2026 November AFC North standings and NFL tiebreaker rules
The Pittsburgh Steelers lead the AFC North with a 6-2 record while the Baltimore Ravens sit in last place at 4-4. New NFL tiebreaker enforcement prioritizes head-to-head results and divisional performance to determine division winners when teams finish with identical records.
AFC North Standings and Ravens’ struggles
The Pittsburgh Steelers lead the AFC North with a 6-2 record and a .750 winning percentage. The Cincinnati Bengals follow with a 5-2 record and a .714 winning percentage, while the Cleveland Browns maintain a 5-3 record and .625 percentage. The Baltimore Ravens hold the bottom spot with a 4-4 record and a .500 winning percentage. I find the Ravens’ recent form miserable because they entered a three-game losing streak after their 36-10 Week 8 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Injuries to Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley necessitated a start from Joe Fagnano. During that Buffalo game, Roquan Smith recorded 11 total tackles and a forced fumble, while Broderick Washington Jr. secured his first career interception. Derrick Henry scored a 2-yard rushing touchdown, but the offense only produced 10 rushing touchdowns and 11 passing touchdowns on the season. Josh Allen threw for 316 yards and three touchdowns against the Ravens, and James Cook gained 101 yards and a touchdown. The Bengals currently hold a 5-2 record with a .714 winning percentage, which keeps them ahead of the Browns, who sit at 5-3 with a .625 percentage, and the Ravens, who hold a 4-4 record. The Bengals have scored 206 points and allowed 158, while the Browns have scored 139 and allowed 173. The Ravens have scored 179 points and allowed 203, resulting in a net point differential of -24.
Tiebreaker rules and enforcement
Tiebreakers determine the divisional winner when teams finish with identical records. The NFL uses a specific set of rules to break these deadlocks.
| Tiebreaker Order | Method |
|---|---|
| Step 1 | Head-to-head percentage in games among clubs |
| Step 2 | Best won-lost-tied percentage in divisional games |
| Step 3 | Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games |
| Step 4 | Strength of victory in all games |
| Step 5 | Strength of schedule in all games |
| Step 6 | Combined ranking in points scored and allowed (conference) |
| Step 7 | Combined ranking in points scored and allowed (all teams) |
| Step 8 | Best net points in common games |
| Step 9 | Best net points in all games |
| Step 10 | Best net touchdowns in all games |
| Step 11 | Coin toss |
The league applies the division tiebreaker to eliminate all but the highest ranked club in each division before it moves to the next steps of the selection process. This hierarchy ensures that head-to-head results and divisional performance take precedence over strength of schedule or net points. You should watch the Bengals closely because Joe Burrow threw six touchdowns in their Week 8 win against the Tennessee Titans. Ja’Marr Chase also contributed 141 yards in that same game, and Tee Higgins caught two touchdowns. In the AFC South, the Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texans, and Indianapolis Colts all contend for position, as these rules impact the division. Will the Ravens’ defense recover enough to halt their slide?
The Ravens’ upcoming schedule
The Ravens schedule presents immediate hurdles for a team searching for a new winning formula. They host the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday, November 5, at 8:15 PM. Afterward, they face the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday, November 16, at 8:15 PM. The team travels to Carolina on Sunday, November 22, and to Houston on Sunday, November 29. They also host Tampa Bay on Sunday, December 13, at 1:00 PM. The Ravens possess 2648 total offensive yards, including 1785 passing yards and 822 rushing yards. Their season totals include 38 third down conversions out of 97 attempts and 2 fourth down conversions out of 8 attempts. They recorded 13 field goals made out of 17 attempts and 20 total touchdowns. I think their offensive identity remains too unstable to compete with the 6-2 Steelers. The offense averages 5.4 yards per play while the rushing attack averages 4.6 yards per play. They also recorded 22 sacks on the season and 20 total touchdowns, including 10 rushing touchdowns and 10 passing touchdowns. The team has 148 total first downs and 160 first downs.
