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The AFC North is running a series where every position will be ranked and what could change at that position.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

1. STEELERS: Pittsburgh had the top-ranked pass defense, and it wasn't all about the pass rush this time. Actually, the pass rush was extremely inconsistent this season, so that No. 1 ranking is more of a reflection of the Steelers' secondary. Cornerback Ike Taylor and free safety Ryan Clark had career years. Taylor's season, though, was marred by a late-season decline that ended with him getting stiffed-armed by the Broncos' Demaryius Thomas on the touchdown that ended the Steelers' season. Clark had the best season of any safety in the division, which is saying a lot when Troy Polamalu and Ed Reed are in the AFC North. He finished second in the division with 100 tackles. Polamalu was solid, but didn't play up to his usual spectacular level. William Gay was a pleasant surprise, taking back the starting cornerback job that he lost in 2010. What could change: Gay is an unrestricted free agent, but it shouldn't take much to retain him. Look for rookie cornerbacks Cortez Allen and Curtis Brown to make more of an impact in their second seasons.

2. RAVENS: This group exceeded expectations, and did so in a surprising manner. Instead of starting Domonique Foxworth and Chris Carr at cornerback, the Ravens finished fourth in pass defense with Lardarius Webb and Cary Williams. Webb was the division's top cornerback, recording five interceptions and breaking up 20 passes (and that doesn't include three interceptions in the playoffs). Williams was a physical presence at corner. The biggest disappointment was Reed, who intercepted three passes -- his fewest in a season where he played more than 12 games. The Ravens' other safety, hard-hitting Bernard Pollard, provided more of an impact than Reed. First-round pick Jimmy Smith endured an up-and-down rookie season. What could change: Smith should take over for Williams as a starting cornerback this season. Foxworth is expected to get cut, and the same could happen to Carr. Both backup safeties, Tom Zbikowski and Haruki Nakamura, are free agents, but I suspect Nakamura will get re-signed.

3. BROWNS: Joe Haden showed signs of being a shutdown corner, even though he failed to make an interception. He held his own against some of the best receivers in the NFL, from Larry Fitzgerald to Brandon Marshall. His worst games came against Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green. While Haden is among the division's best cornerbacks, Sheldon Brown was the worst starting corner in the AFC North. Brown's biggest asset is the experience he provides to a young secondary. The defensive backfield was hurt by the loss of strong safety T.J. Ward, who missed the final 10 games with a foot injury. Teams took advantage of Ward's replacement, Usama Young. Free safety Mike Adams beat out Young for a starting job in training camp. Dimitri Patterson was a reliable nickelback, breaking up a dozen passes. What could change: The Browns might replace Adams, who is a free agent, and they could give rookie seventh-round pick Eric Hagg a shot at doing so. Cleveland is very interested in bringing Patterson back. It wouldn't be a surprise if Patterson starts in place of Brown.

PITTSBURGH -- Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger limped back onto the field to start the second half against the Cleveland Browns after X-rays to his injured ankle were negative. His left ankle is taped.

Roethlisberger was helped off the field with about six minutes left in the second quarter and didn't place any weight on his left leg. Charlie Batch was ineffective in finishing the first half for the Steelers, failing to complete his two pass attempts.

On his first few passes of the third quarter, Roethlisberger was throwing off his back foot. He couldn't step into his throws because that required putting pressure on the left leg. He was taken down on the first drive of the third quarter by Browns defensive lineman Ahtyba Rubin and needed help getting back to his feet.

Thoughts on the Cleveland Browns' 31-13 loss to the Tennessee Titans:

What it means: This is a step back for a Browns team looking to prove itself after consecutive victories over two winless teams. Cleveland couldn't slow down a Titans passing attack that just lost its top wide receiver (Kenny Britt). The Browns are tied with the Steelers and Bengals, all of whom have 2-2 records.

Thumbs down: The Browns' pass defense. So much for that No. 3 ranking against the pass for Cleveland. Titans quarterback Matt Hasselbeck threw for 194 yards and three touchdowns in the first half as Cleveland failed to cover the tight ends. Craig Stevens caught a 12-yard touchdown after beating safety T.J. Ward, and Jared Cook had an 80-yard catch-and-run score when linebacker Scott Fujita couldn't keep up with him and safety Usama Young took a bad angle of pursuit.

Colt McCoy watch: The numbers look impressive for McCoy, who was 40 of 61 for 350 yards. But his biggest mistake sealed Cleveland's second loss at home. Even though he has been great throwing on the run, McCoy short-armed a pass while rolling to his right. It was intercepted by Jordan Babineaux and returned 97 yards for a touchdown, extending the Titans' lead to 31-6 in the third quarter.

