AFC North Predictions
June 26, 2008
The AFC North looks separated between the Steelers and Browns at the top and the Bengals and Ravens at the bottom. This division was supposed to be one of the most competitive in the league last year, and the Steelers and Browns went on to separate themselves from the field. There will be fireworks in this division with a couple upsets along the way, but in the end the Steelers and Browns will reign supreme at the top. Let’s take a look at our 2008 AFC North predictions and our reasons for selecting these teams the way we did.
The Steelers seem to be losing ground on oncoming Cleveland in the AFC North, and with the NFL’s toughest schedule, winning the division looks to be their only shot at a playoff berth. Mike Tomlin did a nice job in his first year as head coach and these players seem to be buying into his system. Pittsburgh has been here before and they have won the big games. Winning the division is all that matters for this team and they shouldn’t have a problem accomplishing this task at hand with several veterans to lead the way.
Ben Roethlisberger proved his Super Bowl victory was no fluke by having the best season of his career last year. The Steelers bolstered their running game by adding Rashard Mendenhall to help take pressure off of Roethlisberger and the Steelers’ passing game. He has a good receiving corps, but he’s also been sacked 93 times the past two seasons. He’s as big and strong as they come at his position, so he can take the same hits would ruin other quarterback’s careers. The best defense in the AFC North will carry the Steelers to another division crown in 2008.
2.) Cleveland Browns
The Browns came close to the playoffs last season. Now they believe they can make it and so does everyone else. After trading their starting quarterback two days after opening day, Derek Anderson led the Browns to one of the most amazing in-season turnarounds in recent memory. Anderson led the Browns to 10 wins while throwing 29 touchdown passes. Anderson along with Jamal Lewis, Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow make this Browns’ team the most explosive offense in the division.
Cleveland’s defense is another story. Signing Shaun Rogers should help the Browns stop the run, but there’s no guarantees he will change his acts in Cleveland. The cornerbacks are inexperienced and the secondary is young as a whole. On paper, the Browns have many of the pieces. Browns’ fans have legitimate optimism in Cleveland. But in a big game against Pittsburgh with their playoff lives at stake, players folded in the second half of that game, especially Anderson at quarterback. Although we don’t feel the Browns are strong enough defensively to win the division, their offense is explosive enough to make up for it in their non-conference schedule as they earn a Wild-Card slot and a playoff berth in 2008.
All blame has gone to the Bengals’ defense for the team’s struggle, but their offense has to take their share of the blame, too. They had to rely too much on the passing game to move the ball, and too times were going 3-and-out because the Bengals couldn’t establish their running game. The Bengals did have some good numbers with the No. 10 offense in yards, and they allowed a franchise-low 17 sacks last year. But they also had 30 turnovers, which was the most since 2004. They converted just 48.2 percent of their red zone opportunities into touchdowns. An injury to star running back Rudi Johnson didn’t help matters.
Marvin Lewis has stated the team will re-establish a running game, which means Johnson must return to form. Until the defense can stop the run consistently, the unit will be an overall liability, and the Bengals will not be a postseason threat. They finished 27th overall in the league in total defense and are baning on young players to carry the load again. There is a possibility of 10 starters with no more than four years of experience on the defensive side of the ball in Cincinnati. Inexperience doesn’t win football games in this league, especially on defense. Thus the Cincinnati Bengals suffer through another lackluster year finishing with no better than a .500 record.
4.) Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens are trying to establish an offensive identity. They have enough talent remaining to be dominant on defense. The problem is that they are young on offense, and have yet to find offensive leaders. The Ravens have the best pair of tackles in the league on defense, and still proven players at linebacker with the likes of Lewis, Suggs and Scott. Also a solid secondary featuring Ed Reed, Samari Rolle and Chris McAlister will make it tough for opposing quarterbacks to move the ball through the air.
The fortunate thing for new head coach Jim Harbaugh is that he has a one to two-year honeymoon period. The Ravens should be competitive in most games because of their defense. The window of opportunity closed on offense when Steve McNair retired, but they have enough talent to hang around the .500 mark. With a little luck and much fewer injuries, the Ravens might make some noise in the AFC North. But it won’t be very loud. Baltimore finishes at the bottom of the barrel when it’s all said and done, even behind the lowly Bengals in this division.
