After such a disappointing 2025 campaign, Baltimore Ravens fans couldn't have imagined the 2026 season going even worse. That's the way it's trending at the halfway point, though.
Baltimore dropped to 4-5 with a brutal loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 9 and sits firmly at the bottom of a competitive AFC North. While Jacoby Brissett should improve the outlook for the rest of the season, he's likely not enough to restore the Ravens' playoff hopes.
To make matters worse, the Cincinnati Bengals have hit their stride in recent weeks. The division title is slipping farther away from the Ravens by the minute. With Week 9 in the books, here's how things stand in the AFC North.
AFC North power rankings after Week 9
Week 9 results:
- Ravens lose to Jaguars 33-10
- Bengals beat Falcons 34-17
- Browns lose to Saints 23-22 (OT)
1. Cincinnati Bengals are rolling as Joe Burrow puts on a show
The Bengals aren't technically leading the division. That honor belongs to the Pittsburgh Steelers, who own the head-to-head advantage over Cincinnati. That said, Joe Burrow certainly has the Bengals looking like the most threatening team in the division.
Since Cincinnati's Week 9 bye, Burrow leads the NFL in passing yards, passing touchdowns, and EPA per play, each by a wide margin. Defenses can't stop the Bengals' passing game, even when they know what's coming.
Cincinnati's Week 10 clash with Pittsburgh will go a long way toward determining who is truly the top dog in the AFC North.
Next game: Sunday, Nov. 15th vs. Steelers
2. Pittsburgh Steelers lost their luster over their bye week
The Steelers had their bye in Week 9, allowing the Bengals to draw level with them in the division standings. By no fault of their own, they come out of the bye looking a bit duller. Sure, they still have the strength to win in the trenches on both sides of the ball, but can their defense hold up against an explosive attack like Cincinnati's?
We'll find out in Week 10, but for now, the Bengals look more likely to claim the division title.
Next game: Sunday, Nov. 15th @ Bengals
3. Cleveland Browns continue to drift away from early-season success
The Cleveland Browns' early-season success was fun while it lasted, for non-AFC North teams at least, but they've come back down to earth in recent weeks. They took their second consecutive loss in Week 9, this time falling to a struggling New Orleans Saints squad.
The Browns have some exciting young players, but they've been unable to win at the line of scrimmage this year, especially on offense.
They're still at least an offseason away from being a real threat in the AFC North.
Next game: Sunday, Nov. 15th vs. Texans
4. Baltimore Ravens are on the verge of a complete collapse
The Ravens' shortcomings this season will be attributed to Lamar Jackson's injury woes. While the former MVP's absence is obviously devastating, it's not the only reason for Baltimore's struggles.
Jesse Minter was hired to reestablish an elite defense in Baltimore, but his unit has been just average so far. Declan Doyle's offense has failed to find any avenue to success without Jackson and hasn't posted more than 13 points in a game since Week 5.
The Ravens hit a low point against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday night, but this team has been trending in the wrong direction for weeks.
Brissett will be an upgrade over Joe Fagnano. Whether he's enough to get this team back on track remains to be seen.
Next game: Monday, Nov. 16th vs. Chargers
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