A capsule look at the AFC North heading into the 2026 season, with teams listed in predicted order of finish.
Baltimore Ravens
BetMGM says: Win Super Bowl: 11-1; Over-under win total: 11.5
Strengths: Lamar Jackson is a two-time MVP and one of the best quarterbacks in the league. Derrick Henry scoffs at your aging curves and historical data while continuing to run through defenses. Zay Flowers has developed into a No. 1 receiver. Kyle Hamilton and Marlon Humphrey anchor one of the best secondaries. The , but Trey Hendrickson was a pretty nice backup plan. The Ravens have won double-digit games in six of the past eight years.
Weaknesses: The John Harbaugh era is over. Baltimore has a first-time NFL head coach (Jesse Minter) and two new coordinators. The offensive line lost center Tyler Linderbaum to free agency and rookie Olaivavega Ioane will likely start at one of the guard spots. The longstanding great defense has slid from first in 2023 to ninth and then 17th in points allowed over the past two seasons.
Cincinnati Bengals
BetMGM says: Win Super Bowl: 22-1; Over-under win total: 9.5
Strengths: Joe Burrow, when healthy, remains an elite NFL quarterback. Ja’Marr Chase is in the conversation for best wide receiver. He and Tee Higgins together might be the best 1-2 punch. Chase Brown topped 1,000 yards rushing for the first time and added 69 receptions. Dexter Lawrence and Jonathan Allen could be one of the best duos on the interior of the defensive line.
Weaknesses: Burrow’s health issues and the offensive line’s struggles are not a coincidence. While the two new guys inside are exciting, Hendrickson, with his 61 sacks over the past five seasons, is now in Baltimore with a division rival. The defense allowed the third-most points in the league last year. It should be better, but it needs to be a lot better if the Bengals are going to be more than just a potential playoff team.
Pittsburgh Steelers
BetMGM says: Win Super Bowl: 80-1; Over-under win total: 8.5
Strengths: T.J. Watt and Cameron Heyward still anchor the defense up front, and the supporting cast, with the likes of Derrick Harmon and Alex Highsmith, is stout. The secondary could also be a plus if the top guys stay healthy. Adding Michael Pittman to play next to D.K. Metcalf outside, along with Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington inside, should be the best collection of pass catchers in Pittsburgh in several years.
Weaknesses: Aaron Rodgers was better than the other post-Ben Roethlisberger options the Steelers have tried. Maybe he can find one more vintage season with his old coach Mike McCarthy, now the new guy in charge of the Steelers. The offensive line is a question mark, with Broderick Jones’ health the biggest uncertainty. Mike Tomlin and the Steelers won 10 games and lost the first playoff game by double digits for three straight seasons. They haven’t won a postseason contest since 2016. This group feels … about the same, unless the new coaching staff can squeeze a little more of it.
Cleveland Browns
BetMGM says: Win Super Bowl: 250-1; Over-under win total: 5.5
Strengths: The Browns were 14th in the league in points allowed, which was actually tops in the division. Jared Verse is not Myles Garrett, but he can still be the top pass rusher on a good defense in his third season. Denzel Ward is one of the league’s best cornerbacks. Harold Fannin, Jr., could be one of the top tight ends in short order.
Weaknesses: Is it going to be former Colorado star Shedeur Sanders or Deshaun Watson at quarterback? This offense was a mess last season, and it’s up to new coach Todd Monken to fix it. Maybe the offensive line will be better with some new additions highlighted by No. 9 pick Spencer Fano? Former Broncos wideout Jerry Jeudy is the No. 1 wideout. He caught 50 of 106 targets last year. Garrett had an NFL-record 23 sacks last year, but he’s in Los Angeles now.
