Pro Football: AFC Update

Do not look now, but the Cleveland Browns–their last title was 50 years ago in 1964–are in first place in the AFC North.

The (6-3) Browns’ lead is scant over the (5-3-1) Cincinnati Bengals, whom they defeated last Thursday. All four teams in the division are within a half game. Both the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens have (6-4) records.

Elsewhere the idle Indianapolis Colts and New England Patriots, who clash next Sunday night (maybe it will be a good game, unlike the incredible rash of “blowouts” thus far on the NBC package) each have at least a one and a fraction game lead in their divisions, the AFC South and East respectively.

Both the (7-2) Denver Broncos and the (6-3) Kansas City Chiefs won this past week. Denver ripped Oakland in a rematch of the 1977 AFC Title game also won by the Broncos. The Chiefs went to Buffalo and won as they did in the 1966 AFL title game to gain entry into the first Super Bowl.