How the Cincinnati Bengals can win the AFC North

ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 30: A.J. Green #18 of the Cincinnati Bengals celebrates the game winning touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on September 30, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /

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NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – APRIL 25: Jonah Williams of Alabama poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being chosen #11 overall by the Cincinnati Bengals during the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft on April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

1. Become competitive (again) in the AFC North

This past season, the Cincinnati Bengals got off to a 4-1 start. And in Week 2, the club made it look easy against the eventual division champion Baltimore Ravens. The club posted an impressive 34-23 Thursday night victory at Paul Brown Stadium.

However, when it was all said and done, the team would lose nine of its final 11 games and that included a combined five straight setbacks to their AFC North rivals from Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Baltimore. The 1-5 showing within the division was the Bengals’ worst since an identical finish in 2008.

Over the past three seasons, Cincinnati owns a 7-11 record vs. their divisional neighbors. It’s a far cry from a club that won the AFC North in 2015 with a 12-4 mark, including a 5-1 regular-season record vs. the division.

This past year, the Bengals were swept by the Browns for the first time since 2002. Including a home playoff loss in 2015, Cincinnati has dropped eight straight games to the Steelers. Over the past three seasons, the Bengals and Ravens have split their two-game set each year.

Next. Grading each NFL team's 2019 offseason. dark

There’s a lot to be fixed when it comes to this club. And showing the ability to beat the likes of the Ravens, Browns and especially that albatross in Pittsburgh would certainly be a step in the right direction.

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