What's next: The Browns head into the bye with a long to-do list. Their next game is a Week 6 trip out to Oakland.

No team should push the panic button after one game. But if you're the Cleveland Browns, your hand is inching closer to it in Week 2.

Is Sunday's game against the Peyton Manning-less Indianapolis Colts a must-win for Cleveland? Yes, for a variety of reasons.

Cleveland lost all momentum with an ugly, Week 1 loss at home to the rebuilding Cincinnati Bengals. There was excitement this fall about the preseason, a new coaching staff and second-year quarterback Colt McCoy. But all of that was killed after Cleveland fell to 1-12 in season openers since 1999.

The new regime of president Mike Holmgren and general manager Tom Heckert asked for patience from Browns fans. They passed on big-name free agents that could've helped this season and opted to build long-term through the draft. But the team didn't look any better last weekend than it did during its back-to-back five-win seasons. That's a concern.

I've been saying for months that the Browns are at least two years away. It could be more if the team continues to play at this level. The Browns simply don't have enough game-breaking talent. They have to play mistake-free football every week to have a chance. That's difficult to do.

Week 2 is an important litmus test for Cleveland (0-1). Win, and the Browns get a much-needed split. But if the Browns can't beat the Manning-less Colts and fall to 0-2 Sunday, it's probably time to push the panic button.

Here are the most interesting stories Wednesday in the AFC North:

• The Pittsburgh Steelers have given the nod to rookie Marcus Gilbert to replace the injured Willie Colon at right tackle.

Morning take: Gilbert is the next man up for Pittsburgh. The Steelers invested a second-round pick in the Florida alum and needs a quick return on their investment.

• Baltimore Ravens receiver Lee Evans made an impact against Pittsburgh without a reception.

Morning take: Evans' speed kept the Steelers honest. Pittsburgh wasn't able to stack up against the run and more routes were open underneath.

• Can the Cleveland Browns (0-1) beat the Peyton Manning-less Colts (0-1)?

Morning take: I don't think either team is that good. But it's a winnable game for both sides. The loser is in for a long season.

• The Denver Broncos are hurting entering their Week 2 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Morning take: Cincinnati may catch a break with Denver coming off a short week. The status of cornerback Champ Bailey, running back Knowshon Moreno and receiver Brandon Lloyd are all up in the air.

Here are the latest happenings around the AFC North:

• Can the Cincinnati Bengals (1-0) take advantage of the Denver Broncos (0-1) coming off a short week?
• Is left tackle Bryant McKinnie the biggest surprise for the Baltimore Ravens?
• The Cleveland Browns (0-1) reportedly signed punter Brad Maynard to replace Richmond McGee.
• Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Willie Colon was put on injured reserve and will be out for the season.

» NFC Stock Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

FALLING

1. Cleveland Browns: The Browns finished the preseason with optimism and were favorites to beat the rebuilding Bengals at home. But Cleveland continued its longstanding trend of playing poorly in regular-season openers. The Browns fell to 1-12 in Week 1 since returning to the NFL in 1999. Cleveland had too many penalties (11) and some odd, unexplainable mental errors. The Browns have another winnable game Sunday against the Manning-less Colts. If Cleveland blows this one and falls to 0-2, it's going to be a rough season.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers' defense: Pittsburgh's defense has been too good for too long to write off. But the Steelers did look old and two steps slow on that side of the football in Sunday's loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Pittsburgh's defense has eight starters over 30. The unit had a poor game against the Green Bay Packers in the Super Bowl and struggled again in Week 1. That is a concern. Baltimore had surprising success running and passing against the Steelers. We will see in Week 2 how Pittsburgh's proud unit bounces back against Seattle.

3. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers quarterback: Roethlisberger had a great preseason but accounted for five turnovers in Week 1. He threw three interceptions and lost two fumbles. The Steelers can't win when Roethlisberger is this careless with the football. The offensive line certainly didn't help. Pittsburgh allowed four sacks.

RISING

1. Ravens' defense: Baltimore tied a team record with seven turnovers against Pittsburgh. I thought about breaking down the accolades individually in this "Stock Watch," but there were too many good performances. Defensive end Terrell Suggs had three sacks and became Baltimore's all-time sack leader with 70.5. Pro Bowl defensive tackle Haloti Ngata had four tackles, caused a fumble and tipped the ball at the line for a Ray Lewis interception. And Ed Reed had two picks off Roethlisberger for another multi-interception game.

