Is the AFC North the NFL’s best division?
Let’s take a look at the evidence:
The Ravens are 3-1, Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers are 3-2 and Cleveland Browns are 2-2.
The AFC North is the only division with three teams with winning records. It’s the only division that doesn’t have a team with a losing record.
The Bengals are the only team thus far to beat the Buffalo Bills. The Steelers are coming off a dominating win over the AFC South-leading Tennessee Titans. The Browns two wins, however, are both against winless teams – the Miami Dolphins and Indianapolis Colts.
Defense has been the division’s calling card – as would be expected. Cincinnati leads the NFL in total defense, allowing 279.6 yards per game. Pittsburgh is second at 282.6 and Baltimore is third at 284.5. Cleveland ranks ninth at 320 yards per game.
So are the Ravens atop the best division?
“I don’t know. Are we?” Head Coach John Harbaugh said. “You tell me.
“It’s a good question. I have always thought it is the best division. Even when these teams, at times when certain teams, don’t have great records, and we have to play them, and everybody thinks it is going to be some kind of an easy game. Last year, the Bengals, at the end of the year, it was just a backyard brawl from beginning to end. That’s what you get in this division. I have always thought it is the best division. To make your point there as far as the records and where the defenses are ranked and all that kind of stuff, it’s a strong argument.”
Some other challengers for strongest division thus far are the NFC North, NFC South and AFC East.
In terms of total wins thus far this season, the NFC North leads with 13, two more than the AFC North. Led by the undefeated Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers, the Chicago Bears are also formidable at 2-3 and Minnesota Vikings are coming off their first win.
The NFC South has 10 collective wins, led by the 4-1 New Orleans Saints. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are behind them, followed by the talented Atlanta Falcons, who are sitting at 2-3. The last-place Carolina Panthers are the only team who has put a scare into Green Bay thus far.
The AFC East is home to two 4-1 teams with the upstart Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots. The two-time defending AFC Championship contenders, the New York Jets, are at 2-3 but will almost certainly be a big factor down the stretch. The Dolphins are winless thus far.
What do you think? Which is the strongest division?
