*4 TEAMS*
.
.
*the ‘american football conference’ (‘northern division’) is 1 of the 4 divisions of the ‘american football conference’ (AFC) in the ‘national football league’ (NFL)*
.
The division was adopted after the restructuring of the 2002 NFL season, when the league realigned divisions after expanding to 32 teams. This is the only division in the NFL in which no member team has hosted a Super Bowl in their stadiums.
Formation[edit]
The AFC North currently has four members: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, and Pittsburgh Steelers. The original four members of the AFC Central were the Browns, Bengals, Steelers and Houston Oilers (now the Tennessee Titans).
The AFC North is the only AFC division that does not contain a charter team from the original American Football League. However, the Cincinnati Bengals were an AFL expansion team in the 1968 AFL season (the Steelers and Browns joined the AFC in 1970), although the Bengals joining the AFL was contingent on the team joining the NFL after the AFL–NFL merger was finalized in 1970, as Paul Brown was not a supporter of the AFL.
Three of the teams have interlocked histories. Both the Bengals and the Browns were founded by Paul Brown, while the Ravens and the city of Cleveland have their own unique relationship. Only the Steelers, who are older than the original Browns, have no direct history involving Paul Brown.
History[edit]
1970s[edit]
The AFC Central division was formed when the Browns and Steelers brought their rivalry to the AFC in 1970, joining the newly formed “AFC Central” with the Houston Oilers (from the AFL’s East Division) and Cincinnati Bengals (from the AFL’s West Division).
Although the Bengals won the first AFC Central Division Championship in 1970, the Steelers dominated the division for most of the 1970s. The Steelers also would win four Super Bowls in the decade, which were also the team’s first league titles.
1980s[edit]
The 1980 Cleveland Browns broke the Steelers’ six-year run as division champions, but failed to advance past the divisional round of the playoffs, losing to the Oakland Raiders as a result of Red Right 88. The Bengals were the only team to represent the AFC Central in the Super Bowl during the decade, appearing in Super Bowls XVI and XXIII. Both appearances resulted in close losses to the San Francisco 49ers.
1990s[edit]
The Steelers returned as the dominant team in the division in 1992. They won five divisional titles in six years, and played in Super Bowl XXX, in which they lost to the Dallas Cowboys.
In 1992, the Oilers were involved in one of the most famous playoff games in NFL history. In a game now known as The Comeback, the Oilers surrendered a 32-point lead to the Buffalo Bills and lost in overtime, 41–38. It is the largest deficit ever overcome in the history of the NFL.
In 1995, the Jacksonville Jaguars joined the league through expansion and were placed in the AFC Central. It was the first change to the structure of the division since its inception and added a second team to the division from the U.S. South. In 1996, in one of the most controversial decisions in American sports history, the Cleveland Browns moved to Baltimore and were rechristened as the Baltimore Ravens. Then in 1997, the Oilers moved to Tennessee but remained in the division (the team later was renamed the Titans in 1999). The makeup of the AFC Central changed once again in 1999 when the NFL reactivated the Cleveland Browns. The division had six teams for the 1999 to 2001 seasons, and was the only division to have that many teams in the post-merger era.
Aside from Pittsburgh’s appearance in Super Bowl XXX, the only other appearance in the Super Bowl for the division in the decade was the Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV, who came up one yard short of the first Super Bowl to go into overtime. Along the way, the team got revenge on the Bills seven years after the Comeback in the Wild Card round by defeating the Bills 22–16 as a result of the Music City Miracle.
2000s[edit]
The decade began with the Ravens winning Super Bowl XXXV. The team’s defense, led by linebacker Ray Lewis, was arguably one of the best defenses of all time.
