AFC North Futures: Who Will Win the AFC North This Year?
Updated September 29, 2026
Updated September 29, 2026
Pittsburgh won the AFC North at 10-7 last season, while Baltimore finished 8-9, Cincinnati went 6-11, and Cleveland ended at 5-12. Yet the current futures market does not follow that order. Baltimore and Cincinnati have moved to the front of the race, with Pittsburgh sitting well behind the top 2 and Cleveland priced as a major outsider in the market. Here, we give you our expectations for each team and our AFC North prediction for this year.
Baltimore remains the market favorite to claim the AFC North at Polymarket, and the case for them is still easy to understand. Lamar Jackson gives the Ravens the highest week-to-week offensive ceiling in the division, and the late win over Dallas showed they can survive a game that does not unfold cleanly. Derrick Henry remains central to the offense, while Zay Flowers gives Jackson a reliable playmaker on the outside. Baltimore has looked capable of scoring in several different ways, which matters in a division where close games are common.
The concern is the offensive line. Baltimore lost multiple centers in the Dallas game in Week 3 and is preparing to reshuffle the interior of the line. That could make the next stretch less comfortable, especially against divisional defenses that can create pressure inside. Even with that issue, the market continues to treat Baltimore as the team with the best full-season outlook.
Cincinnati is the clear second choice and remains close enough to Baltimore that the division is far from settled. Joe Burrow has looked sharp, and the passing game still has the kind of high-end talent that can decide games quickly. Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins give Cincinnati a receiving pair that few teams can match, and the offense showed against Pittsburgh that it can move the ball even in a difficult road setting.
The loss to the Steelers also exposed why Cincinnati has not moved ahead of Baltimore in the futures market. The Bengals had chances to take control but could not finish the game, and they are dealing with injuries in the receiving group. Cincinnati still has enough offensive firepower to win this division, but it may have a smaller margin for error than Baltimore if the defense and protection are inconsistent.
Pittsburgh sits clearly behind Baltimore and Cincinnati in the futures market, but its latest result gave the case for the Steelers more credibility. Aaron Rodgers delivered his best performance of the young season in the win over Cincinnati, and the offense finally looked capable of producing enough explosive plays to support the defense. DK Metcalf remains a major part of that equation, while the running game gives Pittsburgh another way to control difficult matchups.
The larger question is whether that offensive performance can become the standard rather than an isolated high point. Pittsburgh has enough defensive talent and veteran quarterback experience to stay involved in the race, but the market is asking the Steelers to prove that their offense can hold up over a full season. Their upcoming divisional games should provide a clearer answer.
Cleveland is still the biggest long shot in the market, even after a much better start than many expected. The Browns have already shown they can win close games, and their recent victory over Carolina featured a late drive from Deshaun Watson after a difficult offensive day. The defense has kept Cleveland competitive, and Todd Monken appears willing to lean on that strength while the offense develops.
The biggest issue remains trust in the quarterback and the offense as a whole. Watson has produced important late-game plays, but Cleveland has not yet shown the same offensive consistency as Baltimore or Cincinnati. That leaves the Browns with a narrower path to the division title, even though their early play suggests they should not be dismissed.
Baltimore is the best choice to win the AFC North. Jackson is healthy, Henry remains a major part of the offense, and the change from John Harbaugh to Jesse Minter hasn't hurt them.
The difference between Baltimore and Cincinnati is small enough that this race should stay interesting well into the season, but Baltimore has fewer areas that are questionable. That makes the Ravens the strongest AFC North futures selection at this time.
