AFC North standings: How Steelers, Ravens, Bengals rank in jammed division heading into Week 15

The AFC North has been recognized as one of the most competitive divisions over the past few seasons. This has not been the best year for the division, as its top team sits at an underwhelming 7-6.

The usual contenders, such as the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals, got off to horrid starts. Both teams dealt with a plethora of injuries, including to their starting quarterbacks.

Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow suffered a Grade 3 turf toe injury in Week 2. He missed nine games and 10 weeks of the season.

The Ravens’ struggles have been surprising to many around the NFL. Their defense has suffered an unfathomable number of injuries, and Lamar Jackson missed time and still doesn’t look like himself.

Then there’s the division leader, the Pittsburgh Steelers, who aren’t bad but certainly aren’t good. Forty-two-year-old Aaron Rodgers leads them at quarterback. Despite the Steelers’ defense — usually a strength — looking putrid, they remain atop the AFC North.

Here’s a look at the updated AFC North standings ahead of Week 15.

AFC North standings

Despite being in the lead and recently beating the Ravens in Week 14, the Steelers are anything but safe heading into Week 15. See, even if Pittsburgh wins its next three games, everything will still ride on its Week 18 game against the Ravens. This is only the case if Baltimore also wins out. 

If the Ravens were to win out and beat Pittsburgh in Week 18, they would hold the tiebreaker in the common opponents record. There is a better-than-not chance that this Week 18 game will determine the AFC North. 

While the chances for the Bengals to wind up winning the AFC North are insanely slim, they're not mathematically eliminated yet. Cincinnati needs to win out, requires the Steelers and Ravens to lose several games horrifically, and benefit from a potential tiebreaker. So not impossible, but not likely. 

MORE WEEK 15 NFL:

• NFL power rankings for Week 15
• NFL Week 15 picks, predictions
• NFL Week 15 picks against the spread

Steelers remaining schedule

Here are the remaining games for Pittsburgh:

Despite the Steelers' lead in the AFC after the recent victory over the Ravens, they're not safe at the top. Even if Pittsburgh wins out, the Ravens will have a chance in Week 18 to steal the lead. Pittsburgh hosts the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football in Week 15. 

Ravens remaining schedule

Here are the remaining games for Baltimore:

The Ravens don't have to win out to capture the AFC North; instead, they have to win as many games as Pittsburgh does before their Week 18 divisional clash. In Week 15, they'll take on the Bengals, who recently defeated them on Thanksgiving night. 

Bengals remaining schedule

Here are the remaining games for Cincinnati:

The Bengals' first step toward winning the AFC North is to win out. While them leading the division by the end of the season is unlikely, if they beat the Ravens in Week 15, they do have a legit chance to win out.