I may not have time to post a blog tomorrow, so I am doing two today. Next is the AFC North, a division that holds last year's Super Bowl winner, and another team with an extended playoff run. There are a lot of question marks this year, and we still don't know who the starting quarterback is for the Browns. This division is top heavy, and it's hard to pick against last year's Super Bowl champions when they didn't lose many key players.
Pittsburgh: Predicted finish, 13-3, division champions
PIttsburgh returns from their Super Bowl victory primed for another big run. Led by Big Ben, the offense was solid last year, even with all the questions on the offensive line. The line will be the key again, and they need to do a good job of protecting Roethlisberger and an aging Willie Parker. If they can, their receivers are more than capable of doing their jobs. Hines Ward has always been a solid, well-balanced receiver, and Santonio Holmes should only get better as the burner downfield. If they can't and teams like the Ravens can expose this weakness, the Steelers could have some issues. The true strength in this team is their defense. The league's best unit last year looks to maintain its dominance. Led by reigning defensive player of the year (Do people still think he's too small?), the Steelers D is scary good. They play defense the way it was meant to be played, their physical play blended masterfully with speed and intelligence. It takes not only a great offense to beat them, but a balanced one. If an offensive game plan is one-sided, it stands no chance. With this kind of team, the Steelers seem destined for a deep run again this year, and wouldn't shock anyone if they repeat as champions.
Baltimore: Predicted finish, 10-6, Wild Card birth
In a league that is becoming a 2-back dominated one, the Ravens have three. The question is, are any of them good enough options to be the go-to-guy on an offense with several question marks? Ray Rice, Willis McGahee, and Le'Ron McClain all have their ups and downs, and in the end are a solid group of backs. But none of them scare a defense too much, particularly when the passing game is also a question mark. Will Joe Flacco continue to flourish as the man anchoring the offense, or will teams figure him out this year? I think Flacco with have another consistent season, even with a subpar receiving group. Talking Derrick Mason out of retirement was huge, because the receiving corps would be even weaker without him. With all these questions on offense, I still feel that the unit will be serviceable. With an offense designed more to manage games than to put up 35 points, the defense will have to maintain its status as one of the premier units in the league. They should do just that. Ray Lewis, while aging, is a physical presence and an underrated leader. The only question mark on defense is whether the departure of Rex Ryan will take away from the Defensive scheme. I still expect this unit to create a bunch of turnovers, and take some pressure off of the offense. They aren't as good as Pittsburgh, but they should claim a wildcard spot.
Cleveland Browns: Predicted finish, 5-11, third in division
It's hard to do a prediction for a team when their own fans don't know who the quarterback will be. Eric Mangini feels it best to keep his starting quarterback a secret, but what he cannot hide is his team's flaws on offense and defense. Neither of his quarterbacks performed like they wanted the job this preseason, and it is difficult to see why. Derrick Anderson led an aerial assault that was a force to be reckoned with just two years ago, and seemed primed to keep flourishing. Brady Quinn was a highly touted prospect, and was supposed to be a gift that fell in the Browns' lap on draft day. Seemingly heading for a Philip Rivers-Drew Brees situation where two deserving quarterbacks were on the same roster, the Browns have to figure out if they trust either QB in battle. Braylon Edwards is the team's leading receiver, but led the league in drops last year. That being said, he has too much talent not to have a rebound year if he clicks with one of the quarterbacks. Jamal Lewis leads a questionable running game, and his best years are certainly behind him. The defense has many holes too, and Mangini needs to see more takeaways and stops for his team to successful. They should take a step in the right direction with him at the helm, but are still far from being a force like the two at the top of the division. To sum it up, it seems as if it will be a good year for Braylon Edwards, and a struggle for just about everyone else.
Cincinnati: Predicted finish, 2-14, last place in division
Marvin Lewis, what happened? Your team seemed on the cusp of clicking, especially on offense, and looked like it was heading in the right direction. Carson Palmer at the helm of the offense, with two outstanding receivers to throw to. And now, Cincy fans are left praying for mediocrity. The Bengals have taken a turn for the worst, and seem destined to be a bottomfeeder again this year. Even if Palmer comes back healthy and plays like he is capable of playing, he is still missing Houshmanzadeh and a run game. Does anyone really think Cedric Benson is the answer? Ask anyone who saw him play in Chicago; he has no vision and his work ethic isn't much better. The offensive problems pale in comparison to a defense that will be walked all over this year. They can't stop the pass or run, and should struggle from Week 1 to Week 17. Bengals fans, take solace in the fact that Pick 1 may be yours in next year's draft.
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