The AFC North was a division to watch coming into the 2022 NFL season.
The Bengals, the 2021 champions, were coming off a Super Bowl appearance but faced a schedule that ranked among the toughest in the league. The Ravens, though they finished last a season ago, were loaded with talent, starting with 2019 MVP Lamar Jackson, and benefited from a last-place schedule.
Through the first 14 weeks of the season, the division race has delivered. The Bengals beat the Browns 23-10 and the Ravens beat the Steelers 16-14, moving both teams to 9-4 with four games remaining in the regular season.
Last year, the Ravens led the division in Week 12 at 8-3 before an injury to Jackson — and injuries to a litany of other players — derailed the season and sent Baltimore spiraling to six straight losses to end the year. Jackson was injured in Week 13 this year, but the Ravens have held on to win both games with him out.
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Here's what you need to know about the AFC North race for the remainder of the season:
AFC North standings
| Place | Team | W-L (Divison record) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ravens | 9-4 (3-0) |
| 2 | Bengals | 9-4 (2-3) |
| 3 | Browns | 5-8 (2-2) |
| 4 | Steelers | 5-8 (1-3) |
Mini-winning streaks by the Browns and Steelers had both teams feeling as if they could sneak back into the NFL playoff picture. The Ravens and Bengals slammed the door shut on both in Week 14. Now, as many expected, the AFC North is officially a two-team race.
The Ravens have to feel that they are in the driver's seat. Baltimore is undefeated in division play, including a win against Cincinnati, and needs only a win against the Browns in Week 15 or the Steelers in Week 17 to clinch the division tiebreaker against the Bengals.
MORE: Updated NFL standings, playoff picture for Week 14
Still, it won't be an easy road for the Ravens, largely due to injury. In the win against the Steelers, backup quarterback Tyler Huntley suffered a concussion and was ruled out. This means Anthony Brown, an undrafted rookie free agent, could start against Cleveland on Saturday. Jackson (knee) is expected to be out for the game, according to reports.
The injuries haven't hurt the Ravens too much. Huntley orchestrated a game-winning drive against the Broncos in a 10-9 Week 13 victory, and Baltimore's defense limited the Steelers to seven points in the second half to win 16-14 on Sunday.
The Ravens also have one clear advantage over the Bengals: They won't play a team with a winning record until Week 18 vs. Cincinnati. The Bengals, on the other hand, will face the Buccaneers, Patriots and Bills the next three weeks.
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There has been plenty of discussion about the Week 18 clash in Cincinnati deciding the division, and that appears to be on the table. If both teams go 3-0 over the next three weeks, that final game would decide who gets to host a playoff game and who plays on the road.
But there is more pressure on the Bengals to win out with the Ravens holding the division tiebreaker and facing the Browns and Steelers in winnable games.
FiveThirtyEight gives the Ravens a 61 percent chance to win the division and the Bengals a 39 percent chance. The race between the two is shaping up to be one of the best in the NFL as the season enters the final stretch.
