AFC North Preview
Dan Head kept us rolling on Monday with his NFC North preview, in which he described a division dominated by quarterbacks. If you are coming in late, we have already covered the NFC and AFC Eastern divisions.
In this post, I take a look at the AFC North which is a coach-driven division. This division has two Super Bowl champion coaches, one coach that has won the most games in his franchise's history, and a talented coach for an awful team.
Every team in this division ended up a little disappointed last year, but all of them have an opportunity to improve this year. Most likely though, only one will make the playoffs.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers have qualified for the playoffs in three straight seasons and head coach Mike Tomlin (2008 SB winner) is rolling along with a 64 percent winning percentage after ten seasons at the helm. There was an undercurrent of unease around the Pittsburgh off season as QB Ben Roethlisberger contemplated retirement, bell cow RB Le'Veon Bell refused to sign his franchise tender and WR Martavis Bryant was dealing with a suspension. Well, Roethlisberger didn't retire, Bryant got to camp this week and if anybody can get Bell to return and play well, it is Tomlin.
Roethlisberger is a steady hand under center and he has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to downfield targets like WRs Antonio Brown, the aforementioned Bryant, and draft pick JuJu Smith-Schuster from Southern Cal. The offensive line is highly regarded and even as an Airborne Ranger combat veteran at left tackle. Bell is going to come back in time and be that much more rested for the season -- this offense is going to give teams nightmares.
The Steelers defense has historically been their calling card, but was only slightly above average last year. Cam Heyward will return to help the defensive line after missing nine games last year and CB Artie Burns and SS Sean Davis should improve this year after gaining valuable experience last year as rookies. Pittsburgh is dealing with transition in the linebacker corps, but Ryan Shazier is coming off a Pro Bowl season and will help make this a better than average unit.
ESPN FPI:+4.7/10.1 wins
Odd Sharks Over/Under:10.5 wins
Injuries to Bell last year and to Brown the year before contributed to the Steelers playoff runs ending short of the Super Bowl. As long as Bell gets prepped for the season and the other weapons stay healthy, this is a team ready for a another deep playoff run.
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens have missed the playoffs three of the last four years. Coach Jim Harbaugh led Baltimore to a Super Bowl title five years ago, so he has more leeway than his counterpart in Cincinnati. Pundits don't feel it is a make or break year for Harbaugh, but that will change with another playoff miss.
Six-time Pro Bowler G Marshall Yanda anchors a good, young offensive line with four projected starters having been drafted in the last three years. Joe Flacco is a Super Bowl champion, but ranked 24th in quarterback rating last year. He has a couple of decent targets to throw to in WR Mike Wallace and TE Dennis Pita, but the Baltimore running game is awful. The Ravens offense will need nothing short of excellence out of the buffet busters up front to make anything happen.
The defense is led by stalwarts like DT Brandon Williams and LBs Terrell Suggs and C.J. Mosley. Baltimore used five of their seven draft picks to grab defenders, including four picks in the first three rounds. This infusion of quality youth with a talented veteran corps will help improve a good defense that must become great to carry the Ravens into the playoffs.
ESPN FPI: +1.3/8.8 wins
Odd Sharks Over/Under: 9.0
Arguably, Harbaugh has not had the talent like his division rivals in Pittsburgh and Cincinnati over the last few years. However, it's only recent results that matter in the NFL, which for losing coaches, stands for "Not For Long." If he can't get Baltimore back to the playoffs this year, he will officially be on the hot seat.
Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati missed the playoffs last year for the first time since the 2008 season. The Bengals franchise is entering its 50th season and they have gone to the playoffs 14 times -- seven of them under head coach Marvin Lewis (franchise-leading 118 regular season wins). But with that miss last year and not a single playoff win in the last seven trips, Lewis and the Bengals have to be feeling the pressure.
Cincinnati QB Andy Dalton throws to an incredible receiver corps paced by veteran WRs A.J. Green and Brandon LaFell. The running game took a step backward last year with RBs Jeremy Hill continuing to decline and Giovani Bernard getting injured again. If the talented, yet troubled, second round draft pick, RB Joe Mixon, can revitalize the running game behind an offensive line going through transition, the Bengals can be a top tier offense.
The Bengals let veteran linebackers Rey Maualuga and Karlos Dansby go and drafted Carl Lawson and Jordan Evans in an effort to get younger in the middle. The defensive line has superstar talent in DE Carlos Dunlap and DT Geno Atkins, while the secondary is young with experience. Now it is up to LB Vontaze Burfict and CB Pacman Jones to lead and not lead to implosion.
