Niner Noise
FanSided

NFL power rankings: Breaking down each division heading into 2018

By Peter Panacy

NEW ORLEANS, LA - DECEMBER 24: The Atlanta Falcons play the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on December 24, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - DECEMBER 24: The Atlanta Falcons play the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on December 24, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /
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BALTIMORE, MD – OCTOBER 01: Quarterback Joe Flacco #5 of the Baltimore Ravens and Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers chat after the game at M&T Bank Stadium on October 1, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD – OCTOBER 01: Quarterback Joe Flacco #5 of the Baltimore Ravens and Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers chat after the game at M&T Bank Stadium on October 1, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images) /

The Cleveland Browns coming off a winless 2017 should make the AFC North drop a bit in our NFL power rankings. But Cleveland had a pretty solid offseason, trading for quarterback Tyrod Taylor and wide receiver Jarvis Landry, landing running back Carlos Hyde in free agency as well as grabbing quarterback Baker Mayfield and cornerback Denzel Ward in Round 1 of the NFL Draft.

It might take a few more years before the Browns are good again. But at least they’ve graduated from atrocious to moderately watchable.

If anything, the Browns are looking to overstep the Cincinnati Bengals, who appear to be doing little more than treading water. They still have some offensive weapons, namely wide receiver A.J. Green, and Cincy’s offensive line is improved.

But you’re looking at a .500 team at best here.

Ultimately, the AFC North will come down to the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers. The Ravens, even after moving up to draft Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson in Round 1, will turn back to veteran QB Joe Flacco to have a bounce-back year in 2018. Yet it will be Baltimore’s aging defense that will ultimately determine the team’s fate.

Fortunately, it’s still a good unit.

Still, the AFC North belongs to the Steelers. As long as quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has wide receiver Antonio Brown and running back Le’Veon Bell at his disposal, Pittsburgh’s offense remains legit.

The Steelers being a Super Bowl contender again keeps the AFC North relatively high in our divisional NFL power rankings.