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January 2, 2026 By  Predictions

NFL Week 18 Bold Predictions: AFC North

With Week 18 here, the AFC North heads into the final weekend with no shortage of drama. The Steelers and Ravens meet in a winner-take-all battle for the division, while the Browns and Bengals close the season in a rivalry game that could swing momentum and narratives heading into the offseason. With nothing left to hold back, here are the bold predictions for how the AFC North’s final week will unfold.

Bold Predictions for the AFC North in Week 18

Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals round out the season with a good win

Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle T.J. Slaton Jr. (98) reacts after a sack in the third quarter of a NFL game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, at Paycor Stadium in downtown Cincinnati. Bengals won 37-14. | Source: Lastwordonsports.com - Doug Henderson

The Bengals have been a lot better as a whole team since they were eliminated from the playoffs, and Joe Burrow has returned. Their offense and defense have both taken big steps up and have been generally consistent across the board. I expect the Bengals to go into the offseason with a solid win against a divisional opponent.

Chase Brown scores 2+ TDs

Photo Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Chase Brown has taken a huge leap from his lows early in the season. As the Bengals offense has improved, so has he. He is significantly better when Joe Burrow plays and can get him the ball at opportunistic times. With that and the fact that the Browns got their good win against the Steelers, I expect the run game to excel for Cincinnati.

About Doug Henderson

Doug Henderson grew up playing every sport imagineable. He quickly hit a ceiling his playing skills didn't let him break and had to turn to writing to get his sports fix.

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