NFL Power Rankings Week 9: AFC North Will Continue to Soar Above the Rest

The season is just about half over and one fact has become crystal clear: The AFC North is the supreme division in football.

Going into Week 8, it had the four best defenses statistically.

Incredible.

Two Super Bowl contenders and a frisky up-and-coming team that could take the other wild-card spot all reside here.

Don’t be surprised if three teams in the AFC North make the playoffs, especially with the benefit of playing both the NFC West and the AFC South this year—the two worst divisions in football.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2)

It may have taken five wins in six games including a win over the Patriots to erase the bitter taste of the Ravens' Week 1 blowout, but once again the Steelers are Super Bowl contenders.

QB Ben Roethlisberger has already thrown for more than 2,300 yards and 14 touchdowns and is on his way to a career year with WR Mike Wallace reaping the benefits.

Sunday’s game against the Ravens will be the true barometer for this team, especially considering all three of their starting linebackers may be out.

5. Baltimore Ravens (5-2)

First of all, the Ravens defense is as dominate as ever. It is getting pressure on the QB, shutting down opponents run game and is creating turnovers.

It’s the offense that has raised some red flags.

That’s what happens when QB Joe Flacco is your guy. He isn’t incredibly consistent, yet he finds a way to even things out by season's end.

The main concern has been his accuracy, but then you watch him architect the greatest comeback in Ravens history, you remember why he is one of the better QBs in the league. He is capable of generating fourth-quarter drives and has proved as much time and time again.

Be patient with him, Ravens fans. Everything is going to just fine—until the second round of the playoffs.

12. Cincinnati Bengals (5-2)

QB Andy Dalton is fresh off a 4-0 month and winning the Rookie of the Month award, further proof that the “Red Rifle” is a top-notch quarterback already.

He isn’t rattled in tough environments, as evident by his poise at Seattle, and has his team riding a four-game winning streak. RB Cedric Benson is back from suspension and has been the workhorse back that is tailor-made for the run-first Bengals offense.

Then there is the second-ranked defense, which is rated in the top 10 against the pass and run. The eight-man rotation on the D-line has created consistent pressure with fresh bodies on almost every play.

This team isn’t going away anytime soon.

26. Cleveland Browns- (3-4)

The ugly stepchild of the division, the Browns are capable of beating really bad teams like Seattle, Indianapolis and Miami, but that’s about it.

QB Colt McCoy is regressing in his second year under center and the running game is in shambles.

The pass defensive has been surprisingly good, ranking in the top five, but other than that there is nothing to be excited about it in Cleveland.

Eric Ball's Week 9 NFL Power Rankings
1. Green Bay Packers
2. San Francisco 49ers
3. Pittsburgh Steelers
4. New England Patriots
5. Baltimore Ravens
6. Detroit Lions
7. New Orleans Saints
8. Buffalo Bills
9. New York Giants
10. Houston Texans
11. Atlanta Falcons
12. Cincinnati Bengals
13. Philadelphia Eagles
14. San Diego Chargers
15. New York Jets
16. Chicago Bears
17. Oakland Raiders
18. Kansas City Chiefs
19. Tennessee Titans
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
21. Dallas Cowboys
22.  Washington Redskins
23. Minnesota Vikings
24.  Carolina Panthers
25. Jacksonville Jaguars
26. Cleveland Browns
27. St. Louis Rams
28. Denver Broncos
29. Seattle Seahawks
30. Arizona Cardinals
31. Miami Dolphins
32. Indianapolis Colts