Alright, the AFC North. The toughest division in the conference. At the top it’s not particularly
menacing since none of these teams are as good as the Broncos or Patriots, and they’re
not even necessarily better than the Colts or Texans. The Ravens lost some key players, the Steelers are aging and
injury-prone, and the Bengals have some really solid talent but haven’t proven
that they are able to take the next step from good playoff contender to elite
Super Bowl contender. It’s sort of
a toss up between these three since they all have outstanding issues that could
conceivably be resolved or overcome, but coming into the season the question
marks cannot be entirely ignored.
At least I get to start with the one team whose position I am entirely
confident in…
4. Cleveland Browns
Oh,
Cleveland. Oh, you beautiful,
comforting, predictable Browns. In
an ever-shifting, ever-surprising division, you are the one team that I can
safely mark down in your rightful spot: last. Trent Richardson is pretty much the main bright spot,
Brandon Weeden might on a better roster be serviceable, Josh Gordon and Greg
Little aren’t the wost receiving duo in the league, and they even have a nice
tough defense (this is the AFC North after all). They aren’t necessarily awful, and they’ll be sure to pull a
few upsets along the way (lookin’ at you Baltimore), but there is just
something about the Browns (or maybe just Cleveland?) that makes you put them
in last place until they can prove otherwise.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers
I
know. I have never put the
Steelers below second in my life, and I am probably going to regret it. They are the Pittsburgh Steelers after
all. I can feel it now – Mike
Tomlin turning me to stone with a single icy glare. But I just can’t see them knocking off the defending
champion Ravens this year, and the Cincinnati Bengals, despite being the
Cincinnati Bengals, are just a more (*gulp*) solid and (*double gulp*) younger
team overall. Big Ben never stays
healthy (he will now though), I don’t see the corps of Sanders, Brown, Burress,
and Cotchery doing all that much damage (they will), and the run game is either
too young or too old and not at all confidence-inspiring (until Le’veon Bell
randomly rushes for 1,000 yards). So
yeah, if you couldn’t tell I don’t feel great about this pick, but I’ll pick
them to have a good defense and alright offense, but to finish 3rd
and miss the playoffs again.
2. Cincinnati Bengals
As
I said, the Bengals are really solid and young. In a tough division, they hold their own and have made it
into the playoffs as a wild card. I
just don’t see them as being able to take that next step to division champion
or even serious deep playoff contender with their current set up. AJ Green is their best player, and
aside from Calving Johnson he might be the best receiver in the league. But after him, they just have a lot of
reliability and not a lot of exciting potential star power. Andy Dalton is good or even very good,
but not great. Their receivers
after Green aren’t very intimidating, and the run game with Ben Jarvus and Gio
Bernard is, what’s that word again? Solid. The defense is, as with all these
teams, great, and James Harrison could be a big factor, but he is also getting
older and let’s be honest, this team just doesn’t have that spark. A receiver can’t carry you to
greatness, right Detroit? They’ll
make the playoffs, but I just need to see star power at a couple more positions
before believing the Bengals can take the next step.
1. Baltimore Ravens
Now,
once again, I will say that I don’t feel great about this pick. I’m giving the Super Bowl champs the
benefit of the doubt, but they lost Ray Lewis, they lost Ed Reed, they lost
Anquan Boldin. With a changing of
the guard in the defense, and a potentially inconsistent passing attack, the
Ravens have serious question marks.
Not to mention the fact that, even with more elite talent they have
never exactly been consistent throughout a season. But Joe Flacco proved he could get it done last year and if
he, along with Torrey Smith and Jacoby Jones, can bring it week in and week out
and prove the doubters wrong, well then this team is as dangerous as any in the
AFC. Ray Rice is an elite talent, Dennis
Pitta is a solid tight end, Haloti Ngata is a beast, and Terrell Suggs will end
you. And they added Elvis Dumervil
and Chris Canty? As it has been
for some time, the success of this team rests on Joe Flacco’s still
questionable, yet Super Bowl proven shoulders. He will play at least well enough to bring them another
division title, and who knows, maybe they’ll even show themselves to be that
next annual threat the AFC has been looking for to replace Manning and Brady.
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