There are no undefeated or winless teams in the AFC North through four weeks, and yet a wide range of emotions exist with the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, and Pittsburgh Steelers entering the second quarter of the regular season.

A division winner will not be crowned until January, or maybe December if things get carried away, but October is when the real players can start separating themselves and showing who they really are after the mystery of the first few weeks runs its course.

Let’s check in on each team after four games with myself representing the Bengals, A to Z Sports Cleveland’s Brandon Little covering the Browns, A to Z Baltimore’s Kyle Crabbs taking the Ravens, and A to Z Sports Pittsburgh’s Rob Gregson updating us on the Steelers.

What’s the confidence in your team looking like through four weeks?

Bengals: Down bad. Horrendously bad. Cincinnati should not be favored to win more than a few games for the rest of the season if they can’t figure out anything on offense with Jake Browning at quarterback. The defense is still inconsistent but there’s at least flashes being made on that side of the ball. Any progress the offense hoped to make once Joe Burrow left his traditionally underwhelming first two games evaporated once he suffered turf toe. I don’t expect them to get things turned around without changing things up drastically. — Sheeran

Browns: My confidence in the Browns is about what I expected going into the season, they’ll stay in most games but they won’t win many. Cleveland has an elite defense that would be even better if the offense were capable of being at least average. The change to Dillon Gabriel should only help the Browns with how bad Joe Flacco had become, but the offense is going to be a work in progress regardless. A harsh start to the season will soon cool down for the Browns and that could bring more positivity. — Little

Ravens: Admittedly pretty low. The Ravens have been demolished by injuries thus far — and that isn’t an excuse for everything but it is a variable that, along with the schedule, creates a lot of uncertainty in how they figure things out. Baltimore’s facing the possibility of playing without Lamar Jackson and is also missing Roquan Smith, Nnamdi Madubuike, Broderick Washington, Kyle Van Noy, Jaire Alexander. . .am I forgetting anyone? Confidence around the Ravens feels as low as it has been in years. — Crabbs

Steelers: The best way to describe the Steelers’ first month of the season is cautiously optimistic. You are what your record says you are, and the Steelers’ latest win against the Vikings was impressive. But I need to see more to believe this team is an actual contender. Four quarters of high-level football on both sides of the ball will go a long way in projecting the Steelers going forward. — Gregson

Who’s been the MVP of the team thus far, and who needs to step up?

Bengals: I really just want to say Joe Burrow, not because he was lighting defenses up when he was playing, but because the drop off to Jake Browning has been exponentially worse than expected. The truth is that no one on this roster is playing up to their potential. Ja’Marr Chase and Trey Hendrickson have each had good games, but their collective value still can’t get this team to look competitive right now. They’re sorely missing their QB, and they’re playing like it. The offensive line needs to step it up more than any other group, and it’s not limited to just one player. Browning will not succeed if the unit blocking for him plays just as bad. — Sheeran

Browns: Myles Garrett. Cleveland’s best player hasn’t changed and he’s the same game wrecker he’s always been, but now he has the most help he’s had in his career. Garrett has 18 tackles, 22 pressures, and four sacks through four games so far. Cleveland having Maliek Collins on the interior playing like an All-Pro has given Garrett the best defensive tackle he’s had beside him and it’s showing in the run and pass. There isn’t a player that worries offenses in the league as much as Garrett and the Browns are lucky he’s back. — Little

Ravens: Lamar Jackson has been the MVP. The production has not matched the record and Lamar’s output far transcends what you’d expect from a 1-3 football team. That said, even he has shown some regression this year in escaping pressure, taking sacks and holding onto the football. His running mate in the backfield, Derrick Henry, needs to step up. The fumbles have been catastrophic and cost Baltimore two wins — maybe not directly but they’ve fueled the losses to Buffalo and Detroit late in both games. — Crabbs

Steelers: The team MVP has undoubtedly been Aaron Rodgers. Outside of Week 1, the numbers are far from gaudy, but the stability, arm talent, and decision-making he’s brought to the position haven’t been seen since Big Ben. On the other hand, Week 4 was better, but the Steelers need their young defenders, like Keeanu Benton and Payton Wilson to play better, and Joey Porter Jr. to return from injury. — Gregson

What will your team’s record be when we revisit before Week 9?

Bengals: Cincinnati looks to have the toughest stretch of games compared to its rivals this month. The Bengals were already big underdogs to the Detroit Lions this week, and the Green Bay Packers will undoubtedly be home favorites next week. Then a game against Pittsburgh? It would be foolish to expect anything but three losses there. Maybe they come out with a lucky win against one of them. They should have a good chance against the New York Jets in Week 8, so I’ll just safely say 3-5 is what they’ll be at the midseason point. — Sheeran

Browns: I have Cleveland losing a competitive game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday but I think the Browns can go 2-2 over the next four weeks. Cleveland beating the Steelers on the road wouldn’t surprise me and I think they’ll split this season, but I’ll go with each team winning at home. Cleveland will win two games in a row for the first time since 2023 in Week 7 and Week 8 when they host the Miami Dolphins and then travel to the New England Patriots. That puts them at 3-5 entering Week 9. — Little

Ravens: They have Houston, the Los Angeles Rams, a bye week, at Chicago before a Week 9 date in Miami for “Thursday Night Football.” Assuming the reports this week about Jackson missing Week 5 are true, I can’t pick Cooper Rush to beat the Texans. The Rams are humming. I’ll say Baltimore is 2-5 entering Week 9. — Crabbs

Steelers: They are off in Week 5, and their next three opponents are the Browns, Bengals, and Packers. I think the team wins two in a row before falling to the Packers on “Sunday Night Football.” Division games are always tough, but the quarterback situation for those teams isn’t ideal. I expect Rodgers to play well against his old team, but the Packers come out on top, and the Steelers head into Week 9 at 5-2. — Gregson

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John Sheeran