The AFC North has been one of the most competitive and even divisions in the NFL. Since their return, the Cleveland Browns are the only one of the four teams that comprise the AFC North that has never won the division title. Instead, the Browns have made three wild-card NFL odds appearances. Cleveland’s last division title was in 1989 in the AFC Central. For the past two seasons, the Ravens won the AFC North for the first time since 2019 and for the sixth time since 2011.
AFC North Division Championship Odds:
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Baltimore Ravens | -150 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | +230 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | +550 |
| Cleveland Browns | +3000 |
The Cincinnati Bengals won the division in 2021 and 2022. The Pittsburgh Steelers took the title four times from 2014 through 2020. This online wagering season, the AFC North could be the most competitive in pro football, although gamblers don’t fully reflect that in the futures market. The Ravens are a slight favorite over the Bengals. In turn, the Steelers are further back and the Browns as a long shot.
Last year, the Ravens won the AFC North with an NFL betting odds record of 12-5, a feat reminiscent of their 2023 division title, which came with a record of 13-4. The Ravens advanced to the 2023 AFC Championship game. But they lost to the visiting Kansas City Chiefs. Furthermore, the irony is that Lamar Jackson was named the NFL MVP in 2019 and 2023, only to fall short of the Super Bowl. In 2024, the Ravens took a step back, losing on the road to the Buffalo Bills 25-27 in the AFC divisional playoffs.
John Harbaugh took over the Ravens in 2008 and has proven to be the perfect fit. To illustrate, Harbaugh led the 2012 Super Bowl championship team. Such stability and excellence are hallmarks of Baltimore’s success.
The Cincinnati Bengals are eager to reclaim their position at the top of the AFC North. Cincinnati failed to make the playoffs the past two seasons. Caused by quarterback Joe Burrow’s frequent injuries. Burrow is expected to be back at 100%, and that means Cincinnati will be a serious threat to win the AFC North, at the very least.
For the most part, the AFC North is a direct descendant of the old AFC Central, which was formed in 1970 when the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL) merged. In turn, the AFC North absorbed the following former AFC Central franchises: the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, and Cincinnati Bengals.
Previously, the Baltimore Ravens were originally the Cleveland Browns before relocating to Baltimore in 1996. However, the Ravens acted as a separate franchise, allowing the Browns to retain all of their trademarks and old records for when they returned to the NFL. Cleveland returned in 1999 as a pure expansion team, inheriting the history of its previous iteration.
Cleveland is the second-oldest team in this division, but the Browns only have six division titles. They haven’t claimed a division title since re-joining the NFL as an expansion team, and that’s been tough for their fans to deal with over the years. Meanwhile, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, and Baltimore have all won very recent AFC North championships. But Cleveland has not won a division title since 1989.
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ dominance of the AFC North goes back to their dynasty years in the 1970s. Head coach Chuck Noll led stars such as quarterback Terry Bradshaw, running back Franco Harris, wide receivers Lynn Swann and John Stallworth, and the Steel Curtain defense to four Super Bowl titles.