Week Two of the 2026 NFL Preseason kicks off tomorrow with two matchups. But before we once again turn our attention to in-game action, we continue our series of divisional predictions, this time focusing on the AFC North, where we have gotten three different division winners over the last four years. This time around, I expect a new team standing atop the North when all is said and done. Let's take a look at how the divisional standings will shake out this coming season.
1. Baltimore Ravens
Despite the fact that this squad is being led by a new head coach, I predict that the Ravens will win the AFC North after a disappointing 2025-26 campaign. A missed game-winning field goal attempt by a rookie kicker on the road is the only reason Baltimore didn't beat the Pittsburgh Steelers for the division last season. This time around, the Ravens should have a much better record, especially if Lamar Jackson can stay healthy. There are some understandable doubts about his ability to show up in the playoffs, but - when it comes to the regular season - Lamar is one of the best quarterbacks of all time. Not only is he tied with Aaron Rodgers for the highest career passer rating in NFL history (102.2), but Jackson has a ridiculous 111.3 passer rating over the last two seasons in which he didn’t deal with injuries. With a quarterback playing at such a high level, the Baltimore Ravens will always be a threat to win football games. The defense should also take a step forward this year, too. They added an elite edge rusher in Trey Hendrickson and will be getting back defensive lineman Nnamdi Madubike, who had to miss basically the entire 2025-26 season due to a neck injury. With those two guys in the mix, coupled with other elite defenders like defensive back Kyle Hamilton and linebacker Roquan Smith, the Ravens will finish better than 18th in points allowed per game (23.4). The combination of an improved defense and a fully healthy Lamar Jackson makes Baltimore the team to beat in the AFC North.
2. Cincinnati Bengals
This is going to be one of the most important seasons in franchise history. It's obvious that quarterback Joe Burrow is losing patience in Cincy. After all, he made a very odd comment last season claiming that he was not having "fun" playing football. If the Bengals cannot find the success they had during the 2021-22 season, then Burrow might ask for a trade when the season ends. That’s the route that Carson Palmer took years ago. Knowing that this season will bring high expectations, Cincinnati did everything it could to re-tool the defense. Though they lost star pass rusher Trey Hendrickson, they added several guys who should be immediate starters and difference-makers, including defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence II, defensive tackle Jonathan Allen, defensive end Boye Mafe, and pass rusher Cashius Howell. Though the Bengals will likely field a better defense, we can't expect them to be a top-10 unit this season. Therefore, the offense will be the engine that drives Cincy to success. Joe Burrow is an MVP-caliber player, while wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins make up arguably the best pass-catching duo in the NFL. If the defense ranks better than 30th in the league in points allowed per game (28.9) and the offense can be as effective as it was last season, then this team will be a legitimate threat to win the AFC North. With that in mind, though, I do have some concerns about the Bengals' offensive line, which will almost certainly impact this team throughout the 2026-27 season.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers
There are quite a few question marks in Pittsburgh that have me worried about how good the Steelers will be this season. First of all, I was not a fan of the Mike McCarthy hiring. Don't get me wrong, he's a very good coach, and he might even be a Hall of Famer someday. But I can’t confidently say that he is an improvement over Mike Tomlin. On top of that, Aaron Rodgers is another year older, and while he is still a top quarterback in this league, he’s not the player he once was. Ever since he led the league in passer rating during the 2021-22 season, his efficiency in that category has gone down noticeably, dropping from 111.9 to 92 over the last four seasons. His QBR has been even worse, going from a league-best 74.1 to 41.3 in recent years. Also, we must highlight a lack of offensive talent. A lot is riding on wide receiver DK Metcalf staying on the field. If he were to miss any games, then Pittsburgh's offense would likely come to an ass-grinding halt. Believe it or not, there are even concerns on the defensive side of the ball. While they have a ton of talent on that side of the ball, that unit is heavily reliant on older and injury-prone players, like outside linebacker T.J. Watt, defensive lineman Cameron Heyward, and cornerback Jalen Ramsey. Despite everything I just said, the Steelers have always run a tight ship and will be competitive this season. Still, I think the Bengals and Ravens will have better records.
4. Cleveland Browns
The Browns will be the worst team in the NFL this season after they finished dead last in my preseason power rankings. It may have only been a preseason game, but the Chicago Bears tore through Cleveland's defense like a hot knife through butter. If that’s the type of effort that we are going to see from the Browns this year, then things are even worse in Cleveland than I originally believed. We already knew that the offense would struggle, but if the defense - which was one of the best units in the league - takes a noticeable step back, then Cleveland will probably finish with AT MOST four victories. Then again, they would be lucky to record that many wins based on their dreadful quarterback situation. Deshaun Watson appears to be the favorite to win the starting job, but it’s not because he’s the best QB on the roster. Rather, the rest of Cleveland's quarterbacks are so bad that it would be foolish for anybody else to line up under center when we get to the regular season. The good news is that this team has several promising young players, including offensive lineman Spencer Fano, tight end Harold Fannin Jr, wide receivers KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston, running back Quinshon Judkins, linebacker Carson Schwesinger, and new defensive end Jared Verse. However, those guys will be overshadowed by unimpressive coaching and lackluster quarterback play. As we all expect, it'll be another down year in Cleveland for the Browns and their fans.