In 2002, the NFL realigned into eight divisions of four teams. The Jaguars and Titans—the latter winning the AFC Central title in 2000—were both moved to the new AFC South, while the rest of the AFC Central remained intact and was renamed the AFC North. The Bengals, Browns, and Steelers were guaranteed to remain in a division together in any circumstance; this was part of the NFL’s settlement with the city of Cleveland in the wake of the 1995 Cleveland Browns relocation controversy.[1] The division, geographically-speaking, thus became the shortest driving distance between each team among the NFL’s eight divisions, as three of the teams are located within close proximity of Interstate 70 (with the one city that is not, Cleveland, being two hours north of I-70), and the distance between Baltimore and Cincinnati (the two teams furthest away from each other) being only 526 miles (847 km) apart. The Browns and Steelers, the two closest rivals, even ride a bus to their games instead of flying.[2]
Since realignment, the Steelers have won the division title seven times, and the Ravens and Bengals have each won four times. The Steelers have swept all divisional opponents twice, in 2002 and 2008 (going 7 for 7 both times, winning against the Browns in a 2002 AFC Wildcard game and the Ravens in the 2008 AFC Championship), and the Ravens and Bengals have swept all three divisional opponents once each, the Bengals in 2009 and Ravens in 2011.
Since divisional realignment, the Steelers have made the playoffs ten times, the Ravens eight times, the Bengals seven times, and the Browns two times.
In 2005, although finishing second in the division to the Bengals, the Steelers became the first team in NFL history to enter the playoffs as a #6 seeded wild card team and win the Super Bowl.
In 2008, the Steelers became the first team to repeat as division champion since the division’s realignment in 2002. The team went on to win Super Bowl XLIII that season, their second Super Bowl in four years and an NFL-record sixth overall.
In 2009, the Cincinnati Bengals swept their annual six-game slate of divisional opponents. Their first three games against the AFC North came in weeks three-through-five when they beat the Steelers, Browns and Ravens, respectively, each by three points. The close finishes deemed the Bengals, “Cardiac Cats.” Cincinnati clinched their first division title since ’05 in a week 16 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, 17–10. In the playoffs, however, the Bengals fell to the New York Jets at home, 24–14.
Baltimore finished off their season by winning three of their final four games to finish 9-7 and earn the number-six seed in the AFC Playoffs. In the first round of the postseason, Baltimore defeated the New England Patriots in Foxboro, 33–14. In the divisional round of the postseason, Baltimore’s season came to an end with a 20–3 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, who would defeat the Jets one week later to win the conference.
2010s[edit]
The Ravens repeated as division champions in 2011 and 2012. The team went on to win Super Bowl XLVII over the San Francisco 49ers, on February 3, 2013, in New Orleans. It was the second franchise Super Bowl win. As of 2012, the Steelers are the AFC North’s most successful team with a 599–547–21 record all-time with the Browns 2nd in line with an overall record of 510–441–while the Ravens sit in 3rd (even though they were not an official franchise until 1996) at 164–128–and then the Bengals today remain the only team in the division with their all-time record below .500 as they sit in last at 310–396–.
In 2015, the Bengals became the first team in the AFC North (Central) to ever start the year 8–0, finishing the season 12–4 and winning the division for the second time in three years. Cincinnati clinched the division title in week 16 when the Steelers were upset by the 4–10 Ravens in Baltimore, quarterbacked by Ryan Mallett. Bengals’ quarterback Andy Dalton was having his best season of his five-year career until breaking his thumb on December 13 against Pittsburgh caused him to miss the rest of the season. In the playoffs, Cincinnati (quarterbacked by A. J. McCarron) lost in a rematch with the Steelers, 18–16, in the final minutes of a heated battle. Pittsburgh advanced to the Divisional Round of the playoffs, only to lose to Peyton Manning and the eventual Super Bowl Champion Denver Broncos.
The Steelers won the division title in 2016 after a 31–27 win over the Ravens on Christmas Day. Despite victories in the playoffs against Miami and Kansas City, they fell to New England in the AFC Championship Game.
The Ravens clinched the division in Week 15 of 2019 in a 42–21 win over the NY Jets. However, they were upset by the Tennessee Titans at home in the second round as the Number 1 seed.
2020s[edit]
The Steelers won the division in 2020. The Ravens and Browns also made it into the playoffs as the 5th and 6th seeded wildcards respectively. For the Browns, it was their first playoff appearance since 2002. The Browns defeated the Steelers 48–37 in Pittsburgh for the Wild Card Round. The Ravens beat the Titans 20–13 in their Wild Card matchup. However, both the Ravens and Browns failed to win their Divisional Round matchups, losing 17–3 to the Bills and 22–17 to the Chiefs respectively.
