The AFC North was a powerhouse of a division in 2023, with four teams all finishing the season with winning records. While the headliner of this division is the Baltimore Ravens, all four teams were respectable from an NFL betting perspective. Here, we look at the results in the AFC North this year and look ahead to next season as well.
AFC North Futures Betting Odds
Baltimore Ravens
The winners of the AFC North in 2023 were the Baltimore Ravens. They finished in the first place in not just this division, but in the AFC as a whole, landing them a first-round bye in the playoffs. Lamar Jackson is likely to win another MVP award this season after his huge regular season, which saw him stay healthy throughout. But the question will be what this team can do in the playoffs, a part of the year Jackson has struggled with in the past.
Cleveland Browns
Quarterback injuries were an issue for the Cleveland Browns this year. But the Browns overcame the losses of Deshaun Watson and other backup quarterbacks to reach the playoffs. Joe Flacco of all people stepped in admirably at the quarterback position, as the Browns looked better throwing the ball with Flacco than they did with Watson. That helped the Browns win 11 games, as did an elite defense led by Myles Garrett.
Pittsburgh Steelers
This season, the Pittsburgh Steelers won 10 games and also made the playoffs, making three teams good enough to make the postseason in this division. Pittsburgh suffered quarterback injury after quarterback injury this past season, but their defense and running game helped them overcome the absence of Kenny Pickett. While the Steelers aren’t considered a threat in the playoffs, just getting there was an accomplishment this year.
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals went 9-8 this season, but missed out on the playoffs by a narrow margin. Just finishing this season above .500 was an impressive feat for the Bengals this year, given that they were without quarterback Joe Burrow for a large portion of the year. With Burrow set to return next season, there will be high expectations for the Bengals once again.
2024 AFC North Futures Outlook
The AFC North could go in any number of directions in 2024. The Ravens will likely be the favorites after playing so well in 2023. But the Bengals could bounce back in a big way with Burrow back under center, while the Steelers and Browns certainly have a fighting chance to finish in first place themselves. This division will be one of the best in the league again next season and will be a lot of fun to watch.