AFC North Preview: They Are Who You Think They Are

The AFC North is always up there in the "best divisions in football" discussion. The Ravens have been relevant since the turn of the century. The Steelers have been relevant since the middle of the Cold War, and the Browns and Bengals have been...well, they've had their moments.

The Bengals are in the midst of one of their moments, but there's a ton of question marks around the team. Pittsburgh is also filled with questions, where the Ravens and Browns are pretty comfortable with where they stand. The divisional games, particularly Steelers/Ravens, hardly disappoint. This division always plays a role when the chips are on the table at the end of January, so let's talk about who will be there this year.

Baltimore Ravens

It'd be easy to say the Ravens start and end with Lamar, but it'd also be incorrect.

This team is loaded. Offensively, Lamar has Derrick Henry along with a deep WR corps that now includes Deandre Hopkins as WR3. I'm not saying D-Hop is D-Hop of old, but WR3? They have one of if not the best tight end duo in the league, and should again have an upper echelon offensive line.

So offense is set. Defensively?

Practically the same as last year, as 10 of their 11 players who played the most snaps are returning. A defense that finished top ten in both yards allowed and points, and 1st in rush defense. The weak spot was the secondary, which was second to last in pass yards allowed, so they brought in Jaire Alexander and drafted Malaki Starks from Georgia in the first round. Problem (likely) solved.

They did lose the cheat code at kicker for some naughty behavior, so they'll have to get past the opposing 40 yard line to get points this year. But then again, Tucker kinda sucked last year too. Wonder if he had some things on his mind...

There's no weakness on this team. And they have a chip on their shoulder. Whether or not they get it done in January remains to be seen, but they'll have no issues getting there. My prediction is they'll have home field advantage. Record: 13-4

Cincinnati Bengals

I don't care that Ja'Marr and Tee Higgins signed new contracts in the offseason; the Bengals are a mess. Trey Hendrickson just ended his contract dispute with a $14 million raise, which is cool, but with that contract ending at the end of this season so will his time in Cincinnati. They took three months to sign their first round pick (also a defensive lineman) to a contract after that dispute. They fired their once perceived great defensive coordinator after one of the more abysmal defensive seasons in NFL history. And that same defense has potentially less talent than last year.

Mike Hilton and Vonn Bell left, and with them left a void of leadership on that side of the ball. Thankfully Hendrickson will be there, but who else is stepping up? Who are they going to turn to? How is it possible we have more questions about this defense than we did last year?

It may not matter, at least to some extent, how the defense plays. If they marginally improve from last year (and yes I know that's a big if given what I just said) and Joe Cool and the offense stay hot, which I fully expect them to, the probability they miss they playoffs again feels small. I mean they still went 9-8 last year.

There's no way they lose four games where they scored 33+ points again. Right?

I want to be clear, I don't think this team is all that close to being a Super Bowl contender. But not every team that makes the playoffs is a Super Bowl Contender. I can't fathom Burrow and this offense being left out of the playoffs a third straight year. This is probably more of a heart pick. Record: 10-7

Pittsburgh Steelers

Enough with this team. I don't want to do this again.

Aaron Rodgers is in town, and the expectations are sky...high? Low? Medium? Who the fuck knows.

The QB carousel continues in Pittsburgh, this time with a 42-year old hippie who couldn't be less relatable to the Yinzers if he tried. Idk what the plan was here, but they saw what Justin Fields and Russell Wilson could do and chose to go with the guy the Jets rode out of town. The Jets.

Their defense should continue to be great. So the conversation goes back to what the conversation around Aaron Rodgers was last year in New York: if he can play slightly above average, this team will ride the coattails of the defense to some wins.

The Jets defense let him down to some extent, but he was no where close to above average either. He hasn't been an above average quarterback since Kim and Kanye were happily married. Seriously, it's been four seasons since Rodgers has played consistent good football. A ruptured Achilles and god knows how many scorned teammates later, you won't find me hitching my wheel to his wagon.

TJ Watt will win a game or two himself as he does every year. DK will have a recurring spot on the SportsCenter top 10. I just don't get the Steelers' thought process. Rodgers has made it clear this is his swan song. And I think he goes out crashing, even more than he already has. The Steelers and Mike Tomlin have their first sub-.500 season in their marriage. Record: 8-9

Cleveland Browns

I kinda respect Jimmy Haslam for taking the Jerry Jones approach to ownership; if you can't win, just stay in the headlines.

I've heard more about the Browns this offseason than any in recent memory, and literally 0% of it has been about their aspirations on the football field.

The Shedeur/Dillon Gabriel draft selections were straight out of Jerry Jones PR 101 class. It's all about buzz baby. There's just no other explanation as to why they did this.

How about two of the top ESPN headlines a couple weeks ago being how two separate Browns players won't be charged for their arrests, and are now en route to Cleveland to sign their contracts. Keep stirring that drink.

Then there's backup quarterbacks maybe throwing shade, maybe not, at the other backup quarterback. I don't think he was, but it was front page news regardless. That Gabriel quote felt straight outta Dallas.

The whole scene is hilarious, unless you're a Cleveland fan. Joe Flacco is your starting QB, with no more Nick Chubb, and Jerry Jeudy as your WR1 (those who follow know my distain of Jerry Jeudy so I'll save you from it again). At least Miles Garrett is there so they can sell some jerseys!

This is a horrible roster, a horrible franchise, in a horrible spot. They need to get this DeShaun contract over with and start fresh. But this year will suck. I'd bet we see a minimum of three QBs start a game for the Brownies this year, and they draft another rookie with the first overall pick. Record: 3-14