The AFC North is still the most competitive division in the NFL, even if the Cincinnati Bengals now have a strong grip on the lead. Going in to Week 13, the Bengals led the other three teams in the division by a tie, but all of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens lost their games. The Bengals struggled against a bad team in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but they ultimately won and increased their lead in the AFC North.
NFL standings 2014, Week 14: Bengals, Steelers headline important AFC North matchup
The AFC North is very competitive, though it could come down to the Cincinnati Bengals vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers. The two teams will face off in Week 14 and Week 17.
Cincinnati is 8-3-1 on the season, while the Ravens, Steelers and Browns are in a three-way tie for second place at 7-5. The Steelers may have the best opportunity to usurp the Bengals and take the division lead however, since they still have two games remaining against them, including a matchup in Week 14. That game should be one of the highlights of the week.
But the Ravens and Browns are still in the discussion. Cleveland struggled in a loss to the Buffalo Bills and actually benched quarterback Brian Hoyer, so their position is the most tenuous. They've since renamed Hoyer the starter, but they've got a tough game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. The Ravens will take on the Miami Dolphins in a winnable but tough game.
Here’s a look at the rest of the divisions in the league and where they stand:
AFC West
The Denver Broncos are among the best teams in the league, and at 9-3 they're atop the AFC West. But that division is going down to the wire with the San Diego Chargers just a game back at 8-4. The Kansas City Chiefs are also in the discussion at 7-5, but they've fallen short in every big test thus far. The Broncos will be expected to make it to double-digit wins on Sunday, when they take on the Buffalo Bills. San Diego has a tough game against the New England Patriots.
AFC East
Speaking of the Patriots, they’ve got the AFC East on lockdown. They’re just two games up, but both the Dolphins and Bills have tough games on Sunday. New England is 9-3 and should be able to hold on to the division, while the Dolphins and Bills both sit at 7-5 on the year. All three teams have tough games in Week 14.
AFC South
The Indianapolis Colts are two games up in the AFC South, and it's hard to imagine the Houston Texans being able to catch up. The Colts are 8-4, and are favored to best the Browns on Sunday to move to 9-4. But the Texans should be able to keep it close for at least one more week, taking on the 2-10 Jacksonville Jaguars this week.
NFC North
The Green Bay Packers are just one step ahead of the Detroit Lions in the division. They're sitting at 9-3 on the season despite losing to the Lions in Week 3. The two teams will meet again in Week 17, in a game that could ultimately decide the division. It's worth noting that both the Packers and the Lions have relatively easy games this week -- the former faces the Atlanta Falcons and the latter will be taking on the Buccaneers.
NFC West
The Arizona Cardinals had a stranglehold on the NFC West, but a couple tough losses -- including one to the Seattle Seahawks -- have them fighting off their rivals. They're 9-3 on the season, while the Seahawks are now 8-4. The San Francisco 49ers are also in the discussion at 7-5, and are taking on the 1-11 Oakland Raiders on Sunday, so they should make it to eight wins this week. Both the Cardinals and the Seahawks have tough games, against the Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles, respectively.
NFC East
The Eagles are atop the division thanks to a victory over the Dallas Cowboys, but a loss to the Seahawks would tie them with Dallas once again, at 9-4. Dallas already won on Thursday and will be rooting for the Seahawks hard. Both the New York Giants and Washington are 3-9 and non-factors in the division.
NFC South
The NFC South is the worst division in football by far. The Falcons and New Orleans Saints are capable of beating good teams, but they're both tied for the division lead at 5-7. The Carolina Panthers are still in the discussion even at 3-8-1. The Falcons have a tough game against the Packers, while the Saints have a solid opportunity to take the division lead against the Panthers on Sunday.
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