Steelers Take Control of AFC North at Midpoint of NFL Season
Pittsburgh holds sole possession of first place heading into its bye week after a dominant victory over the Cleveland Browns.
At the midway point of the 2026 NFL season, the AFC North features an unusual landscape with all four teams sitting at or above a .500 record following Week 8 action. The Pittsburgh Steelers currently claim sole possession of first place in the division with a 6-2 record, holding a half-game lead over the Cincinnati Bengals. The Cleveland Browns sit closely behind at 5-3, while the Baltimore Ravens round out the division in last place with a 4-4 record as they navigate an injury-plagued season for quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Pittsburgh seized control of the division lead heading into its bye week by routing the Cleveland Browns 27-6 on Sunday, avenging an earlier loss from Week 4. The victory extended the Steelers' winning streak to four games. Linebacker Patrick Queen, who recorded a team-high 12 tackles, noted the physical style of play the team is establishing as the season progresses. "You get into the late season -- late November, December, January -- and you're playing football like that? That's hard to beat," Queen said.
The Steelers' recent surge has been fueled by a dominant rushing attack and a stifling defense. After opening the season relying heavily on a wide-open passing game led by quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the team has successfully transitioned into one of the league's top running units. Running back Jaylen Warren rushed for 143 yards and a touchdown in the win over Cleveland, bringing his season average to a league-leading 5.9 yards per carry. Meanwhile, the offensive line continues to gel, anchoring an offense that currently leads the NFL in total rush EPA.
Defensively, coordinator Patrick Graham's unit delivered its most convincing performance of the season against Cleveland, sacking quarterback Deshaun Watson eight times, forcing early turnovers, and holding the Browns to just 34 rushing yards. "He went off for like five minutes about how he's going to call the game, just trust him, just trust the plan," Queen explained regarding Graham's pre-game address. "Everybody just do their job, and it's gonna fall into our hands. And that's what we did."
Behind Pittsburgh, the Cincinnati Bengals stand at 5-2 after surviving a close overtime battle against the Tennessee Titans. Despite early-season mistakes and a tendency to play in tightly contested matchups, quarterback Joe Burrow has maintained MVP-caliber play to keep the Bengals firmly in the race. Cincinnati sits just a half-game behind the Steelers and will host Pittsburgh in a crucial Week 10 matchup on Sunday night following the Steelers' upcoming bye.
The Cleveland Browns hold a 5-3 record built largely on tight fourth-quarter wins managed by Deshaun Watson, though analysts project potential regression during the second half of the season due to point differentials in their losses. Meanwhile, the Baltimore Ravens face an uphill battle at 4-4, weighed down by divisional losses and ongoing concerns regarding Lamar Jackson's health. With nine weeks remaining before the playoffs, analysts project the Steelers and Bengals to secure the top tier of the division, leaving the remaining contenders to fight for wild-card positioning in a highly competitive AFC North.