The AFC North is going to have a tough time in 2024.
The NFL has only stated that it will release the schedule at some point in May 2024, but past performance would indicate that this week is when things should be happening.
Every one of the previous three seasons’ premiere dates was the second Thursday in May or May 9, 2024.
Ahead of the official schedule release, we are already getting strength of schedule percentages, and things are looking quite bleak for one division. It’s going to be a difficult season for teams in the AFC North and a relative ease for teams in the NFC South if their schedule advantages are any guide.
Based on 2023 club records, Bleacher Report projects that the Cleveland Browns will have the most challenging schedule in the NFL. The Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens, who play in the same division, will be ranked second and third, respectively.
Somehow, the Cincinnati Bengals lucked out and will be in a four-way tie for the 16th most complex NFL schedule in the entire league.
1. Cleveland Browns .547
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2. Baltimore Ravens .536
3. Pittsburgh Steelers .533
T-16. Cincinnati Bengals .502
Last year, the AFC North was the toast of the entire league as they had all four teams finish above .500 in the division, with three of them (Steelers, Browns, and Ravens) making it to the postseason. However, only the Ravens in the AFC North could deliver a victory in the playoffs, while the Browns and Steelers bowed out in the Wild Card round.
The Ravens have home games against the Bengals, Browns, Steelers, Broncos, Raiders, Eagles, Commanders, and Bills, while they go on the road against the Bengals, Browns, Steelers, Chiefs, Chargers, Cowboys, Giants, Texans, and Buccaneers.
Taking last place in the AFC North in 2023, the Bengals will have home games versus the Ravens, Browns, Steelers, Broncos, Raiders, Eagles, Commanders, and Patriots while they travel to play the Ravens, Browns, Steelers, Cowboys, Chiefs, Chargers, Giants, Panthers, and Titans.
The most surprising playoff team in the AFC North was the Cleveland Browns, who got hot with Joe Flacco after Deshaun Watson was lost for the year. They have home games against the Steelers, Bengals, Ravens, Chiefs, Chargers, Cowboys, Giants, and Dolphins. Their road games are against the Steelers, Bengals, Ravens, Commanders, Broncos, Raiders, Eagles, Jaguars, and Saints.
The Pittsburgh Steelers, who haven’t had a season under .500 in the AFC North under Mike Tomlin, have home games against the Ravens, Bengals, Browns, Chiefs, Cowboys, Chargers, Giants, and Jets. They get on the road against the Ravens, Bengals, Browns, Commanders, Broncos, Raiders, Eagles, Colts, and Falcons.
The AFC North Hoping To Have A Team In The Super Bowl & Win it For The First Time In A Long Time
The AFC North became the first division in the Super Bowl era to contain four teams with winning records come the end of the season. Unfortunately, none of the three teams that made it to the playoffs could get to the Super Bowl.
Cincinnati has the honor of being the last team in that division to make it to the Super Bowl, which was a 23-20 decision to the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LVI, via Wikipedia.
The Baltimore Ravens are the last team to win the Super Bowl in 2013.
The division would love to break this losing streak that has spanned over ten years.
