Pittsburgh (4-2) had been threatening to take over the AFC North until Joe Flacco led his Cincinnati Bengals to an upset 33-31 of the Steelers on Thursday. The Ravens benefited from the result, but so did the Bengals (3-5), who hope that Flacco will keep their playoff hopes alive till Joe Burrow returns later in the season.

The Athletic AFC North beat reporters debated whether or not the division race was wide open, and if the Steelers were the ones to lose. No one was ready to crown Pittsburgh just yet.

Zrebiec wrote, “I still think there is some space between Pittsburgh and the rest of the field, but this storyline will be revisited in a few weeks.” Pittsburgh has three tough games ahead. Bengals have two winnable games in front of them, as do Ravens, should their starter quarterback return. “This could still get interesting.”

Mike DeFabo, a Steelers writer, wrote: “I’ve been saying for the past couple of weeks that the division may come down to the final game of the year when the Steelers face the Ravens. The Ravens and Steelers were in a two-team battle with Jake Browning at center for the Bengals. Flacco is a game changer. The Bengals can re-enter the conversation if the 40-year old can take advantage of winnable games, such as those against the New York Jets or Chicago Bears.

Bengals writer Paul Dehner Jr. stated that there is a possibility the Bengals and Steelers game in Pittsburgh on November 16 could be a battle for first place.

Cincinnati plays the winless Jets, and Bears in the home next two weeks. Then they have a break. Dehner wrote that the Steelers’ schedule is getting more difficult. After last Thursday, questions must be asked about their defense and how it will deal with Jordan Love, the Packers, the top seeded Colts, as well as a trip to LA in order to face Justin Herbert over the next three week. Even if the Bengals lost to the Bears and the Steelers went 1-2 during this stretch, the Bengals would still win the division if they won the game in Pittsburgh on November 16.

Zac Jackson, Browns writer, is not writing off any team. This includes Cleveland (2-5), who traded Flacco to Bengals just a few weeks back.

Jackson wrote: “I will work on the assumption that all teams are alive until the Ravens-Browns matchup of Nov. 16, after the Bengals have played in Pittsburgh.” After that day, we will take a second look at the situation.