The Cleveland Browns surprised many on Sunday when they snuck past the Baltimore Ravens with a 13-10 victory. This was perhaps their biggest win of the season because they came from behind and also claimed the top spot in the AFC North.
They might be number one in their division right now, but many experts don’t expect them to stay there. According to Jamison Hensley, via ESPN Analytics, the Browns don’t have a great chance of remaining the kings of the AFC North. The Cincinnati Bengals, currently with a 3-2 record, have a 40.7 percent chance, followed by the Ravens with 39.2 percent, and the Pittsburgh Steelers with 15 percent. The Browns sit at the bottom with just a 5.1 percent chance.
A lot of fans feel that this ranking is unfair, but the analysts have their reasons.
“Here are the projections to win the AFC North entering Week 7: Bengals (3-2): 40.7% Ravens (4-2): 39.2% Steelers (4-2): 15% Browns (4-2): 5.1%,” Hensley posted.
Here are the projections to win the AFC North entering Week 7:
Bengals (3-2): 40.7%
Ravens (4-2): 39.2%
Steelers (4-2): 15%
Browns (4-2): 5.1%Source: ESPN Analytics
— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) October 19, 2026
This latest ranking and the speculation around it prove that the division is fluid and basically wide open right now. All four of these teams are fiercely competing, and it’s not clear who will come out on top.
The Browns should be very proud of their accomplishments and their current standing, but it’ll be difficult to hold onto it. According to some, each of these teams has deeper rosters and a more competitive edge.
On paper, it makes sense why some people would write off the Browns, but their current record and impressive wins cannot be denied. And even if they don’t have the best shot at being the top team in their division, is it really fair to put them all the way at the bottom with just 5 percent?
The best response to this would be more wins from the Browns, and that is what they hope to provide in the weeks ahead. They have a good shot at taking away another victory next week when they battle the Tennessee Titans, and they are hoping to keep building upon their record after.
If they secure a few more wins, and the rest of the teams in the AFC North suffer some problems, it’ll be much harder to deny a claim to the top spot.
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