The Ravens started Sunday alone atop the AFC North. They finished it third in the division after losing in Cleveland and watching Pittsburgh escape Tampa Bay with an overtime victory.
The Steelers defeated the Buccaneers 26-19, improving to 4-2 and joining Baltimore and Cleveland in a three-way tie for the division’s best record. Aaron Rodgers connected with rookie receiver Germie Bernard for a 6-yard touchdown in overtime to put Pittsburgh ahead.
Cincinnati remained 3-2 during its bye week, leaving all four AFC North teams separated by just a half-game.
Updated AFC North standings
Cleveland holds the top spot after beating both Pittsburgh and Baltimore. The Steelers move ahead of the Ravens on division winning percentage, with the teams yet to meet
this season.
For Baltimore, the standings reflect the cost of losing a 10-point lead to the Browns. The Ravens scored on their first two possessions but went scoreless in the final three quarters, allowing Cleveland to rally to a 13-10 win.
Derrick Henry’s fourth-quarter fumble helped set up the tying touchdown, and Andre Szmyt finished the comeback with a field goal as time expired. Baltimore’s three-game winning streak ended despite a defense that recorded five sacks and allowed only 237 total yards.
Pittsburgh’s comeback added another consequence. Baltimore now has two division rivals at 4-2, both with an advantage in the current standings.
The Ravens host Cincinnati next, giving Baltimore an immediate opportunity to improve its division record. A loss would let the rested Bengals move ahead of the Ravens in winning percentage and deepen the damage from Sunday’s missed opportunity.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: AFC North standings: Ravens drop to third after Steelers’ overtime win