ESPN FPI: +0.3/8.3 wins
Odd Sharks Over/Under: 8.5 wins
Lewis's Bengals teams have been assessed as one of the more talented teams in the NFL the last few years, but consistently fail to cash in on that potential. Mixon will fit right in with Burfict and Pacman, so they can talk about reckless play, punching ladies and assault charges. Lewis needs to finally instill discipline or his team will once again under achieve and he will be looking for a job elsewhere.
Cleveland Browns
Whooo, boy -- the Browns were bad last year. We are talking 1-15 bad. Coach Hue Jackson seems like a good coach, but he has a monumental task in front of him. Let's not even give this roster a serious look. Just know that you shouldn't draft a single Brown for your fantasy team and bet against them every week if you like putting money on games.
The Cleveland Browns under founder and head coach Paul Brown were a juggernaut in the mid-20th century. They started out in the expansion All-American Football Conference in 1946 where they won the championship in all four years of the league's existence. Cleveland was then allowed to join the NFL in 1950 and was expected to fail against the supposedly more talented legacy teams, but they played in the NFL championship game their first six years in the league, winning the title three times.
They went through another great run under Marty Schottenheimer in the mid to late-80s when they went to five straight playoffs. I used to sit at a lunch table with Jason Robinson in high school and he constantly gave me a load of junk about how they were so much better than my Indianapolis Colts -- which they were. Those heady days are long gone now.
ESPN FPI: -7.7/4.8 wins
Odd Sharks Over/Under: 4.5 wins
There is reason for long-term hope. Cleveland nabbed three first round picks this year and drafted QB DeShone Kizer in the second round. They also have five more picks in the first two rounds of next year's draft. Jackson deserves a long leash. If he can get this team to the playoffs by the end of the 2020 season, he would most definitely be Coach of the Year material.
True Fans: Geoffrey Wright
Wright: "The Steelers hope to continue their recent run of steady and even flashy football to take advantage of Ben Roethliesberger's final year(s) in the league. The AFC Championship blowout embarrassment against New England demonstrates Coach Mike Tomlin's inability to singlehandedly focus on beating New England and points to another 10-6 season."
Joe Kidwell
Cecil: "After a five-year playoff run, the 2016 season was one to forget as the Bengals stumbled to a 6-9-1 record. The Bengals schedule is very favorable for a 4-1 start going into their bye week in Week 6. After that, four of the next five are on the road and will determine their chances for a run at the playoffs with a manageable slate of games from Thanksgiving on. As a longtime fan, I will say 9-7 as we always find ways to lose games."
John Colwell: (Picture to be added)
Colwell: "The Browns appear to have improved in the offseason, which isn't saying much as the only direction to go was up. However, they filled key holes in the defense with the addition of (Myles) Garrett and (Jabrill) Peppers, and improved the offensive line with free agent signings. With both lines improved, things are looking up in C-Town."
In this post, I take a look at the AFC North which is a coach-driven division. This division has two Super Bowl champion coaches, one coach that has won the most games in his franchise's history, and a talented coach for an awful team.
Every team in this division ended up a little disappointed last year, but all of them have an opportunity to improve this year. Most likely though, only one will make the playoffs.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers have qualified for the playoffs in three straight seasons and head coach Mike Tomlin (2008 SB winner) is rolling along with a 64 percent winning percentage after ten seasons at the helm. There was an undercurrent of unease around the Pittsburgh off season as QB Ben Roethlisberger contemplated retirement, bell cow RB Le'Veon Bell refused to sign his franchise tender and WR Martavis Bryant was dealing with a suspension. Well, Roethlisberger didn't retire, Bryant got to camp this week and if anybody can get Bell to return and play well, it is Tomlin.
Roethlisberger is a steady hand under center and he has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to downfield targets like WRs Antonio Brown, the aforementioned Bryant, and draft pick JuJu Smith-Schuster from Southern Cal. The offensive line is highly regarded and even as an Airborne Ranger combat veteran at left tackle. Bell is going to come back in time and be that much more rested for the season -- this offense is going to give teams nightmares.
The Steelers defense has historically been their calling card, but was only slightly above average last year. Cam Heyward will return to help the defensive line after missing nine games last year and CB Artie Burns and SS Sean Davis should improve this year after gaining valuable experience last year as rookies. Pittsburgh is dealing with transition in the linebacker corps, but Ryan Shazier is coming off a Pro Bowl season and will help make this a better than average unit.
ESPN FPI:+4.7/10.1 wins
Odd Sharks Over/Under:10.5 wins
Injuries to Bell last year and to Brown the year before contributed to the Steelers playoff runs ending short of the Super Bowl. As long as Bell gets prepped for the season and the other weapons stay healthy, this is a team ready for a another deep playoff run.
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens have missed the playoffs three of the last four years. Coach Jim Harbaugh led Baltimore to a Super Bowl title five years ago, so he has more leeway than his counterpart in Cincinnati. Pundits don't feel it is a make or break year for Harbaugh, but that will change with another playoff miss.
