AFC North standings: How Steelers' Week 8 loss could keep door open for Bengals, Ravens

The AFC North is regularly one of the most competitive divisions in the NFL. 

The Pittsburgh Steelers, Cincinnati Bengals, Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns usually give each other real challenges throughout the season. Since 2020, Cleveland is the only team of the bunch to not win the division at least once. However, the 2025 season has looked a bit different.

Entering Week 7, the Steelers were cruising atop the AFC North as the Bengals, Ravens and Browns were all multiple games under .500. But with Cincinnati's thrilling "Thursday Night Football" victory over Pittsburgh, led by recent quarterback addition Joe Flacco, there remains some opportunities for late-season drama in the AFC North.

Here's a breakdown at the AFC North standings after Thursday's 33-31 Bengals win over the Steelers.

MORE: Full Joe Flacco, Aaron Rodgers stats from Week 7 showdown

AFC North standings

Thursday's loss isn't going to be season-breaking for the Steelers -- they entered on a three-game winning streak, establishing themselves as the early favorite to win the division as the Bengals and Ravens both struggled with their respective quarterback injuries.

However, the fact that Pittsburgh's 33-31 loss came to a divisional opponent does make things a bit more interesting. It's likely fair to say the Browns don't have realistic playoff aspirations, with starting rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel in another transitional year. But as for the other two teams, Cincinnati and Baltimore, they can't be ruled out quite yet.

Cincinnati is now 1.5 games behind Pittsburgh in the early-season standings thanks to Thursday's win. It will be tough for the Bengals to maintain a high level of success without Joe Burrow, but winning divisional games could be their biggest key to maintained playoff contention into the late season. Flacco has proved more than capable of leading the squad in the meantime.

The Ravens, who have a bye in Week 7, will have more of a challenge ahead of them. They're three games behind the Steelers, but if Lamar Jackson can stay healthy, they also aren't a team that can be brushed aside quite yet. Like Cincinnati, Baltimore has enough divisional games remaining to make things interesting if it gets hot.

If momentum is valuable, then the Bengals also surely gained some in Thursday's gutsy back-and-forth win behind Flacco's arm. Cincinnati is undoubtedly just trying to stay afloat until Burrow is potentially ready to play late in the season, and Week 7 was a nice start to that goal, pulling within a game of .500 as the offense led the way.

Steelers remaining schedule

Here's a look at Pittsburgh's remaining schedule. They still face the Ravens twice and Bengals once, all three being key matchups if the Steelers are going to protect the division lead they've built from Week 1-7.

Bengals remaining schedule

Here's a look at Cincinnati's remaining schedule. The Bengals still have four divisional games, two of which are against the Ravens. Burrow is likely to be out until at least December.

Ravens remaining schedule

Finally, here's how the Ravens will finish out the 2025 season. At 1-5, Baltimore faces more of an uphill battle in the division, but it does have all four games against the Steelers and Bengals still to play.