these clubs has looked pretty awful. The Bengals just snapped a three-game winless streak on Sunday with a 27-24 win over Baltimore. The Steelers are riding a two-game winning streak for the first time all season. The Browns are two weeks removed from a 24-6 loss to the then-winless Jacksonville Jaguars.

But as we approach the midway point of this season, we are once again reminded that when it comes to staying power, no division has been more impressive than the AFC North.

It’s been vogue in recent seasons to insist that the best division in the NFL these days is the NFC West. And off the last few years it would be hard to dispute the fact. The San Francisco 49ers have reached the NFC Championship Game three consecutive years and made an appearance in Super Bowl XLVII. The Seattle Seahawks have been to the playoffs three of the last four years and hoisted the Lombardi Trophy this past February.

But the key word there is few. It wasn’t long ago (2010) that the entire NFC West finished the season below .500. That same year, both the Steelers and Ravens finished 12-4 and Pittsburgh wound up in the Super Bowl.

Looking for staying power? Last season marked the first time since 2007 that the AFC North DID NOT send at least two teams to the playoffs. Since 2008, the Bengals (Marvin Lewis), Steelers (Mike Tomlin) and Ravens (John Harbaugh) have all had the same head coach.

Over those past six seasons, Cincinnati has won a pair of division titles and reached the playoffs four times, including three straight postseason appearances and counting. Neither Pittsburgh nor Baltimore has suffered through a losing season over that span. Tomlin’s team made three playoff appearances and the Ravens five straight trips to the postseason before finishing 8-8 this past season.

Three of the last AFC champions have come from this division. The Steelers won Super Bowl XLIII and fell short in Super Bowl XLV. The Baltimore Ravens are less than two years removed from the victory in Super Bowl XLVII.

Yes, we know what you’re thinking. The bruise on the shiny apple is indeed the Browns, who haven’t enjoyed a winning season since 2007 and have not reached the postseason since 2002. But seven games into this campaign, Mike Pettine’s club has already equaled the team’s victory total of 2013.

It’s also interesting to note that while Cincinnati’s two losses this season are to the first-place New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts (and ugly ones at that), the vast majority of the remainder of the clubs’ setbacks this season have been at the hands of each other. The Ravens’ three losses have come to the Bengals (twice) and Colts. Two of the Steelers’ three defeats have been at Baltimore and at Cleveland. The Browns have lost heartbreakers to the Ravens and Steelers. This week, Baltimore and Pittsburgh clash on Sunday night at Heinz Field.

For years, defense has been the hallmark of this division. This season’s common theme has been the ground game. All four clubs are loaded in the backfield and have used that to their advantage. A total of 13 teams in the league this season are averaging a minimum of 28 rushing attempts per game. That list includes all four teams in the AFC North: The Browns (31.4), Ravens (28.9), Bengals (28.1) and Steelers (28.1). No other division in the league boasts more than two teams in this department.

The Ravens are ranked eighth in the NFL in rushing yards per game, followed closely by the Steelers (ninth) and the Browns (12th) and Bengals (16th). By the way, it’s worth noting that in 2013, Cincinnati was ranked just 18th in the league in rushing yards per game while Cleveland (T-27th), Pittsburgh (T-27th) and Baltimore (30th) were near the bottom of the NFL in this category.

Of course, it’s a division that isn’t lacking in star power in a lot of categories, especially on offense. From Super Bowl champion quarterbacks Ben Roethlisberger (who had quite the day on Sunday) and Joe Flacco to standout running backs Le’Veon Bell, Giovani Bernard and Justin Forsett to wideouts A.J. Green, Antonio Brown and Steve Smith.

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There are tight ends such as Jordan Cameron, Heath Miller and Jermaine Gresham. And the offensive-line play around the division has been pretty stellar so far, especially in terms of pass protection. While the Steelers have allowed 20 sacks in eight games, the Browns (10), Ravens (nine) and Bengals (eight) have combined to give up just 27 sacks this season—less than both the Jacksonville Jaguars (33) and Minnesota Vikings (28).

As we mentioned, defense has taken a bit of a holiday within the division, as it has throughout most of the league. But all four of these clubs have had their moments on this side of the ball as well.

As for what to expect down the road from this group, this Sunday’s Baltimore/Pittsburgh clash is obviously very important. It will also mark the Ravens’ fifth divisional game this season, with a visit from the Browns coming later in the season.

Meanwhile, the defending AFC North champion Bengals has not faced either the Browns nor the Steelers yet this season. Pittsburgh and Cincinnati clash twice in the final four weeks of the season with the division title possibly being on the line.

As usual, the hunt for the top spot in this division remains highly competitive. And by the time the dust settles, it wouldn’t be a surprise to once again see at least two teams from this quarter in the Super Bowl XLIX tournament. And it is this competitiveness that has made clubs like the Ravens and Steelers so competitive and successful in the postseason. Perhaps this is the year that the Bengals win a playoff game for the first time since 1990.

Add all these factors together and it shows that the AFC North remains the top division in the league.

There’s a lot to be said for staying power.