AFC North power rankings Week 2: Where Ravens land after uninspiring Week 1

The AFC North is coming off a strong 2023 campaign that saw all four teams finish the season with winning records. Three teams made the playoffs, including the Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, and Pittsburgh Steelers. Who knows if all four teams will do so again this season, but one thing is for certain - this division is in good hands.

Week 1 had its fair share of ups and downs. For the Bengals, Browns, and Ravens, missed opportunities plagued the teams as they lost to their opponents. Meanwhile, the Steelers were the only team from the division to come out unscathed.

There's plenty more football to be played this season. With that, let's check in on where each team stands after an exciting opening Week 1.

AFC North power rankings Week 2: Where do the Ravens stand after Week 1?

4. Cincinnati Bengals (0-1)

The Cincinnati Bengals chase the rest of the division after Week 1. After a tough 16-10 loss to the New England Patriots, the "Bungals" (because they bungled their opportunity) need to reassess. Quarterback Joe Burrow is coming off a season-ending injury last season, so some rust was to be expected.

However, losing to the presumed worst team in the NFL at home in Week 1 will set a team back. The Bengals are now firmly in last place and will look to improve next week against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Bengals likely overlooked the Patriots Week 1, focusing on quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs next week. They just didn't look like their typical selves.

3. Cleveland Browns (0-1)

The Cleveland Browns did not impress in Week 1. They got rocked by the Dallas Cowboys 33-17. The Cowboys outplayed them the entirety of the game. Deshaun Watson proved there are more question marks than answers surrounding his future in the NFL. He flashed plays of the old Deshaun, but too often he flashed the bad Deshaun.

The Browns bested the "Bungals" strictly due to the competition they faced. The Dallas Cowboys came into the season with much higher expectations than the Patriots. The Browns were undisciplined and erratic and need to clean up a lot before their matchup next week against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers (1-0)

The Pittsburgh Steelers strolled into the Mercedez Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Sunday and came away with a Week 1 win against the Atlanta Falcons. The game wasn't all that exciting. The Steelers stole the game 18-10 on the back of their kicker, Chris Boswell who hit six field goals.

While the Steelers came away with the win, it wasn't all that impressive. Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins looked bad and turned the ball over too much. Steelers quarterback Justin Fields struggled to move the ball through the air per usual and the running game didn't fair much better. Overall, a win's a win, but it didn't impress enough to warrant the top spot.

1. Baltimore Ravens (0-1)

The Baltimore Ravens proved once again quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs just have the Ravens' number. The game was horribly officiated, but ultimately on the shoulders of Lamar Jackson, the Baltimore Ravens played just well enough to give themselves a fighting chance down the stretch.

The Ravens are listed first mostly due to context. The rest of the division sort of stunk it up. Yes, they lost to the Chiefs. But how many teams are going into Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO, and sneaking away with a win? We'll chalk this up to classic Week 1 heebie-jeebies. Expect the Ravens to bounce back next week against the Las Vegas Raiders.

More Ravens news and analysis