Cincinnati, Ohio – In a seemingly inconsequential game for both teams, the Cincinnati Bengals defeated the Cleveland Browns with a score of 31-14 on Sunday. The Browns had already secured the fifth seed in the AFC, while the Bengals had been eliminated from playoff contention. However, this game marked a historic moment for the AFC North division.
With this victory, the Bengals finished the season with a 9-8 record, making every team in the AFC North finish above .500. This is the first time a division has achieved this since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970. Over the past 53 years, several divisions have come close to reaching this milestone, but none have succeeded until now. Notably, the NFC East had the opportunity to accomplish this feat last year, but fell short when the Washington Commanders finished at 8-8-1.
This achievement by the AFC North marks the first time in 88 years that a division has accomplished such a feat. The last division to achieve this was the NFL West in 1935. The division consisted of the Detroit Lions (7-3-2), Green Bay Packers (8-4), Chicago Bears (6-4-2), and Arizona Cardinals (6-4-2). It is worth mentioning that during this time, the Cardinals were based in Chicago before moving to St. Louis and eventually Arizona.
Interestingly, the Detroit Lions, who finished atop the NFL West division, went on to win the NFL championship that year by defeating the New York Giants 26-7 in the title game. This historical coincidence raises hopes for the Baltimore Ravens, the current AFC North champions and the top seed in the AFC playoffs this year.
Moreover, the AFC North has demonstrated impressive strength by sending three teams to the postseason. Alongside the Ravens, the Browns and the Pittsburgh Steelers have also secured playoff berths. This accomplishment marks the third time in the past 10 years that the AFC North has sent three teams to the playoffs, a feat that no other division combined has achieved more than three times in the same period.
Looking ahead, if the Steelers and Browns can win their respective wild-card round matchups, the AFC North will become only the second division since the year 2000 to send three teams to the divisional round.
In summary, the Cincinnati Bengals’ victory over the Cleveland Browns concluded the regular season for both teams. Although their playoff hopes had already been dashed, this game held historic significance as the AFC North became the first division in over five decades to have each team finish above .500. The division’s accomplishment harks back to a time when the NFL West achieved a similar feat in 1935. The AFC North’s strong showing, with three teams making it to the playoffs, exemplifies the division’s dominance and sets the stage for an exciting postseason.