AFC North After Week 13: No Clear Favorite in a Division Still Wide Open
The AFC North has long been known for its bruising rivalries and playoff-caliber teams. But in 2025, the division feels more like a traffic jam than a freeway. Through 13 weeks, not a single team has managed to pull away-and remarkably, not one is above .500.
Let’s take a closer look at where things stand heading into the final stretch of the regular season, and why this division might come down to the wire.
AFC North Standings After Week 13
| Rank | Team | Record |
|---|
| 1. | Baltimore Ravens | 6-6 |
| 2. | Pittsburgh Steelers | 6-6 |
| 3. | Cincinnati Bengals | 4-8 |
| 4. | Cleveland Browns | 3-9 |
It’s a dead heat at the top with Baltimore and Pittsburgh both sitting at 6-6. The Ravens currently hold the tiebreaker, giving them the slight edge, but neither team has looked like a sure thing.
The Bengals, despite a rough stretch without Joe Burrow, are just two games back and suddenly have life with their star quarterback back under center. Even the Browns, on quarterback No. 3 this season, haven’t been mathematically eliminated.
This is the only division in the NFL without a team over .500. That’s not a knock-it’s a sign of just how chaotic and competitive things remain.
Steelers: The Road Isn’t Easy, But It’s Manageable
Remaining Schedule:
- 12/7 @ Ravens
- **12/15 vs.
Dolphins**
- 12/21 @ Lions
- 12/28 @ Browns
- **TBD vs.
Ravens**
Pittsburgh’s path to the postseason runs through its AFC North rivals. The Steelers still have two games left against Baltimore, and those matchups could very well determine who takes the division crown. The December 7 showdown in Baltimore is the first of those-and it’s shaping up to be a must-win.
Outside of the Ravens, Pittsburgh faces Miami and Detroit, two teams with their own playoff ambitions. But notably, none of the Steelers’ remaining opponents are currently holding a playoff spot. That’s a small but meaningful edge in a division where every inch counts.
Ravens: Toughest Road in the Division
Remaining Schedule:
- 12/7 vs. Steelers
- 12/14 @ Bengals
- **12/21 vs.
Patriots**
- TBD @ Packers
- TBD vs. Steelers
Baltimore’s final stretch is no cakewalk. They’ve got two games left against the Steelers, a potentially dangerous matchup with a Bengals team that’s reloaded with Joe Burrow, and road trips to face the Patriots and Packers.
If the Ravens are going to win this division, they’re going to have to earn it. The margin for error is razor-thin, and with no breathing room in the standings, every game is essentially a playoff audition.
Bengals: Burrow’s Back, and So Are the Hopes
Remaining Schedule:
- 12/7 @ Bills
- **12/14 vs.
Ravens**
- 12/21 @ Dolphins
- TBD vs. Cardinals
- TBD vs. Browns
Cincinnati may be 4-8, but don’t count them out just yet. With Joe Burrow returning to the lineup, the Bengals have a spark they’ve been missing all season. The next two weeks are crucial-trips to Buffalo and a home game against Baltimore will test just how ready this team is to make a run.
If they can survive that gauntlet, the final three games are all against teams with losing records. That soft landing could be exactly what they need to sneak back into the picture.
But there’s no room for error. At 4-8, the Bengals likely need to win out to have a real shot.
Browns: Still Breathing, Barely
At 3-9, Cleveland’s road to the playoffs is steep, but technically still open. They’d need to win out and get plenty of help, including leapfrogging all three division rivals. With their quarterback carousel still spinning, the Browns are in long-shot territory, but stranger things have happened in the AFC North.
Final Word: A Division Still Up for Grabs
The AFC North has turned into a four-way sprint where no one has taken the lead, and no one’s completely out of it. With divisional matchups still looming large-especially between the Steelers and Ravens-this race could come down to the final whistle in Week 18.
There’s no dominant force here, no runaway favorite. But that’s what makes it fun. The AFC North might not have a juggernaut in 2025, but it’s got drama, tension, and a finish that’s anything but predictable.