NFL Power Rankings: Why AFC North Will Continue to Vault Up the Rankings

Eric Ball

Oct 26, 2011

It’s a great year to be in the AFC North.

Typically one of the toughest divisions in football, this year each team gets some serious relief on the out-of-division schedule.

That’s because the two divisions they play are the AFC South and the NFC West.

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The Peyton Manning-less AFC South and the perennial awful NFC West is currently 6-15 out of division.

That’s why even the horrendous Cleveland Browns are at .500. Here’s a brief breakdown of how the remaining schedule will play out for the AFC North

4. Pittsburgh Steelers

Already feasting on the two-lesser conferences, the Steelers have all five wins from the two divisions.

A rare rough patch is on the horizon with the Patriots, Ravens, Bengals (2X) and the 49ers on tap.

So expect us to get a much better feeling about this Pittsburgh team in the coming weeks. If they can survive the tough slate, they end the year with the Rams and the Browns.

Even in a down year, you can still pencil in the Steelers for 10-11 wins and a playoff birth.

7. Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens may have looked like absolute crap on Monday, but they have the sort of schedule to easily win 12 games.

Three games against the NFC West, two games against the Browns and a home game against the winless Colts remain. At 4-2, that’s six easy wins.

This team will get a minimum of 10 wins with a cream puff slate like that.

11. Cincinnati Bengals

Sure critics can point to an easy schedule for the early 4-2 start, but they did beat the Bills, and have taken care of business against lesser opponents. Their two losses are by a combined seven points, so expect them to keep feasting on the scrumptious slate.

They have three games against the NFC West and two against the AFC South…the Bengals are going to end up with 8-9 wins as a fringe playoff contender.

Pretty incredible considering the rock bottom expectations heading into the season.

23. Cleveland Browns

It’s insane that the lowly Browns are 3-3, but it’s the biggest testament as to why the AFC South and NFC West are so bad.

With three NFC West games and two against the AFC South—this team will likely reach the 7-to-8 win plateau.

Then again, they’ve only played one divisional game, so it’s the Browns with the hardest schedule in the AFC North to finish the season.

Eric Ball’s Week 8 Power Rankings

1. Green Bay Packers

2. New Orleans Saints

3. New England Patriots

4. Pittsburgh Steelers

5. San Francisco 49ers