Week 5 AFC North predictions: Ravens fly high, Bengals plummet

The Ravens were the lone victors in Week 4, giving them the lead in a tight AFC North race. Here are predictions for Week 5:

Baltimore Ravens (3-1) at Pittsburgh Steelers (2-2): The Ravens seem like the team to beat in the AFC North just four weeks into the season, and it's even more impressive as Baltimore has been winning with several starters out every week. QB Lamar Jackson continues to be a difference maker with four touchdowns through the air and four touchdowns on the ground and will likely only get better with more time in offensive coordinator Todd Monken's new system.

The Steelers, on the other hand, have a lot of problems and don't seem willing to fix any of them. Following Pittsburgh's Week 4 loss to the Texans, head coach Mike Tomlin told reporters the team has "got to make some changes." He has since revealed those changes will be "physicality and padded practices." QB Kenny Pickett is also questionable to play after suffering a bone bruise in his knee.

Nonetheless, games always seem to be close when these two teams meet with the last six matchups being decided by five or fewer points. Defense will likely be the tale of this one, but the Ravens will make some more plays on offense than the Steelers.

PREDICTION: Ravens, 24-19

Cincinnati Bengals (1-3) at Arizona Cardinals (1-3): The Bengals offense has underwhelmed to start the season as QB Joe Burrow is clearly not healthy after reaggravating his calf injury in Week 2. However, head coach Zac Taylor told reporters that Burrow will start once again in Week 5. Cincinnati has the difficult decision of whether to rest Burrow but it seems like they will continue to roll him out at as the team sits in last place in the division.

To make matters worse, WR Tee Higgins is also expected to miss some time with a rib fracture. Now the offense, which ranks as the worst in total yards per game (236) and second-worst in points per game (12.3), will be without one of its biggest playmakers for at least a couple of weeks.

Although the Cardinals have just one win on the season as well, they have been very competitive with a difficult schedule to start the year. Arizona has been one of the bigger surprises of 2023 and that will continue this week when it humbles another team that had Super Bowl aspirations entering the year.

PREDICTION: Cardinals, 20-13