Going into the 2023 season we knew the AFC North was going to be a gauntlet and it’s shaping up to be just that.

In Week 7, three teams played and all three teams won. Cincinnati Bengals are on their bye week, so the entire division has had theirs outside of the Baltimore Ravens.

We are looking at a division that is going to have four teams legitimately competing for the playoffs.

AFC North standings

Baltimore Ravens – 5-2

Pittsburgh Steelers – 4-2

Cleveland Browns – 4-2

Cincinnati Bengals – 3-3

Baltimore is leading the way right now. They slipped up against the Indianapolis Colts but just had a premiere win over the Detroit Lions. Lamar Jackson is playing like he did when he won an MVP, they’re a contender.

The Steelers continue to lean on their defense and it’s working. Many thought that Pittsburgh would fall off a bit but they’re going to compete for the playoffs.

Cleveland needs to get healthy at quarterback and have the chance to put it together. At 4-2 through a tough part of the schedule, the Browns are in a great place. The season relies on Deshaun Watson being better. Simple.

The Bengals started with two straight losses this season and everyone panicked… except them. Quietly, the Bengals have won three of their last four and seemingly have figured it out.

In 2023, the AFC North is going to go down into late January, maybe the first week of January to crown the division champ. 

Browns Myles Garrett moved into a class of his own in NFL history following Week 7

No one has had this kind of start like Garrett.