2. Joe Flacco, Ravens quarterback: Flacco finally got over the hump of beating Pittsburgh with Roethlisberger under center. Now, he can move on with the rest of his season. Few quarterbacks have faced more offseason scrutiny than Flacco. He responded with 224 yards and three touchdowns against Pittsburgh. The pass protection was good and Flacco took advantage. He looks ready to make a jump in Season 4.

3. Cincinnati Bengals: The inexperienced Bengals showed some moxie with a come-from-behind road win over the Browns. Cincinnati scored 14 unanswered in the fourth quarter and did it without their starting quarterback, Andy Dalton, who was out with a forearm injury. Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis has said numerous times that he likes this young group.

Here are the most interesting stories Tuesday in the AFC North:

• Cincinnati Bengals rookie quarterback Andy Dalton (arm) most likely will play Sunday against the Denver Broncos.

Morning take: Dalton was having a decent game before his forearm injury. The Bengals picked up the slack without him. But they need him healthy against Denver.

• Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Willie Colon is out indefinitely with a triceps injury.

Morning take: This has to be tough for Colon, who just returned from last year's Achilles injury. Pittsburgh doesn't have much depth on the offensive line. Rookie Marcus Gilbert or Chris Scott are potential replacements.

• Baltimore Ravens first-round draft pick Jimmy Smith with miss a few weeks with an ankle injury.

Morning take: Smith was hurt on the opening kickoff, which has to be frustrating for the rookie. Backup cornerback Lardarius Webb filled in well against Pittsburgh.

• The Cleveland Browns may be looking for a new punter after Richmond McGee's shaky debut.

Morning take: McGee wasn't an issue in training camp or the preseason. But you never know how players respond when the lights come on. He cost the Browns a lot of field position against Cincinnati.

With a new coaching staff and a second-year quarterback, Cleveland Browns fans were excited for the 2011 season. But much of that optimism came crashing down following a 27-17 home loss to the young Cincinnati Bengals.

Cleveland was sloppy and folded down the stretch. The Browns allowed 14 unanswered points in the fourth quarter in Week 1.

Does this alter your perception of how you view the Browns this year? Or do Browns fans feel the same way they did in the preseason?

In our latest SportsNation poll, vote on how many wins you think the Browns will earn this season. It ranges from Andrew Luck territory (0-4 wins) to being our latest Homer of the Week (13-15 wins). You can share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Week 1 is in the books for the AFC North. Therefore, expect some significant changes in our next NFL Power Rankings.

Here is how things could look on Tuesday:

Baltimore Ravens

Last week's vote: No. 8

Projected vote: No. 4-7

Analysis: I voted the Ravens the highest last week at No. 5. I believe they're the best team in the AFC North this season. Baltimore thoroughly outplayed the Steelers to add confirmation to that prediction. If the offensive line continues to protect the way it did against Pittsburgh, Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco could make major strides this year.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Last week’s vote: No. 3

Projected vote: No. 8-11

Analysis: The Steelers were one of the NFL's most surprising teams in Week 1 -- and not in a good way. Pittsburgh was dominated by Baltimore and looked like a shell of last year's team. Most likely Sunday's showing was just a horrible outing. But you wonder if Pittsburgh is getting old fast. I expect the Steelers to get back on track. But they could have one of the biggest drops this week.

Cincinnati Bengals

Last week’s vote: No. 32

Projected vote: No. 26-29

Analysis: The Bengals pulled off a mild upset by beating the rebuilding Browns on the road. Both teams were ranked near the bottom of our Power Rankings. Therefore, don't expect a huge jump. Cincinnati showed guts by staging a fourth-quarter comeback on the road with its backup quarterback (Bruce Gradkowski). Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis seems to like his young team.

Cleveland Browns

Last week’s vote: No. 29

Projected vote: No. 30-32

Analysis: Are the Browns as bad as they showed in Week 1? Penalties and mental and physical errors killed Cleveland. The Browns were expected to be a better and smarter football team than last season but didn't show it against the Bengals. They have another winnable game next week against the Peyton Manning-less Colts. If Cleveland blows this one, it could be a very long season.

Here are the most interesting stories Monday in the AFC North:

• After injuring his arm, Cincinnati Bengals rookie quarterback Andy Dalton is hopeful to return next week against the Denver Broncos.

Morning take: You never want to see a rookie get injured in his NFL debut. But the Bengals beat the Browns with backup Bruce Gradkowski and look prepared if Dalton can't return.

• Meanwhile, the Browns' offense is dealing with its disappearing act down the stretch.

Morning take: I've said for months Cleveland's offense lacks game-breakers. Someone has to make a big play in the fourth quarter and no one stepped up.

