Baltimore entered Week 2 looking like the team to beat in the AFC North. Two games later, the division picture has shifted, and the Ravens are no longer sitting at the top.
Cincinnati moved into first place after a convincing 20-6 win over the Houston Texans, while Baltimore’s 24-17 loss to the New Orleans Saints opened the door. Through two weeks, the Bengals have the best early claim to the division lead, and the Ravens are left trying to clean up a familiar mess.
- Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals made a strong statement against the Texans and now look like a team that can make real noise in the division. Their defense, with Dexter Lawrence II at the center, has gone from a weakness to something much more dependable. Joe Burrow and the offense have not fully caught fire yet, but the talent level is obvious, and this group can score with anyone when it gets rolling.
That matters in a division that already feels tight. If Cincinnati keeps playing like this, Baltimore will have a tough road ahead in trying to win back the AFC North.
Next game: Sunday, Sep. 27th @ Steelers
- Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens had their chance to stay on top, but a second-half fade against the Saints cost them. They led in the fourth quarter, then watched the game slip away after managing only three points after halftime.
That’s the part that stings most: the talent is clearly there. Jesse Minter’s defense has been solid, and the running game looks strong enough to carry a winning team. But until Baltimore starts finishing games, it’s hard to trust the ceiling.
- Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh’s early win over the Atlanta Falcons looks a lot less impressive now, especially with Atlanta looking rough through two weeks. The Steelers followed that up by struggling badly in a 20-3 loss to the Patriots.
The numbers are ugly. Pittsburgh ranks 31st in EPA per play, 32nd in success rate, and 32nd in yards per pass attempt. It’s still early, but the Mike McCarthy-Aaron Rodgers setup is already under serious scrutiny.
Next game: Sunday, Sep. 27th vs. Bengals
- Cleveland Browns
Cleveland got its first win of the season, edging the Buccaneers 23-19 in a game that was complicated by a two-hour weather delay caused by a torrential downpour. It wasn’t a clean performance, but it was enough to get the job done.
Even so, the Browns still feel limited. With Deshaun Watson at quarterback, there just isn’t much reason to expect a big jump right now. If Cleveland climbs out of the basement in these rankings, it may have more to do with Pittsburgh falling apart than with the Browns taking off.
In Other News...
Ravens Already Have A Passing Depth Concern Behind Mark Andrews
The passing game behind Mark Andrews is already looking thin after Week 2, when Baltimores rookie tight ends Matthew Hibner and Josh Cuevas finished with no receptions and no targets. Andrews did his part with six catches for 49 yards, but the bigger issue was the gap underneath him, especially with Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar no longer in those roles.
For a team that leans on tight ends as part of its passing structure, the early drop-off is hard to ignore. Late-round rookies are not expected to carry much of the load right away, but the Ravens need more from Hibner and Cuevas if they want the depth of that unit to match the rest of the offense. [Read more 🡒]
Malaki Starks Is Giving Ravens A Defensive Problem They Can't Ignore
The early part of the 2026 season has put Malaki Starks in an uncomfortable spotlight for Baltimore, and not in the way the Ravens hoped when they turned to the second-year safety for a bigger defensive role. Starks has been on the field for every snap, but his recent play has not matched that workload, with coverage issues and missed tackles showing up again in the game against the Saints.
For a defense that has leaned on him to help steady the back end, the concern is no longer just about one rough outing. The Ravens now have to weigh whether they keep pushing forward with his current responsibilities or start adjusting the picture around him, because the gap between what he is being asked to do and what he has delivered is becoming too hard to ignore. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Secondary Suddenly Has A Problem Dallas Could Expose
The Ravens entered the season believing their secondary would help define the defense, but the first two weeks have raised some early questions in coverage. Recent issues against the Saints put a spotlight on a unit that was supposed to be a strength, and rookie head coach Jesse Minter has already emphasized the need for cleaner play on the back end as Baltimore tries to settle things down.
Malaki Starks is a big part of that picture in his second season, and the Ravens are counting on him to respond after a rough stretch. The concern is not just individual execution but how Baltimores frequent nickel and dime looks have held up against offenses willing to challenge them underneath and downfield, a problem that could matter in a hurry with the Cowboys next on the schedule. [Read more 🡒]