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Examining the AFC North race after Deshaun Watson's injury
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson. Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Examining the AFC North race after Deshaun Watson's injury

The Browns announced Wednesday that QB Deshaun Watson suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in their Week 10 win over the Ravens. Who is now the favorite to win the AFC North?

Although Baltimore just lost to Cleveland in a 33-31 thriller, it is still the betting favorite to win the division. 

The Ravens sit atop the AFC North with a 7-3 record, boasting the NFL's best rushing attack (154.9 yards per game) and a defense that is allowing the fewest points per game (15.7) in the league.

Running the football and playing great defense is certainly the recipe to win in a physical division. However, Baltimore has the fifth toughest remaining schedule in the league, per Tankathon, and the second toughest in the division.

The Ravens aren't the only team having success with a rushing attack and defense blueprint, however.

The Steelers (6-3) have rushed for 371 yards the past two games and are in second place and hold a head-to-head win over the Ravens. They haven't been pretty to watch but their defense keeps games close and they always seem to find a way to win.

Pittsburgh has a fairly easy remaining schedule, which ranks as the 17th toughest in the league and second easiest in the division.

It's tough to rule out the Bengals (5-4) as long as they have QB Joe Burrow. But Cincinnati had a tough start to the season, which could hurt it in the long run, and has the toughest remaining schedule in the NFL.

All it takes is Burrow and the Bengals to get hot, which we've seen the last two years, but time is certainly running out.

As for the Browns, they seem to be the odd team out. The AFC North could have three teams make the playoffs, but following Watson's injury, it doesn't look like it'll be Cleveland.

The Browns do have a couple of things going for them. They have the 19th toughest remaining schedule and boast the league best defense in total yards allowed per game (242.7). But not having stability at the most important position will likely bring their downfall in what seemed to be a promising season.

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