The AFC North was widely considered the toughest division in the NFL heading into the regular season, but there certainly have been some bumps in the road where the division played poorly. Every AFC North team was in action in Week 8, but the AFC North had games at multiple times. When all was said and done, the Steelers beat the Giants combined with a Ravens loss to the Browns meant the Steelers head into their Week 9 bye standing alone in first place.

Time to take a look at how the AFC North played out in Week 8, the latest standings and the upcoming schedule in Week 9.

Cleveland Browns – 29
Baltimore Ravens – 24

Jameis Winston took over as the quarterback for the Browns as they hosted the Ravens, and he is certainly getting plenty of praise for his performance on Sunday in Week 8. Heck, he even won the AFC Offensive Player of the Week award for the way he played, but for those who watched the game saw at least three would-be interceptions Winston threw which were flat out dropped. Nonetheless, it’s a coulda, woulda, shoulda situation, and the Browns upset the Ravens at home to keep their season hopes remain on life support. Meanwhile, the loss to the Browns gives the Steelers and edge in the division race.

Philadelphia Eagles –  34
Cincinnati Bengals – 17

The Bengals and Eagles both entered this week on two-game winning streaks, but one of those was going to end at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati. The game was close at halftime, but in the second half it was an ill-advised 4th down attempt in their own end which resulted in the Eagles putting the game out of reach as they ran away with the game. At one point it looked prior to the game it looked like the Bengals were climbing out the whole they dug themselves. While that still might happen, the hole got a little deeper after the loss to the Eagles.

Pittsburgh Steelers – 26
New York Giants – 18

The Steelers had every right to blow this game wide open early, but failed red-zone trips were unfortunately the theme of the evening. If the Steelers even converted on half, two, of their trips, this game isn’t even close. While that sounds all well and good, but the Giants hung around and it took a 73-yard punt return and a T.J. Watt strip-sack to win the game. A win is a win, and the Steelers defense still only allowed 18 points in the contest. Now the Steelers enter the bye week at 6-2 and in first place in the AFC North.

AFC North Standings

Pittsburgh Steelers – 6-2
Baltimore Ravens – 5-3
Cincinnati Bengals – 3-5
Cleveland Browns – 2-6

AFC North Week 9 Schedule

• Denver Broncos at Baltimore Ravens — 1:00pm EST
• Las Vegas Raiders at Cincinnati Bengals — 1:00pm EST
• Los Angeles Chargers at Cleveland Browns — 1:00pm EST
• Pittsburgh Steelers — BYE