Six-time Pro Bowler G Marshall Yanda anchors a good, young offensive line with four projected starters having been drafted in the last three years. Joe Flacco is a Super Bowl champion, but ranked 24th in quarterback rating last year. He has a couple of decent targets to throw to in WR Mike Wallace and TE Dennis Pita, but the Baltimore running game is awful. The Ravens offense will need nothing short of excellence out of the buffet busters up front to make anything happen.
The defense is led by stalwarts like DT Brandon Williams and LBs Terrell Suggs and C.J. Mosley. Baltimore used five of their seven draft picks to grab defenders, including four picks in the first three rounds. This infusion of quality youth with a talented veteran corps will help improve a good defense that must become great to carry the Ravens into the playoffs.
ESPN FPI: +1.3/8.8 wins
Odd Sharks Over/Under: 9.0
Arguably, Harbaugh has not had the talent like his division rivals in Pittsburgh and Cincinnati over the last few years. However, it's only recent results that matter in the NFL, which for losing coaches, stands for "Not For Long." If he can't get Baltimore back to the playoffs this year, he will officially be on the hot seat.
Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati missed the playoffs last year for the first time since the 2008 season. The Bengals franchise is entering its 50th season and they have gone to the playoffs 14 times -- seven of them under head coach Marvin Lewis (franchise-leading 118 regular season wins). But with that miss last year and not a single playoff win in the last seven trips, Lewis and the Bengals have to be feeling the pressure.
Cincinnati QB Andy Dalton throws to an incredible receiver corps paced by veteran WRs A.J. Green and Brandon LaFell. The running game took a step backward last year with RBs Jeremy Hill continuing to decline and Giovani Bernard getting injured again. If the talented, yet troubled, second round draft pick, RB Joe Mixon, can revitalize the running game behind an offensive line going through transition, the Bengals can be a top tier offense.
The Bengals let veteran linebackers Rey Maualuga and Karlos Dansby go and drafted Carl Lawson and Jordan Evans in an effort to get younger in the middle. The defensive line has superstar talent in DE Carlos Dunlap and DT Geno Atkins, while the secondary is young with experience. Now it is up to LB Vontaze Burfict and CB Pacman Jones to lead and not lead to implosion.
ESPN FPI: +0.3/8.3 wins
Odd Sharks Over/Under: 8.5 wins
Lewis's Bengals teams have been assessed as one of the more talented teams in the NFL the last few years, but consistently fail to cash in on that potential. Mixon will fit right in with Burfict and Pacman, so they can talk about reckless play, punching ladies and assault charges. Lewis needs to finally instill discipline or his team will once again under achieve and he will be looking for a job elsewhere.
Cleveland Browns
Whooo, boy -- the Browns were bad last year. We are talking 1-15 bad. Coach Hue Jackson seems like a good coach, but he has a monumental task in front of him. Let's not even give this roster a serious look. Just know that you shouldn't draft a single Brown for your fantasy team and bet against them every week if you like putting money on games.
The Cleveland Browns under founder and head coach Paul Brown were a juggernaut in the mid-20th century. They started out in the expansion All-American Football Conference in 1946 where they won the championship in all four years of the league's existence. Cleveland was then allowed to join the NFL in 1950 and was expected to fail against the supposedly more talented legacy teams, but they played in the NFL championship game their first six years in the league, winning the title three times.
They went through another great run under Marty Schottenheimer in the mid to late-80s when they went to five straight playoffs. I used to sit at a lunch table with Jason Robinson in high school and he constantly gave me a load of junk about how they were so much better than my Indianapolis Colts -- which they were. Those heady days are long gone now.
ESPN FPI: -7.7/4.8 wins
Odd Sharks Over/Under: 4.5 wins
There is reason for long-term hope. Cleveland nabbed three first round picks this year and drafted QB DeShone Kizer in the second round. They also have five more picks in the first two rounds of next year's draft. Jackson deserves a long leash. If he can get this team to the playoffs by the end of the 2020 season, he would most definitely be Coach of the Year material.
True Fans: Geoffrey Wright
Joe Kidwell
Kidwell: "General Manager Ozzie Newsome has put together a defense that resembles the early 2000's. If they play as advertised and Joe Flacco returns to 'January Joe' form, John Harbaugh and the Ravens will return to the playoffs where they used to be regulars. My prediction is a 10-6 wildcard team."
Andy Cecil
John Colwell: (Picture to be added)
Colwell: "The Browns appear to have improved in the offseason, which isn't saying much as the only direction to go was up. However, they filled key holes in the defense with the addition of (Myles) Garrett and (Jabrill) Peppers, and improved the offensive line with free agent signings. With both lines improved, things are looking up in C-Town."
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