Week 11 brought another round of chaos in the AFC North, and the report cards are in. The Steelers absolutely rolled the Bengals in a statement win that showed real signs of life on both sides of the ball, while the Ravens handled business against the Browns in a tough, physical matchup. With every team fighting for a playoff position, here are the grades for each AFC North squad after a pivotal Week 11.
Cincinnati Bengals:
Chase Brown
Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown (30) celebrates scoring a touchdown during the second quarter against the New York Jets at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images
Offense: D-
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The Bengals offense was very bad against the Steelers, they allowed two defensive touchdowns, which basically lost them the game. There was some pop by Chase Browns, which has been rare this season, but the offense overall struggled to put up points on the board.
Defense: C
The defense was better than the offense, but still not great. They struggled to tackle and get big stops on crucial third downs. The Steelers had a lot of yards after catch, which is what killed the Bengals throughout the game, Kenneth Gainwell and Darnell Washington, and far too many easy catches.
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Overall: D+
The Bengals got dominated by the Steelers, the game was close in the fourth quarter despite the final score. The Bengals had a chance to win the game, but they really, really struggled at the end to hold on to a chance to win the game.
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Cleveland Browns:
Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders throws downfield against the Baltimore Ravens at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Offense: D-
The Browns offense was struggling before Dillon Gabriel’s injury, but when Shedeur Sanders came into the game, they had no chance. The offense was inefficient in every way; the run game and pass game were really bad and were unable to move the ball at all in the second half.
Defense: B
The defense was doing really well against Lamar Jackson; he is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, so it is difficult to contain him. The Browns were just unable to consistently stop the run throughout the game. They earned a B because of their pressure on Lamar Jackson and specifically Myles Garrett.
Overall: C
The Browns get a C for their game against the Ravens. They could have changed a lot of things in the game, but they were given a bad situation with their injury to Dillon Gabriel. The defense had to step up against the run, but that is a big reason why they lost; however, without being able to score points, it is nearly impossible to win.
Baltimore Ravens:
Sep 28, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) scrambles during the first half against the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
Offense: C
The Ravens offense was bad for the most part, but the run game really stepped up and did its part. Lamar Jackson was flustered for the majority of the game and threw two interceptions; it was obvious how much the Browns pass rush was getting to them.
Defense: B+
The Ravens defense played really well; the Browns were basically unable to move the ball at all after Dillon Gabriel got hurt. Shedeur Sanders looked horrible; he only completed 4 passes out of 16, along with an interception.
Overall: C+
The Ravens get a C+ for their performance against the Browns, they could have played a lot better in different areas of the game. Their pass game struggled a lot, and specifically, their offensive line’s performance against Myles Garrett was a big reason for that. The defense played a really solid game, but there was a lot of room for improvement.
Pittsburgh Steelers:
Steelers Kenneth Gainwell (14) scores a touchdown during their game against the Bengals on Sunday November 16, 2025 at Acrisure Stadium.
Offense: B
The Steelers took the easy passes and made it easy on themselves. Short passes to Darnell Washington and Kenneth Gainwell helped make the game really easy on them. They were forcing missed tackles and running the ball fairly efficiently. The Steelers’ offense is very hot and cold, but this was a better game.
Defense: B+
The defense scored two defensive touchdowns, which automatically makes it a solid game. The issues for the Steelers came from tackling in the secondary, and for the linebackers, they really struggled to bring down Chase Brown this game, and he picked up a lot of first downs that would usually not be picked up.
Overall: B+
The Steelers got a much-needed win against a divisional opponent. They earned a B+ for this game because it felt complete. It seemed like everyone contributed to a certain degree, and they won this game as a team, with good coaching and play.
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