Bengals Clinch AFC North: Latest Comments and Reaction

The Cincinnati Bengals roared out to the AFC North lead in 2015 and never looked back. They clinched the division Sunday when the Pittsburgh Steelers fell to the Baltimore Ravens.

Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports confirmed the news after Baltimore's 20-17 victory.  

A chance to wrap up the division with a win over rival Pittsburgh in Week 14 presented itself, but the Bengals failed to capitalize. A fractured right thumb suffered by quarterback Andy Dalton added insult to a 33-20 loss, putting the rest of his season and the playoffs in jeopardy.

Cincinnati had to deal with enormous expectations entering this season. Head coach Marvin Lewis is in his 13th year at the helm and has yet to win a playoff game, and Dalton will continue to face criticism until he gets it done in the postseason.

Unfortunately, Dalton may not have a chance to prove his detractors wrong after what was his best year as a pro.

Nothing has seemed to faze the Bengals this year despite the scrutiny and dire need to win. Star receiver A.J. Green locked up a long-term contract and once again helped Dalton along, though the "Red Rifle" took a step forward as an individual this year, which is a big reason why Cincinnati has been so dominant.

The Bengals could still be a one-and-done bust in the playoffs, but they will at least have the benefit of a home game as AFC North champions. The possibility of a first-round bye is also still in play.

That is the overarching goal Cincinnati still has to play for. The team has lost in the AFC Wild Card Round the past four postseasons and needs all the help it can get to advance as far as possible.

The Denver Broncos and reigning Super Bowl champion New England Patriots are both still alive for the No. 1 seed. It's imperative for the Bengals to move on after celebrating their AFC North crown and bear in mind the bigger picture of what could be a push for the Lombardi Trophy.

Although the AFC North wasn't as tough as in years past due to the Baltimore Ravens' down year and key Steelers injuries—notably running back Le'Veon Bell—Cincinnati earned its place on top. Lewis' bunch was the clear class of the cluster in 2015, but another playoff flop would largely diminish the achievement.

How far Lewis' team goes from here likely depends on the play of second-year signal-caller AJ McCarron. The Alabama product has moxie and the experience of winning a championship in college, but doing so at the NFL level with so little experience is quite the tall request.