In week 8 of the NFL season, the AFC North continued to be an overall bad division. The Bengals started off well, but they fell off as the game went on. The Steelers had a similar situation where they played well, but they ended up losing 35-25 to the Packers. The Ravens played very well throughout the game, taking down the Bears 30-16. The Browns got stomped by the Patriots 32-13.
Cincinnati Bengals:
Oct 16, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco (16) throws a pass against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the fourth quarter at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images
The offense is definitely back
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Joe Flacco saved this offense and completely changed the course of the Bengals’ season. There is no specific reason on why he does it other than he is playing with nothing to lose, and it is working.
The defense will be the downfall of this team
While the offense was a spark for the Bengals, the defense is and will continue to be the downfall of the team. The secondary was horrible against a bad receiving corps without Garrett Wilson; they allowed Tyler Johnson to make plays and Justin Fields to tear them up.
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Cleveland Browns:
Sep 28, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) warms up before the game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images
The Browns are simply bad
The Browns are just a bad team; there is no special reason why or any possible explanation other than they lack the players to make things happen. The Browns will continue to struggle, and they will find small wins here and there, but they should play for next season.
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Myles Garrett is the best defender in the NFL
Myles Garrett is one of the few bright spots on the Browns. He can make a lot of plays, but they do not always matter. Garrett will always find a way to make an impact, and it is difficult to win a game as a sole defensive player.
Baltimore Ravens:
Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry finds an open lane and runs during first half action against the Baltimore Ravens at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park
Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry finds an open lane and runs during first half action against the Baltimore Ravens at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park – Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Democrat and Chronicle / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Ravens defense is still very dangerous
The Ravens are known for their toughness and defense. It felt like a classic Ravens game this week, where they made plays when they had to. The Ravens are at their best when they control the ball and play solid defense.
The run game is the key for this team
The run game is the key for the Ravens to win as many games as possible. They play their best when they are controlling the flow of the game. Derrick Henry, Keaton Mitchell, and Tyler Huntley dominated the game on the ground from the beginning to the end.
Pittsburgh Steelers:
Mike Tomlin
Seattle Seahawks v Pittsburgh Steelers | Joe Sargent/GettyImages
Mike Tomlin needs to take more risks
Mike Tomlin always has a high floor because he plays safely; however, the Steelers miss out on a lot of opportunities because Tomlin does not make the tough decision. Especially when playing against teams that are better than you, you have to take risks to win games, and Tomlin simply does not.
The defense is officially washed
The Steelers defense was one of the most anticipated units coming into this season, but they have quickly fallen off. The Steelers are off both schematically and from an effort perspective; they lack scheme, and the players lack tackling and toughness.
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