The Bengals won the division in 2021. The Steelers were given a shocking last minute invite to the NFL Playoffs, but their journey fell short with a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the wild card round. The Bengals beat the Raiders at home 26-19 in the Wild Card matchup, the Titans 19-16 in Tennessee, and the Chiefs 27-24 in Kansas to make it to the Super Bowl. Their season ended with a 23-20 loss in Super Bowl LVI to the Rams.
Division lineups[edit]
Place cursor over year for division champ or Super Bowl team.
Years
AFC Central Division[A]
70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01
Pittsburgh Steelers
Cleveland Browns [B] suspended operations Cleveland Browns
Houston Oilers[C] Tennessee Oilers Tennessee Titans
Cincinnati Bengals
Jacksonville Jaguars[D]
Baltimore Ravens[E]
AFC North Division[F]
02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
Pittsburgh Steelers
Cleveland Browns
Cincinnati Bengals
Baltimore Ravens
Team not in division Division Won Super Bowl Division Won AFC Championship
A In 1970 the division formed in American Football Conference.
B After the 1995 season, the Cleveland Browns franchise was deactivated; personnel, moved to the enfranchised Baltimore Ravens. The Cleveland Browns franchise was reactivated in 1999. The Browns, Ravens, and NFL officially consider the post-1999 Browns to be a continuation of the original team founded in 1946.
C Houston moved to Memphis as Tennessee Oilers in 1997, moved to Nashville in 1998 (still known as Oilers). Team was renamed Tennessee Titans in 1999.
D Jacksonville Jaguars enfranchised (1995 season).
E Baltimore Ravens enfranchised (1996 season)
F Division renamed AFC North. Jacksonville and Tennessee moved to AFC South.
Division champions[edit]
Season Team Record Playoff Results
AFC Central
1970 Cincinnati Bengals 8–6 Lost Divisional playoffs (at Colts) 0–17
1971 Cleveland Browns 9–5 Lost Divisional playoffs (Colts) 3–20
1972 Pittsburgh Steelers 11–3 Won Divisional playoffs (Raiders) 13–7
Lost AFC Championship (Dolphins) 17–21
1973 Cincinnati Bengals 10–4 Lost Divisional playoffs (at Dolphins) 16–34
1974 Pittsburgh Steelers 10–3–1 Won Divisional playoffs (Bills) 32–14
Won AFC Championship (at Raiders) 24–13
Won Super Bowl IX (vs. Vikings) 16–6
1975 Pittsburgh Steelers 12–2 Won Divisional playoffs (Colts) 28–10
Won AFC Championship (Raiders) 16–10
Won Super Bowl X (vs. Cowboys) 21–17
1976 Pittsburgh Steelers 10–4 Won Divisional playoffs (at Colts) 40–14
Lost AFC Championship (at Raiders) 7–24
1977 Pittsburgh Steelers 9–5 Lost Divisional playoffs (at Broncos) 21–34
1978 Pittsburgh Steelers 14–2 Won Divisional playoffs (Broncos) 33–10
Won AFC Championship (Oilers) 34–5
Won Super Bowl XIII (vs. Cowboys) 35–31
1979 Pittsburgh Steelers 12–4 Won Divisional playoffs (Dolphins) 34–14
Won AFC Championship (Oilers) 27–13
Won Super Bowl XIV (vs. Rams) 31–19
1980 Cleveland Browns 11–5 Lost Divisional playoffs (Raiders) 12–14
1981 Cincinnati Bengals 12–4 Won Divisional playoffs (Bills) 28–21
Won AFC Championship (Chargers) 27–7
Lost Super Bowl XVI (vs. 49ers) 21–26
1982+ Cincinnati Bengals 7–2 Lost First Round playoffs (Jets) 17–44
1983 Pittsburgh Steelers 10–6 Lost Divisional playoffs (at Raiders) 10–38
1984 Pittsburgh Steelers 9–7 Won Divisional playoffs (at Broncos) 24–17
Lost AFC Championship (at Dolphins) 28–45
1985 Cleveland Browns 8–8 Lost Divisional playoffs (at Dolphins) 21–24
1986 Cleveland Browns 12–4 Won Divisional playoffs (Jets) 23–20 (2OT)
Lost AFC Championship (Broncos) 20–23 (OT)
1987 Cleveland Browns 10–5 Won Divisional playoffs (Colts) 38–21
Lost AFC Championship (at Broncos) 33–38
1988 Cincinnati Bengals 12–4 Won Divisional playoffs (Seahawks) 21–13
