NFL Season Preview: AFC North

Added on Aug 13, 2010 by Eric Galko in

NFL

In early 2009, two of the AFC favorite to win the conference couldn’t manageto win their own division in what has always been an extremely hard division to predict. The Bengals surprised many doubters in 2009 and won the North Division over the Ravens and Steelers, and with their additions, they feel strongly that they aren’t a one year wonder.

With the Ravens being the “sexy” pick for the AFC crown, the Bengals adding the always intriguing TO to play alongside with Ochocinco, the Steelers still dealing with the Big Ben situation, and the Browns adding many pieces this off-season, the North is once again a tough conference to put your finger on.

Last Year’s Final Standings
Cincinnati Bengals - 10-6
Baltimore Ravens - 9-7
Pittsburgh Steelers - 9-7
Cleveland Browns - 5-11

Top Newcomers:
Terrell Owens to Cincinnati
As if having one receiver “diva” playing for a franchise known for being everyone’s second, third, and fourth chance to redeem themselves, the Bengals HAD to bite when TO came into the equation. While Chad Ochocinco has said for a few years now that the two are friends, they weren’t playing opposite each other, fighting for receptions.

Owens comes into camp as the likely number two receiver, with Andre Caldwell, Jerome Simpson, and Antonio Bryant either injuried or unable to be a number two guy, so he’s already got to be happy. Whether or not he’ll stay that way when he ends up with 10 catches in a three game stretch, that will be the real story.

Anquan Boldin to Baltimore
The Ravens have been known, during and still after the Rex Ryan years, as one of the best defenses in the NFL, no question. That defense even won them a Super Bowl for the most part, and it still features Terrell Suggs, Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, and a host of other Pro Bowl-type players.

However, with the emergence of Joe Flacco these past two years, the depth and talent at running back, and now the addition of a top notch receiver like Anquan Boldin, and you can see why many feel this could be Baltimore’s return to the AFC Championship game. Boldin and Flacco have clicked thus far in camp, but we’ll have to see if that continues in season.

Jake Delhomme to Cleveland
While he likely won’t be the savior of the Browns and rally them above the three other playoff hopeful teams in the division, Delhomme can provide Cleveland fans with some hope for the future and a chance to at least be in every game they play this year.

Delhomme has lost some of his luster. For the former most efficient passer in NFL playoff history, Delhomme is three or four 3+ interception games away from his old self. Still, he can be a capable starter for a year or two and keep a team close in games, as long as he isn’t asked to lead them too far.

Jermaine Gresham, Maurkice Pouncey, Joe Haden, and Montario Hardesty to NFL
These four recent draft picks all are likely opening day starters and will be asked to help shape their respective teams this season and for the next 8-10 years. Gresham has the best chance to be sucessfulthis season, as the Bengals have plenty of talent around him and while he won’t be asked to do much, he’ll also be an extra headache for defenses to plan against.

Pouncey should do his best to lead this Steeler offensive line away from it’s past of allowing pressure to the quarterback. Pouncey is an outstanding athlete at center or guard, and should do wonders in protection in his first season.

Haden and Hardesty aren’t projected to be the starters as of now, but they are three or four impressive practices away from jumping to that level. Haden will likely take over for Brandon McDonald, and he and Eric Wright form an impressive cornerback duo for the future. Hardesty will have to beat out sporadically impressive Jerome Harrison, but reports are that his pre-draft injury is 100 percent and he’s already winning over the coaching staff.

Top Storylines:
Big Ben Out For First Four to Six Weeks
The Steelers and their fan base were disgusted with Big Ben when the incident at the night club became public, and many fans even began clamoring for the Steelers to cut or trade their franchise quarterback. While that settled down after a week or two, now fans are clamoring for his suspension to be reduced.

While I think the coaching staff believes that Byron Leftwich can lead this team to a few early season wins, fans are quickly realizing that Big Ben isn’t as replaceable as they thought. The Steelers would have struggled with Big Ben through these first four to six weeks, and it could be much worse without him.

TO and Ochocinco Playing Together
The media-hogging story before the Brett Favre drama restarted, the combination of these two polarizing receivers because of their outgoing and over-the-top personality should be at the very least fun to watch.

And even outside of their antics, they both are two of the best receivers of the 2000s, and maybe this is their chance for one last chance at winning a Super Bowl, as these two have a combined three playoff wins and no Super Bowl wins between them.

Ravens Depleted At Defensive Back
With Ed Reed, Fabian Washington, and Ladarius Webb, three of the Raven’s best defensive backs, all starting the pre-season injured and not looking to make the opening game in Week One, the Ravens will answer one of their few question marks leading up to the season.

Dawan Landry and Chris Carr will have to pick up some of the slack, but neither can hold this group together for the entire season or even the rough early season slate of games they play. If the Ravens can maintain .500 record or better the first few games until those three get back, they could stay on track for a 17+ game season in 2010-11.

New Browns Try to Change Losing Ways
The Browns have been in a state of rebuilding in 9 of the past 10 seasons, with the 10-6 playoff team being the exception. They have yet to find a way to be a competitive team each year, and with the Steelers and Ravens being consistently impressive and the Bengals winning the conference last year, it doesn’t look good for the short term.

However, the addition of such players as Joe Haden, Montario Hardesty, Jake Delhomme, Scott Fujita, Matt Roth and many other depth guys means that the Browns are trying to put a competitive out on the field as well as build for the future. Mike Holmgren gets a chance to see HIS guys on the field in his first year, and I think he and Browns fans should be excited.

Projected Final Standings:
Baltimore Ravens - 12-4
With the offensive line, running backs, quarterback, and probably receiver advantage over every team in the division and the defense being no question the best in the division and Top 3 in the NFL, it’s the Raven’s division to lose. If they can overcome the defensive back injuries and not suffer too many injuries in-season, they could be the AFC representative in the Super Bowl.

Cincinnati Bengals- 9-7
I’m tempted to consider last year’s success a fluke and one year show, they Bengals have a solid roster in place that only got better this off-season. The defense is finally looking respectable each week, and the running game and receiver weapons should make Carson Palmer happy. They will struggle to make the playoffs, but they have the talent to stay above .500 once again.

Pittsburgh Steelers - 7-9
The early seasons projected struggles with Byron Leftwich at the helm for the Steelers could be too much to overcome by the time Roethlisberger returns and gets comfortable after his suspension. They still should competitive in every game this year, but with so many questions early on and an offense that I’m not thrilled with, they could slip below 8-8.

Cleveland Browns - 5-11
While this record would match 2009′s total, I think a 5-11 or 6-10 season for the 2nd straight season would be a step in the right direction for this organization. They have talent at a few key positions, andthis isn’t going to be a one year turn around situation. They could surprisea few games in division at at the Dog Pound, but don’t expect a huge upswing.