It’s almost time for the 2026 NFL season to kick off, and there are still plenty of questions around the league. The AFC North is highly unpredictable, and this year seems to be more of the same. In this NFL Preview series, we’re asking one burning question for every team. Here is the AFC North.
The biggest question facing the Steelers in 2026 is simple: does Aaron Rodgers have another run in him? The 42-year-old QB is returning for one final season, reuniting with his former head coach, Mike McCarthy.
Rodgers’ resume speaks for itself. He’s a Super Bowl champion and a four-time NFL MVP. His Super Bowl victory came in 2011 with McCarthy, during their tenure with the Green Bay Packers.
The Steelers added running back Rico Dowdle and wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. this offseason. They also drafted offensive tackle Max Iheanachor and WR Germie Bernard. The effort to load up the offense is certainly there.
In 2025, Rodgers threw for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He led the Steelers to a 10-6 record atop the AFC North. Pittsburgh is hoping to capture that Rodgers/McCarthy magic one more time, but that’s much easier said than done.
Lamar Jackson has been knocking on the Super Bowl’s door for nearly his whole career. The two-time NFL MVP has been to the playoffs five times since being named the starter in 2019. He has only been to the AFC Championship once.
The Ravens shook things up this year by firing head coach John Harbaugh after 18 seasons. The Super Bowl XLVII champion was subsequently replaced by the Los Angeles Chargers’ defensive coordinator, Jesse Minter.
Baltimore has gone through an exodus in this year’s free agency. They lost center Tyler Linderbaum, tight end Isaiah Likely, and fullback Patrick Ricard, among several other starters.
Minter is carrying high expectations and a depleted roster. That’s a difficult combination. Jackson is 29 years old and coming off an injury-riddled 2025. His Super Bowl window is open now, but the team may be worse now than they were last year.
The Bengals have become something of a laughingstock at this point. Joe Burrow is arguably a top three QB in the NFL, but hasn’t seen the playoffs since the 2022 season. Whether it’s the offensive line or the defense, something has been holding him down.
Cincy’s O-line has carried the blame for Burrow’s injury history but has shown improvement. The defense is now the issue. The group ranked 31st in total yards allowed per game (380.9), dead last in rush yards allowed per game (147.1), and 30th in points allowed per game (28.9).
The Bengals have added Dexter Lawrence, Jonathan Allen, and Boye Mafe to strengthen the defensive line. They also drafted edge rusher Cashius Howell and cornerback Tacario Davis.
If Cincinnati’s defense can at least meet the middle of the pack in production, they can find themselves in the playoffs. Burrow and the offense are terrific, but they’re only half of the attack. The defensive additions need to elevate the group.
Three things in life are certain: death, taxes, and the Cleveland Browns searching for a starting quarterback. They currently roster Shedeur Sanders, Deshaun Watson, Dillon Gabriel, and rookie Taylen Green, and they haven’t decided on the starter yet.
In 2025, the Browns started Joe Flacco, Gabriel, and Sanders throughout the year. Flacco is now a Bengal, and the two 2025 draft picks didn’t exactly knock it out of the park.
In Gabriel’s six starts, he went 1-5, throwing for 937 yards, seven touchdowns, and two interceptions. Sanders started seven games, going 3-4 and throwing for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns, and 10 interceptions.
2026 will likely be another year of trial-and-error for Cleveland. They’ll name a Week 1 starter, but the odds of that sticking for the entire season seem slim. Will somebody finally stand out, or will they be looking for another shot in the 2027 Draft?
The AFC North is a tight, three-team race. The Bengals, Ravens, and Steelers are capable of making a playoff run, while the Browns are playing catch-up. A retirement tour and three new head coaches are heating things up in the North.
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