These are very good days for the Cleveland Browns, who are in first place this late in a season for the first time since 2014, and just the second time in more than three decades. But as would be Cleveland’s luck, this year’s AFC North might be the best division in the NFL.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are also 5-2, and the Cincinnati Bengals are 4-2 after an explosive second half gave them a victory that pushed the Baltimore Ravens to 4-3. So, the race is likely to go down to the wire, with all four teams remaining involved.
Even though Cleveland is entering a Week 8 showdown at Pittsburgh looking for a season sweep, the Browns continue to get disrespected in ESPN’s AFC North projections, given the worst chance, by far, to win the division.
“Projections to win the AFC North, according to ESPN Analytics: Bengals (4-2): 68.3%, Steelers (5-2): 15.7%, Ravens (4-3): 10.5%, Browns (5-2): 5.5%,” Daniel Oyefusi posted.
Projections to win the AFC North, according to ESPN Analytics:
🏈 Bengals (4-2): 68.3%
🏈 Steelers (5-2): 15.7%
🏈 Ravens (4-3): 10.5%
🏈 Browns (5-2): 5.5%— Daniel Oyefusi (@DanielOyefusi) October 26, 2026
It would be easy to dismiss this as an expected forecast, based on the Browns’ long history of failure. But analytics are supposed to remove the subjectivity of predictions, so something else must be at play.
It could be that all of Cleveland’s five wins have come by four points or fewer, and that at least one fourth-quarter scoring drive was needed in all of them, including Sunday against the Tennessee Titans. It is also fair to mention that, excluding the Steelers, the Browns’ four other victims have a combined record of 10-17. Take out the Ravens, and it is 6-14, and they have lost to the 2-5 New York Jets.
Yet, the Browns can secure the tiebreaker advantage over the Steelers with a win this coming Sunday, and over the Ravens with a win in Week 16. Cleveland has yet to play Cincinnati, with the first meeting in Week 13 followed by the season finale in Week 18.
The Browns also have the easiest remaining schedule among the four teams, tied with the Bengals at a .493 opponents’ winning percentage, according to Tankathon. So, the path to the division title may be easiest for Cleveland.
The Browns still have to prove they are up to the task, but they should not be overlooked in the manner of this particular projection, either.
NEXT: Browns Earn Notable Grade For Week 7 Performance