Won AFC Championship (Bills) 21–10
Lost Super Bowl XXIII (vs. 49ers) 16–20
1989 Cleveland Browns 9–6–1 Won Divisional playoffs (Bills) 34–30
Lost AFC Championship (Broncos) 21–37
1990 Cincinnati Bengals 9–7 Won Wild Card playoffs (Oilers) 41–14
Lost Divisional playoffs (at Raiders) 10–20
1991 Houston Oilers 11–5 Won Wild Card playoffs (Jets) 17–10
Lost Divisional playoffs (at Broncos) 24–26
1992 Pittsburgh Steelers 11–5 Lost Divisional playoffs (Bills) 24–3
1993 Houston Oilers 12–4 Lost Divisional playoffs (Chiefs) 20–28
1994 Pittsburgh Steelers 12–4 Won Divisional playoffs (Browns) 29–9
Lost AFC Championship (Chargers) 13–17
1995 Pittsburgh Steelers 11–5 Won Divisional playoffs (Bills) 40–21
Won AFC Championship (Colts) 20–16
Lost Super Bowl XXX (vs. Cowboys) 17–27
1996 Pittsburgh Steelers 10–6 Won Wild Card playoffs (Colts) 42–14
Lost Divisional playoffs (at Patriots) 3–28
1997 Pittsburgh Steelers 11–5 Won Divisional playoffs (Patriots) 7–6
Lost AFC Championship (Broncos) 21–24
1998 Jacksonville Jaguars 11–5 Won Wild Card playoffs (Patriots) 25–10
Lost Divisional playoffs (at Jets) 24–34
1999 Jacksonville Jaguars 14–2 Won Divisional playoffs (Dolphins) 62–7
Lost AFC Championship (Titans) 14–33
2000 Tennessee Titans 13–3 Lost Divisional playoffs (Ravens) 10–24
2001 Pittsburgh Steelers 13–3 Won Divisional playoffs (Ravens) 27–10
Lost AFC Championship (Patriots) 17–24
AFC North
2002 Pittsburgh Steelers 10–5–1 Won Wild Card playoffs (Browns) 36–33
Lost Divisional playoffs (at Titans) 31–34
2003 Baltimore Ravens 10–6 Lost Wild Card playoffs (Titans) 17–20
2004 Pittsburgh Steelers 15–1 Won Divisional playoffs (Jets) 20–17
Lost AFC Championship (Patriots) 27–41
2005 Cincinnati Bengals 11–5 Lost Wild Card playoffs (Steelers) 17–31
2006 Baltimore Ravens 13–3 Lost Divisional playoffs (Colts) 6–15
2007 Pittsburgh Steelers 10–6 Lost Wild Card playoffs (Jaguars) 29–31
2008 Pittsburgh Steelers 12–4 Won Divisional playoffs (Chargers) 35–24
Won AFC Championship (Ravens) 23–14
Won Super Bowl XLIII (vs. Cardinals) 27–23
2009 Cincinnati Bengals 10–6 Lost Wild Card playoffs (Jets) 14–24
2010 Pittsburgh Steelers 12–4 Won Divisional playoffs (Ravens) 31–24
Won AFC Championship (Jets) 24–19
Lost Super Bowl XLV (vs. Packers) 25–31
2011 Baltimore Ravens 12–4 Won Divisional playoffs (Texans) 20–13
Lost AFC Championship (at Patriots) 20–23
2012 Baltimore Ravens 10–6 Won Wild Card playoffs (Colts) 24–9
Won Divisional playoffs (at Broncos) 38–35 (2OT)
Won AFC Championship (at Patriots) 28–13
Won Super Bowl XLVII (vs. 49ers) 34–31
2013 Cincinnati Bengals 11–5 Lost Wild Card playoffs (Chargers) 10–27
2014 Pittsburgh Steelers 11–5 Lost Wild Card playoffs (Ravens) 17–30
2015 Cincinnati Bengals 12–4 Lost Wild Card playoffs (Steelers) 16–18
2016 Pittsburgh Steelers 11–5 Won Wild Card playoffs (Dolphins) 30–12
Won Divisional playoffs (at Chiefs) 18–16
Lost AFC Championship (at Patriots) 17–36
2017 Pittsburgh Steelers 13–3 Lost Divisional playoffs (Jaguars) 42–45
2018 Baltimore Ravens 10–6 Lost Wild Card playoffs (Chargers) 17–23
2019 Baltimore Ravens 14–2 Lost Divisional playoffs (Titans) 12–28
2020 Pittsburgh Steelers 12–4 Lost Wild Card playoffs (Browns) 37–48
2021 Cincinnati Bengals 10–7 Won Wild Card playoffs (Raiders) 26–19
Won Divisional playoffs (at Titans) 19–16
Won AFC Championship (at Chiefs) 27–24 (OT)
Lost Super Bowl LVI (vs. Rams) 20–23
- A players’ strike in 1982 reduced the regular season to nine games. Because of the strike, the league used for its playoffs a special 16-team “Super Bowl Tournament” just for this year. Division standings were not formally acknowledged (although every division wound up sending at least one team to the playoffs); Cincinnati had the best record of the division teams.
