Projecting AFC North Standings
Ravens: 13-4
Following Mark Andrews’ disastrous dropped two-point conversion that would have sent them to the AFC Championship, the Ravens enter 2025 looking for revenge. Among the “big three” AFC challengers trying to dethrone the Chiefs dynasty—the Bills, Bengals, and Ravens—Baltimore may have the best chance. It’s hard not to like this roster: Lamar Jackson is always an MVP candidate, the defense is elite, and the coaching staff and front office provide stability few teams can match.
I am still worried about their lack of a real WR1, but with their star power and experience, I’d be surprised if Baltimore doesn’t claim another AFC North crown. Their path won’t be easy, but this is a team built to win in the regular season and finally push through in January.
Bengals: 9-8
The farther we get from the 2021 Super Bowl run, the more im convinced the Bengals’ organization is a true dumpster fire. I’d love to see Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase finally get their ring, but when you surround them with the league’s second-worst offensive line (per PFF) and a bottom-10 defense, expectations have to be low. Burrow remains one of the most talented quarterbacks in football, but he’s constantly being asked to overcome glaring roster flaws.
This is one of the hardest teams in the league to rank because the floor and ceiling are so far apart. If Burrow goes down with another injury, Cincinnati could easily collapse into one of the worst teams in the NFL. But if he stays healthy and clicks with Chase, they’re capable of giving the Chiefs a real challenge in the AFC. With that huge range of outcomes in mind, I’m settling on a 9–8 record, solid enough to sneak into the playoffs and potentially shock us, but far from the contender they should be.
Steelers: 9-8
When picking between their annual 10–7 or 9–8 finishes, I think this year they land on the worse side. Ever since Big Ben retired, this team has been stuck in the same cycle: shaky quarterback play, a great defense, Mike Tomlin keeping the ship afloat, and no playoff wins. Jalen Ramsey was essentially a lateral move, and a 39-year-old Aaron Rodgers isn’t winning you a ring on any roster, let alone one with this many holes.
On the one hand, there are far worse places to be than stacking winning seasons and making the playoffs. On the other hand, with so many first-round exits, you might as well call them the Cowboys of the AFC. Something has to change for me to ever project them differently. Until then, 9–8 feels like the most fitting record imaginable.
Browns: 5-12
There’s no way to sugarcoat it, the Browns are just a bad team. Myles Garrett can’t win games by himself, Nick Chubb is gone, and the only real buzz around the franchise comes from their entitled fifth-round pick. Bright spots are few and far between. Yes, they still have a strong offensive line, Mason Graham shows promise, and there are some solid defensive pieces.
But when your offense boils down to Joe Flacco throwing passes to Jerry Jeudy, the ceiling is painfully low. Cleveland looks like a five-win team, and unless they find long-term answers at quarterback and rebuild their offensive identity, it’s hard to see this franchise climbing out of mediocrity anytime soon.
