2026 AFC North NFL Divisional Preview: Will Lamar and the Ravens be Division Champs?
Written by: PJ Glasser
Published: Thu Aug 06, 2026, 11:02 am ET
Read Time: 9 minutes
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The AFC North has been dominated by three teams in the last fifteen years. Since 2010, the Steelers have won the division 6 times, the Ravens have won it 6 times, and the Bengals have won it 4 times. Meanwhile, the Browns haven't won the AFC North since 1989. With the Browns continuing their rebuild, this division figures once again to be a 3-team race. So many questions heading into the year regarding these teams, but the two biggest ones have to be the coaching and Quarterback health.
For the first time in nearly 20 years no Harbaugh or Tomlin on the sidelines for Baltimore and Pittsburgh. After years of winning records and playoff appearances for both teams, both squads have a new man in charge. Then of course, comes the question about health and specifically can Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow stay healthy. Both are top 4 quarterbacks in football and both their teams have big expectations this year. It all comes down to health and if those guys are out there every week then their teams likely will be in the playoffs and one of them likely wins the division.
Checkout Nate Hornung's preview on the NFC North and Varun Sharma preview of the AFC West
AFC North Divisional History
Past 10 AFC North Champions
- 2025: Pittsburgh Steelers 10-7
- 2024: Baltimore Ravens 12-5
- 2023: Baltimore Ravens 13-4
- 2022: Cincinnati Bengals 12-4
- 2021: Cincinnati Bengals 10-7
- 2020: Pittsburgh Steelers 12-4
- 2019: Baltimore Ravens 14-2
- 2018: Baltimore Ravens 10-6
- 2017: Pittsburgh Steelers 13-3
- 2016: Pittsburgh Steelers 11-5
AFC North Betting Odds
Odds are courtesy of BetOnline.
Odds to Win AFC North
- Baltimore Ravens -110
- Cincinnati Bengals +160
- Pittsburgh Steelers +550
- Cleveland Browns 22-1
Best Bets in the AFC North
- Ravens to win AFC North (-110)
- Browns Over 5.5 wins (-110)
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AFC North Team Preview
Can Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers win the AFC North again?
Pittsburgh Steelers – 7.5 Wins (Over -145 /Under +115)
If Mike Tomlin was still coaching the Steelers this would be an easy bet on the over. However, now that Mike McCarthy has taken over for the Steelers it feels like their season has a lot more variance to it. Rodgers and McCarthy will team up one final time in their career to try and win their second Super Bowl together. For me, the biggest questions with the Steelers are, how effective will Rodgers be this season and will the defense hold up?
Pittsburgh's defense still remains one one of the oldest and most expensive in the NFL. They have a lot of great players still in T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward, and Jalen Ramsey, but these guys aren't getting any younger. Combine that with a new defensive coordinator in Patrick Graham, you wonder how effective this Steeler defense can be over the course of a 17-game season.
As for Rodgers and the offense, they did go out and get Michael Pittman Jr. DK Metcalf and Pittman Jr. can be a nice 1-2 punch and their backfield of Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle can be solid too. A ton of pressure on the O-line to protect 42-year old Aaron Rodgers who will turn 43 in December. You give Rodgers time, like any QB in the NFL and he will make plays. His mobility is nowhere near what it was and if he doesn't get time that offense will really struggle.
No official bet for me on the Steelers. Would lean under if I had to bet it, but McCarthy's teams usually perform well in the regular season and I don't think Rodgers would come back if he felt like this team was going 5-12 so I'll stay away.
Will the King have another big season this year?
Baltimore Ravens– 11.5 Wins (Over +110/Under -140)
The Ravens have one of the highest win totals in the NFL and once again the expectations in Baltimore are to win a Super Bowl. They are the co-favorites to win the AFC along with the Bills and maybe this is the year Baltimore finally breaks through and gets to the Super Bowl.
After 18 years, the Ravens finally decided to fire John Harbaugh. It was time to make a change at the top and they're rolling the dice with former Chargers defense coordinator, Jesse Minter. Early reviews from training camp are that Ravens players have loved the new staff, and the change from Harabugh has been a refreshing one.
We know when that offense stay healthy it's one of the best in the league and now with Minter coaching the defense I think he will bring it back to a championship level. The Ravens on paper have one of the easiest schedules they have had in a while and should take advantage. They are my bet to win this division at -110.
Can Joe burrow stay healthy this season for the Bengals?
Cincinnati Bengals– 10.5 Wins (Over +110/Under -140)
There's a saying, "Your best ability is availability" and that needs to be the mindset for Joe Burrow heading into this season. He is one of the best QB's in football when healthy but the problem is he has missed a lot of games the last 3 years. He missed 7 in 2023 and missed 9 games last year. Him staying healthy is one of the biggest question marks coming into the season.
Along with Burrow's health, the big question in Cincinnati is the defense. They were one of the worst in the NFL last year and if they can even just be middle of the pack with the offense they have they can maybe win a Super Bowl. They went out and got Dexter Lawerence and Jonathan Allen on the defensive line and added Bryan Cook in the secondary. All eyes will be on that defense under Al Golden in Year 2 to take a jump.
Zac Taylor is the only coach in the division who remains with his team from last season. There was a lot of change, but he remains the head man in Cincy. He is definitely on the hot seat and it feels like the Bengals have to make the playoffs at the minimum if he wants to keep his job. There is a lot to like with the Bengals if everything goes right but they're such a hard team to bet on in the futures market because the health of Burrow worries you. To win 11 games is a lot in the NFL and to much has to go right so I'll pass on their win total.
Will Deshaun Watson salvage his NFL career with the Browns this season?
Cleveland Browns– 5.5 Wins (Over -115/Under -115)
The Browns haven't won the AFC North since 1989 and I don't expect that to change this year, however I do think they can be competitive and win some games. Like all the other teams in the AFC North they play the AFC South and NFC South this season. On top of that, they play a last place schedule so they get teams like the Jets, Raiders, and Giants.
They do have some weapons on offense. Judkins and Fannin Jr. both showed they can produce during their rookie seasons and Jerry Jeudy is still a solid NFL WR. Defensively, they lost maybe the best player in the game in Myles Garrett, but Jared Verse is really good too and they have one of the best young linebackers behind him in Carson Schwesinger and a terrific corner in Denzel Ward.
The question with the Browns always comes down to QB and they haven't been able to find a good one in a LONG TIME. Deshaun Watson looks like he's going to be the starter and this will be his last chance to prove he can still play in the NFL. The Browns brought in former Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken to be their new Head Coach which I love. Monken is old school and no nonsense. The Browns need a grownup running their team and I think he's the perfect stop gap coach until they find their next guy.
The schedule is doable, they still have a solid defense and I think the offense will be better than people expect. I don't think the Browns win the division or make the playoffs, but I do think they can win 6 or 7 games. I like their win total over 5.5 (-115).
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