Wild Card qualifiers[edit]
Season Team Record Playoff Results
AFC Central
1972 Cleveland Browns 10–4 Lost Divisional playoffs (at Dolphins) 14–20
1973 Pittsburgh Steelers 10–4 Lost Divisional playoffs (at Raiders) 14–33
1975 Cincinnati Bengals 11–3 Lost Divisional playoffs (at Raiders) 28–31
1978 Houston Oilers 10–6 Won Wild Card playoffs (at Dolphins) 17–9
Won Divisional playoffs (at Patriots) 31–14
Lost AFC Championship (at Steelers) 5–34
1979 Houston Oilers 11–5 Won Wild Card playoffs (Broncos) 13–7
Won Divisional playoffs (at Chargers) 17–14
Lost AFC Championship (at Steelers) 13–27
1980 Houston Oilers 11–5 Lost Wild Card playoffs (at Raiders) 7–27
1982 + Pittsburgh Steelers 6–3 Lost First Round playoffs (Chargers) 28–31
Cleveland Browns 4–5 Lost First Round playoffs (at Raiders) 10–27
1987 Houston Oilers 9–6 Won Wild Card playoffs (Seahawks) 23–20 (OT)
Lost Divisional playoffs (at Broncos) 10–34
1988 Cleveland Browns 10–6 Lost Wild Card playoffs (Oilers) 23–24
Houston Oilers 10–6 Won Wild Card playoffs (at Browns) 24–23
Lost Divisional playoffs (at Bills) 10–17
1989 Houston Oilers 9–7 Lost Wild Card playoffs (Steelers) 23–26 (OT)
Pittsburgh Steelers 9–7 Won Wild Card playoffs (at Oilers) 26–23 (OT)
Lost Divisional playoffs (at Broncos) 23–24
1990 Houston Oilers 9–7 Lost Wild Card playoffs (at Bengals) 14–41
1992 Houston Oilers 10–6 Lost Wild Card playoffs (at Bills) 38–41 (OT)
1993 Pittsburgh Steelers 9–7 Lost Wild Card playoffs (at Chiefs) 27–24 (OT)
1994 Cleveland Browns 11–5 Won Wild Card playoffs (Patriots) 20–13
Lost Divisional playoffs (at Steelers) 9–29
1996 Jacksonville Jaguars 9–7 Won Wild Card playoffs (at Bills) 30–27
Won Divisional playoffs (at Broncos) 30–27
Lost AFC Championship (at Patriots) 6–20
1997 Jacksonville Jaguars 11–5 Lost Wild Card playoffs (at Broncos) 17–42
1999 Tennessee Titans 13–3 Won Wild Card playoffs (Bills) 22–16
Won Divisional playoffs (at Colts) 19–16
Won AFC Championship (at Jaguars) 33–14
Lost Super Bowl XXXIV (vs. Rams) 16–23
2000 Baltimore Ravens 12–4 Won Wild Card playoffs (Broncos) 21–3
Won Divisional playoffs (at Titans) 24–10
Won AFC Championship (at Raiders) 16–3
Won Super Bowl XXXV (vs. Giants) 34–7
2001 Baltimore Ravens 10–6 Won Wild Card playoffs (at Dolphins) 20–3
Lost Divisional playoffs (at Steelers) 10–27
AFC North
