AFC North Recap: Steelers incredible comeback seals the deal in the AFC North

The sixteenth week of NFL football is behind us, and it was quite the week in the AFC North division. With that said, it is time to see how the Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers, Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns all did in the week that was.

Time to take a look...

Pittsburgh Steelers - 28
Indianapolis Colts - 24

Some may have predicted the Steelers to beat the Colts, I know I did, but I don’t think anyone saw the 17-point comeback at Heinz Field in Week 16. Was the huge win, which clinched the AFC North, the turning point for the Steelers? Is the abysmal offense fans saw the past three games, and mainly poor play by Ben Roethlisberger, a thing of the past? Only time will tell, but this win was just what the doctor ordered for the team, with Week 17 now being an option to rest players, and the fans, who now have at least some hope in their favorite team heading into the postseason.

Baltimore Ravens - 27
New York Giants - 13

Believe it or not, but Baltimore fans were rooting hard for the Steelers on Sunday, and that had to be feel weird for them. The Steelers gave the Ravens’ playoff possibility a huge boost by beating the Colts, and the Ravens beating the Giants at M&T Bank Stadium moved the Ravens from the “in the hunt” category to officially in the postseason. However, a lot can happen in a week, and Week 17 will be a win-and-in for the Ravens as they travel to Cincinnati to play the Bengals.

New York Jets - 23
Cleveland Browns - 16

If everyone thought the Steelers’ loss to the Bengals on Monday Night Football in Week 15 was awful, the Browns’ loss to the Jets might be equally as bad. Yes, the Browns’ wide receiving corps was decimated after high-risk players were put on the COVID-19/Reserve List, but Baker Mayfield didn’t do them any favors with his careless tendencies with the football. The Jets, who have won two games in a row, make the Browns have to wait another week, if they can beat the Steelers at home, before they clinch a playoff berth.

Cincinnati Bengals - 37
Houston Texans - 31

The Jets winning two in a row was surprising, the Bengals doing the same might be even more shocking. Give teams like the Bengals credit, they could completely shut down operations and coast through the regular season. However, instead of starting their 2021 NFL Draft prep early, they are fighting till the very end. The fan bases have to hate this, but it is important to remember players are playing for their jobs...every snap matters. Can the Bengals stay hot and beat the Ravens at home in Week 17?

AFC North Rankings

Pittsburgh Steelers - 12-3
Baltimore Ravens - 10-5
Cleveland Browns - 10-5
Cincinnati Bengals - 4-10-1

Week 17 AFC North Schedule

Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns — Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET
Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals — Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET

A look ahead...

The final opponents for all AFC North teams:

Baltimore Ravens: at Bengals
Cleveland Browns: vs. Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers: at Browns
Cincinnati Bengals: vs. Ravens