AFC North Power Rankings: Week 5

Week 5 certainly didn’t have many outcomes that went as planned and even though the AFC North only had 2 games this week, the Steelers and Ravens were a perfect example of that. The Steelers, who everyone expected to win, suffered a tough loss. The Ravens, on the other hand, blew out the supposedly superior team from Carolina to the tune of 28 points. Here are the power rankings after the unexpected results.

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4. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-2)

Last Week: 3

Oh how I wish there was a lower spot than this that I could move the Steelers to in these rankings. If there was a fifth spot in these rankings to move them to, the absolute abomination of a performance against the Buccaneers would be more than enough justification to move them there. Aside from the offensive skill players and a few select defensemen, the entire team looked like an embarrassment out on that field. I don’t care what excuses you want to make for them, but the coaching staff is just as much to blame as anyone. As much as I love some of them, if this display of incompetence continues then there is no reason that the team shouldn’t be searching for replacements for Mike Tomlin, Dick LeBeau, Todd Haley, and Kevin Colbert. Just to finally say it, I don’t care how much or how recently you decided to pay Mike Mitchell, there comes a time when he is playing so awful that Shamarko Thomas is a far better option. Hopefully I’m not writing the same things next Wednesday.

Next Game: vs Jacksonville

3. Cleveland Browns (1-2)

Last Week: 4

Even though the Browns were ranked in the basement last week, they got the benefit of not playing while the Steelers completely crapped the bed. Barring the first half against the Browns and the game against the Panthers, I don’t think it’s a stretch at all to say the Browns are a better football team at this points. They aren’t as talented by any means, but they are good at the simple things that the Steelers for some reason lack (like the discipline to not commit 13+ penalties for example). The Browns are not going to be a good football team with Brian Hoyer or Johnny Manziel under center, but they are good enough to stay out of the basement if the Steelers keep performing the same.

Next Game: vs Tennessee

2. Baltimore Ravens (3-1)

Last Week: 2

The top half of the rankings remain unchanged from last week. The Ravens got the benefit of pounding on the Panthers until the referee blew the final whistle. However, the Steelers did the exact same thing two weeks ago, so I wouldn’t exactly be too optimistic Ravens fans. Right now from strictly a talent standpoint I believe the Ravens are the third best team in the division, but if we’re talking execution, play calling *ahem*, and discipline *ahem*, then they are clearly second. If they can carry over their performance against the Panthers to the rest of the season, then they won’t have many problems making it back to the playoffs.

Next Game: vs Indianapolis

1. Cincinnati Bengals (3-0)

Last Week: 1

The Bengals may be tied in the win total column with the Ravens, but there isn’t any question who the superior team is. The Bengals are so much better than everyone else in the division at this point that they should easily run away with the title if it continues. I’m not afraid to admit that I was completely 100% wrong on this team. Even though I still think they had an awful draft, they clearly let Michael Johnson and company walk because they had high quality in house replacements. Just look at how good Wallace Gilberry has been. At this point it’s the Bengals and Broncos in the AFC and no one else is even close.

Next Game: vs New England

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