2002 Cleveland Browns 9–7 Lost Wild Card playoffs (at Steelers) 33–36
2005 Pittsburgh Steelers 11–5 Won Wild Card playoffs (at Bengals) 31–17
Won Divisional playoffs (at Colts) 21–18
Won AFC Championship (at Broncos) 34–17
Won Super Bowl XL (vs. Seahawks) 21–10
2008 Baltimore Ravens 11–5 Won Wild Card playoffs (at Dolphins) 27–9
Won Divisional playoffs (at Titans) 13–10
Lost AFC Championship (at Steelers) 14–23
2009 Baltimore Ravens 9–7 Won Wild Card playoffs (at Patriots) 33–14
Lost Divisional playoffs (at Colts) 3–20
2010 Baltimore Ravens 12–4 Won Wild Card playoffs (at Chiefs) 30–7
Lost Divisional playoffs (at Steelers) 24–31
2011 Pittsburgh Steelers 12–4 Lost Wild Card playoffs (at Broncos) 23–29 (OT)
Cincinnati Bengals 9–7 Lost Wild Card playoffs (at Texans) 10–31
2012 Cincinnati Bengals 10–6 Lost Wild Card playoffs (at Texans) 13–19
2014 Cincinnati Bengals 10–5–1 Lost Wild Card playoffs (at Colts) 10–26
Baltimore Ravens 10–6 Won Wild Card playoffs (at Steelers) 30–17
Lost Divisional playoffs (at Patriots) 31–35
2015 Pittsburgh Steelers 10–6 Won Wild Card playoffs (at Bengals) 18–16
Lost Divisional playoffs (at Broncos) 16–23
2020 Baltimore Ravens 11–5 Won Wild Card playoffs (at Titans) 20–13
Lost Divisional playoffs (at Bills) 3–17
Cleveland Browns 11–5 Won Wild Card playoffs (at Steelers) 48–37
Lost Divisional playoffs (at Chiefs) 17–22
2021 Pittsburgh Steelers 9–7–1 Lost Wild Card playoffs (at Chiefs) 21–42
- A players’ strike in 1982 reduced the regular season to nine games, so the league used a special 16-team playoff tournament just for this year.
++ Loss came against another AFC Central/AFC North team.
Total playoff berths[edit]
At the conclusion of the 2020 season
Teams with
Division titles Division
Championships Playoff
Berths AFC
Titles Super Bowl
wins
Pittsburgh Steelers[3] 24 32 8 6
Cincinnati Bengals[4] 10 14 3 0
Cleveland Browns[5] 6 15 0 0
Baltimore Ravens[6] 6 13 2 2
Tennessee Titans[7] 3 12 1 0 Jacksonville Jaguars[8] 2 4 0 0
Includes records of Houston & Tennessee Oilers and Jacksonville through 2001 season
Season results[edit]
Season Team (record)
1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th
AFC Central
1970: The AFC Central division formed with 4 members, the Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Houston Oilers, and Pittsburgh Steelers.
