When someone is asked what the best division in the NFL is, the AFC North used to always be one of the top answers.
But that might not as much of the case anymore.
In a recent article by PFF's Trevor Sikkema, he ranks every division in football by strength heading into the 2025 season. At No. 4 out of eight, he has the AFC North.
"The AFC North remains a competitive division, but it’s no longer the juggernaut it was just a few years ago," Sikkema wrote.
While the Baltimore Ravens had a very good season with a 12-5 record, one good team does not a division make.
The Pittsburgh Steelers were 10-7 in 2024 with a combination of Russell Wilson and Justin Fields at the helm. But with both of them gone, the team might have a bit of a quarterback problem if Aaron Rodgers does not make a decision soon.
As for the Bengals, there is no questioning that they have one of the scariest offenses in the league. But for the second straight season, they missed the playoffs as a result of their questionable defense. And with star edge rusher Trey Hendrickson likely leaving, it could be posted to get worse.
Then there is the bottom of the barrel with the Cleveland Browns, who went a shocking 3-14 in 2024. All of this is not to say they can't turn it around in the seasons to come. But with five quarterbacks on the roster, it does not seem that the team knows what its identity is just yet.
The AFC North is still one of the most physical threatening divisions in the league with three of the best defenses in the NFL. But the battles between the division rivals might not be as exciting as they once were.