• Ravens defensive end Terrell Suggs (three sacks) was dominant against the Steelers.

Morning take: Suggs plays big in big games, especially against Pittsburgh. He is now the team's all-time sack leader with 70.5 career sacks.

• Steelers linebacker James Farrior is disappointed after being subbed for backup Larry Foote.

Morning take: Farrior is a team leader and longtime starter. I didn't understand the switching of series in the first game. But Pittsburgh's defense is searching for answers.

Here are some thoughts on the Cincinnati Bengals' 27-17 victory against the Cleveland Browns at Browns Stadium:

What it means: It means the Bengals aren't the worst team in the NFL. The Bengals came in last twice in ESPN.com's Power Rankings, and I keep voting against it. Perhaps the Browns should be considered for the No. 32 spot. Cleveland lost at home to a rebuilding Bengals team playing its second-string quarterback (Bruce Gradkowski) for significant playing time. The Browns continued their longstanding trend of losing season openers. Cleveland is now 1-12 in Week 1 since returning to the NFL in 1999.

What I liked: The Bengals started fast and showed a lot of poise in the fourth quarter for a young team. Cincinnati jumped out to a 13-0 lead, gave up 14 unanswered points, then dominated the fourth quarter. Bengals running back Cedric Benson had a huge day, rushing for 121 yards and a touchdown.

What I didn't like: It's a new era in Cleveland, but the Browns looked similar to previous years with sloppy play. Cleveland committed 11 penalties for 72 yards. The Browns also started slow at home. That forced second-year quarterback Colt McCoy to throw way too many times (40), which wasn't Cleveland’s intention entering the game. Also, you never want to see a starting quarterback injured, particularly in his NFL debut. Bengals rookie quarterback Andy Dalton was knocked out of the game with an arm injury.

What’s next: The Browns will try to get their first win against the Manning-less Colts in Indianapolis next week. The Bengals, who are tied with the Baltimore Ravens atop the division, will play a road game against the Denver Broncos.

» NFC Final Word: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 1:

Getting over the hump: The Baltimore Ravens have somewhat downplayed the big-picture significance of this week's matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Yes, it's just one game. But it's also an opportunity for the Ravens to make a huge statement. Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has had Baltimore's number. Pittsburgh has beaten the Ravens in all the significant games the past few years, including two postseason games after the 2008 and 2010 seasons. If the Ravens want to win the AFC North, they have to get over the Steelers hump eventually. Week 1 would be a good time for Baltimore to get over that hurdle.

Sacking Ben: One of the biggest keys for Baltimore will be sacking Roethlisberger. The Ravens' pass rush struggled last season. They registered just 27 sacks in 16 games. New Ravens defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano wants to change that. Baltimore plans to be more aggressive with its blitzing. Pittsburgh's offensive line has struggled at times with blitz pickups in the preseason. Keep an eye on this facet of the game.

Dalton’s debut: Cincinnati Bengals rookie quarterback Andy Dalton will make his regular-season debut Sunday against the Cleveland Browns. The Bengals are counting on Dalton this year. The second-round pick had mixed results in the preseason. Dalton has talent around him, but it's a young group trying to learn how to play together. Avoiding turnovers will be key.

Shurmur's first game, too: Rookie head coach Pat Shurmur will try to do what Cleveland's previous four coaches could not, which is win his Browns debut. Cleveland is 1-11 in season openers since returning to the NFL in 1999. The Browns have not won a regular-season opener since 2004.

Haden vs. Green: A fun matchup to watch will be the game within the game between Browns cornerback Joe Haden and Bengals receiver A.J. Green. The pair are former first-round picks from the SEC and played against each other in college. Haden is now Cleveland's No. 1 corner and will be asked to shut down Green, who is projected to be Cincinnati's top receiver. This should be a good rivalry to watch for years to come.

Most of the AFC North can breathe a sigh of relief. Indianapolis Colts quarterback and future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning will not be available to carve up the defenses of the Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers this season.

Manning had additional neck surgery and will be out for an undisclosed amount of time. He's expected to miss games against the Browns (Sept. 18), Steelers (Sept. 25) and Bengals (Oct. 16).

Although no one wants players to suffer injuries, most of the division caught a break. The Browns and Bengals had very little chance of beating the Colts with Manning. Now, it's a competitive contest. The Steelers should be sizable favorites against Indianapolis.

The Ravens may have the short end of the stick. The Colts play the Baltimore Ravens on December 11 and Manning has a better chance of playing in that game. Manning has been one of Baltimore's biggest nemeses over the years.