The teams of the AFC North came into the 2024 season with their chests puffed out.

And why not? For after all, in 2023, three of the four clubs made the playoffs in the Browns, the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers. All of them were of the firm belief that they would go back to the playoffs again in 2024, and the Cincinnati Bengals, who had missed out in 2023, were convinced that they were going to get in, too.

But it didn’t quite work out that way.

The Raven won the division title, and the Steelers got into the playoffs as a wild card despite  struggling mightily down the stretch. But the Bengals missed again, and the Browns missed badly, finishing 3–14.

The Steelers got beat up by the Baltimore in their first-round game, but the Ravens went on to lose 27-25 to the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round on Sunday night when their most surehanded receiver, tight end Mark Andrews, dropped a two-point conversion pass in the end zone that would’ve tied the score in a closing moments. He had also fumbled earlier in the game.

So, Ravens go through yet another season without making it to the Super Bowl. They are running out of chances. They have tried everything to get over the hump, and nothing seems to work.

The Steelers go into the offseason trying to figure out who their quarterback is, and how to get their offense invigorated.

The Bengals can’t stop anyone on defense, and until they get that fixed, they’re not going to go into the postseason.

The Browns are headed into a total rebuild, whether they want to admit it or not.

So, then, the AFC North teams have their tails dragging between their legs. It is a far cry from how they entered the season.

Indeed, the division is a real mess from top to bottom. And it might get worse before it gets better.

Steve King