AFC NORTH CHANGING OF THE GUARD

[Essex Johnson]

(01-01-2016, 08:16 PM)BmorePat87 Wrote: 2009 is an interesting year to begin with. I tend to use 2008 since that's when Flacco joined. Of course, that's just as arbitrary as it means nothing else for the Steelers and Bengals. 

Going off 2009, the Bengals and Steelers have finished an average of 2nd in the division (combined 14) while the Ravens have finished an average of 2.14th (15 total). Bengals with 3 division titles over the Steelers, but the only team of the 3 to be 4th ever. So they're the only team of the 3 to ever be the worst team in the division. That does say a lot.

We could use more even numbers (5 or 10). 5 seems more relevant. It gives the Bengals the best average finish (1.8), then Steelers (2), then Ravens (2.2). Ravens and Bengals with 2 titles each. Steelers with 1. 





Now, if we're rejecting all playoff performance, which obviously Bengals fans need us to do, then we have to only look at division games. In 5 years, the division records are
 
Ravens 19-10 (.655)
Steelers 17-12 (.586)
Bengals 15-14 (.517)


Remove the Browns

Ravens 11-8 (.579)

Steelers 10-10 (.500)
Bengals 8-11 (.421)



Hmm.... 2 division titles is impressive in 5 years... but it looks like the Bengals still struggle a lot more in the division and against the Steelers and Ravens. 


I think what we can say is that it is a very even division with the Ravens having the Steelers number recently, the Steelers having the Bengals recently and the Bengals having the Ravens recently. Who wins the division seems to depend on non division games, and the Ravens are the only team within the division doing anything in the playoffs in the last 5 years.
/thread

Now lets look at it another way.. 

Lets look at the Ravens and Steelers and Bengals overall over the lasts 2011 to now and 2006 to 2010

Record, Titles, Playoffs
 2011 to Now

Bengals  51-27-1, 2 titles, 5 playoffs
Steelers  48-31, 1 title, 2 (maybe 3) playoffs
Ravens  45-34   2 titles 3 playoffs

2006 to 2010
Bengals  33-46-1   1 title, 1 playoff
Steelers  51-29, 3 titles, 3 playoffs
Ravens  50-30,  1 title, 4 playoffs

So if you look at the last 10 years in 5 years cycles.. it is obvious that the Bengals have turned the tables in the AFC North, from being a doormat most of the time.. to having the best overall record, 2 titles and 5 straight playoffs.. as both the STeelers and Ravens have worse records in the 5 year span than before, less titles and playoffs as a whole.

I don;t know much more facts that I can give you to understand that the Bengals have really changed the AFC North and with having a better record, more titles and more playoffs have become the top dog.. You might not like it and I understand since as we have gotten better it has taken away from the Ravens.. but it is what it is. 

 You do know if we beat you this Sunday that will be 5 straight wins in a row against the Ravens.. another sign of the changing of the guard.