1970 Cincinnati (8–6) Cleveland (7–7) Pittsburgh (7–7) Houston (3–10–1)
1971 Cleveland (9–5) Pittsburgh (9–5) Houston (4–9–1) Cincinnati (4–10)
1972 Pittsburgh (11–3) Cleveland (11–3) Cincinnati (8–6) Houston (1–13)
1973 Cincinnati (10–4) Pittsburgh (10–4) Cleveland (10–4) Houston (1–13)
1974 Pittsburgh (10–3–1) Houston (7–7) Cincinnati (7–7) Cleveland (4–10)
1975 (1) Pittsburgh (12–2) (4) Cincinnati (11–3) Houston (10–4) Cleveland (3–11)
1976 (3) Pittsburgh (10–4) Cincinnati (10–4) Cleveland (9–5) Houston (5–9)
1977 (3) Pittsburgh (9–5) Cincinnati (8–6) Houston (8–6) Cleveland (8–6)
1978 (1) Pittsburgh (14–2) (5) Houston (10–6) Cleveland (9–7) Cincinnati (4–12)
1979 (2) Pittsburgh (12–4) (4) Houston (11–5) Cleveland (9–7) Cincinnati (4–12)
1980 (2) Cleveland (11–5) (5) Houston (11–5) Pittsburgh (9–7) Cincinnati (6–10)
1981 (1) Cincinnati (12–4) Pittsburgh (8–8) Houston (7–9) Cleveland (5–11)
1982^ (3) Cincinnati (7–2) (4) Pittsburgh (6–3) (8) Cleveland (4–5) Houston (1–8)
1983 (3) Pittsburgh (10–6) Cleveland (9–7) Cincinnati (7–9) Houston (2–14)
1984 (3) Pittsburgh (9–7) Cincinnati (8–8) Cleveland (5–11) Houston (3–13)
1985 (3) Cleveland (8–8) Cincinnati (7–9) Pittsburgh (7–9) Houston (5–11)
1986 (1) Cleveland (12–4) Cincinnati (10–6) Pittsburgh (6–10) Houston (5–11)
1987 (2) Cleveland (10–5) (4) Houston (9–6) Pittsburgh (8–7) Cincinnati (4–11)
1988 (1) Cincinnati (12–4) (4) Cleveland (10–6) (5) Houston (10–6) Pittsburgh (5–11)
1989 (2) Cleveland (9–6–1) (4) Houston (9–7) (5) Pittsburgh (9–7) Cincinnati (8–8)
1990 (3) Cincinnati (9–7) (6) Houston (9–7) Pittsburgh (9–7) Cleveland (3–13)
1991 (3) Houston (11–5) Pittsburgh (7–9) Cleveland (6–10) Cincinnati (3–13)
1992 (1) Pittsburgh (11–5) (5) Houston (10–6) Cleveland (7–9) Cincinnati (5–11)
1993 (2) Houston (12–4) (6) Pittsburgh (9–7) Cleveland (7–9) Cincinnati (3–13)
1994 (1) Pittsburgh (12–4) (4) Cleveland (11–5) Cincinnati (3–13) Houston (2–14)
1995: The Jacksonville Jaguars joined the AFC Central as an expansion team.
1995 (2) Pittsburgh (11–5) Houston (7–9) Cincinnati (7–9) Cleveland (5–11) Jacksonville (4–12)
1996: The Cleveland Browns moved to Baltimore and became the Baltimore Ravens. Their history and records as the Browns remained in Cleveland for a potential expansion team to acquire.
1996 (3) Pittsburgh (10–6) (5) Jacksonville (9–7) Cincinnati (8–8) Houston (8–8) Baltimore (4–12)
1997: The Houston Oilers relocated to become the Tennessee Oilers.
1997 (2) Pittsburgh (11–5) (5) Jacksonville (11–5) Tennessee (8–8) Cincinnati (7–9) Baltimore (6–9–1)
1998 (3) Jacksonville (11–5) Tennessee (8–8) Pittsburgh (7–9) Baltimore (6–10) Cincinnati (3–13)
1999: The Cleveland Browns rejoined the AFC Central as an expansion team after being inactive for three seasons, regaining the history and records of the original Browns. In addition to this, the Tennessee Oilers rebranded as the Tennessee Titans.
1999 (1) Jacksonville (14–2) (4) Tennessee (13–3) Baltimore (8–8) Pittsburgh (6–10) Cincinnati (4–12) Cleveland (2–14)
2000 (1) Tennessee (13–3) (4) Baltimore (12–4) Pittsburgh (9–7) Jacksonville (7–9) Cincinnati (4–12) Cleveland (3–13)
2001 (1) Pittsburgh (13–3) (5) Baltimore (10–6) Cleveland (7–9) Tennessee (7–9) Jacksonville (6–10) Cincinnati (6–10)
AFC North
2002: The AFC Central was realigned for 4 members and was renamed the AFC North. The Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans both moved to the newly formed AFC South.
2002 (3) Pittsburgh (10–5–1) (6) Cleveland (9–7) Baltimore (7–9) Cincinnati (2–14)
2003 (4) Baltimore (10–6) Cincinnati (8–8) Pittsburgh (6–10) Cleveland (5–11)
2004 (1) Pittsburgh (15–1) Baltimore (9–7) Cincinnati (8–8) Cleveland (4–12)
2005 (3) Cincinnati (11–5) (6) Pittsburgh (11–5) Baltimore (6–10) Cleveland (6–10)
2006 (2) Baltimore (13–3) Cincinnati (8–8) Pittsburgh (8–8) Cleveland (4–12)
2007 (4) Pittsburgh (10–6) Cleveland (10–6) Cincinnati (7–9) Baltimore (5–11)
2008 (2) Pittsburgh (12–4) (6) Baltimore (11–5) Cincinnati (4–11–1) Cleveland (4–12)
2009 (4) Cincinnati (10–6) (6) Baltimore (9–7) Pittsburgh (9–7) Cleveland (5–11)
2010 (2) Pittsburgh (12–4) (5) Baltimore (12–4) Cleveland (5–11) Cincinnati (4–12)
2011 (2) Baltimore (12–4) (5) Pittsburgh (12–4) (6) Cincinnati (9–7) Cleveland (4–12)
2012 (4) Baltimore (10–6) (6) Cincinnati (10–6) Pittsburgh (8–8) Cleveland (5–11)
2013 (3) Cincinnati (11–5) Pittsburgh (8–8) Baltimore (8–8) Cleveland (4–12)
2014 (3) Pittsburgh (11–5) (5) Cincinnati (10–5–1) (6) Baltimore (10–6) Cleveland (7–9)
2015 (3) Cincinnati (12–4) (6) Pittsburgh (10–6) Baltimore (5–11) Cleveland (3–13)
2016 (3) Pittsburgh (11–5) Baltimore (8–8) Cincinnati (6–9–1) Cleveland (1–15)
2017 (2) Pittsburgh (13–3) Baltimore (9–7) Cincinnati (7–9) Cleveland (0–16)
2018 (4) Baltimore (10–6) Pittsburgh (9–6–1) Cleveland (7–8–1) Cincinnati (6–10)
2019 (1) Baltimore (14–2) Pittsburgh (8–8) Cleveland (6–10) Cincinnati (2–14)
2020 (3) Pittsburgh (12–4) (5) Baltimore (11–5) (6) Cleveland (11–5) Cincinnati (4–11–1)
2021 (4) Cincinnati (10–7) (7) Pittsburgh (9–7–1) Cleveland (8–9) Baltimore (8–9)
^ A players’ strike in 1982 reduced the regular season to nine games. Because of the strike, the league used for its playoffs a special 16-team “Super Bowl Tournament” just for this year. Division standings were not formally acknowledged (although every division wound up sending at least one team to the playoffs); Cincinnati had the best record of the division teams.
See also[edit]
Bengals–Browns rivalry
Bengals–Ravens rivalry
Bengals–Steelers rivalry
Browns–Ravens rivalry
Browns–Steelers rivalry
Ravens–Steelers rivalry
References[edit]
^ “Nfl Vote On Realignment Nears”.
^ “On the Steelers: Few, if any, signs of rivalry”.
^ Charter member of division in 1970.
^ Moved in from the AFL West in 1970.
^ This refers to the team that the league officially views as one continuous franchise that entered the division in 1970, suspended operations from 1996–1998, and resumed play in 1999.
^ This refers to the team that the league officially views as an expansion team that began play in 1996.
^ Moved in from the AFL East in 1970. Known as the Houston Oilers until 1996, as the Tennessee Oilers in 1997 and 1998, and the Tennessee Titans since 1999. Realigned into the AFC South in 2002.
^ Realigned into the AFC South in 2002.
en.wikipedia.org /wiki/AFC_North
AFC North
Contributors to Wikimedia projects27-34 minutes 5/27/2005
AFC North
Conference American Football Conference
League National Football League
Sport American football
Founded 1970 (as AFC Central Division)
Country United States
Teams
No. of teams 4
Championships
Most recent champion(s) Cincinnati Bengals (10th title)
Most titles Pittsburgh Steelers (24 titles)
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💕💝💖💓🖤💙🖤💙🖤💙🖤❤️💚💛🧡❣️💞💔💘❣️🧡💛💚❤️🖤💜🖤💙🖤💙🖤💗💖💝💘
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*🌈✨ *TABLE OF CONTENTS* ✨🌷*
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🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥*we won the war* 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