AFC North Preview

Will there be a sophomore slump for QB Andy Dalton and
WR A.J. Green?

Going into the start of the 2011 season, some analysts had the Cincinnati Bengals as the worst team in the NFL. Low and behold, they would be one of three teams in the division to make the playoffs, a turnaround that couldn't have been predicted by a psychic. In the 2010 season, the Bengals disappointed many after coming off a division title and adding WR Terrell Owens that offseason. QB Carson Palmer seemed fed up with the Bengals inability to win games, even though he was the main reason why they weren't winning any. He abruptly retired, forcing the Bengals to draft QB Andy Dalton in the second round.

It remains to be seen what Dalton and WR A.J. Green, the Bengals first round pick last season, will do in their sophomore seasons. This much is clear however. The Bengals have pieces on their team they can build around. What they do this season will be interesting. While the success of the Bengals this upcoming season may be foggy, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens are not just expected to contend for the division crown. They are expected to compete for championships.

Is LB Ray Lewis chances of winning another Super Bowl
gone?

The Ravens and Steelers both went 12-4 last season, and the Ravens won the division by virtue of sweeping the Steelers in the regular season. They did struggle in the divisional round against the Houston Texans, prompting some to question QB Joe Flacco's ability to take the team where it needs to go. However, he bounced back against a porous New England Patriots defense, and almost led the Ravens to a Super Bowl berth. Expectations are now high for Flacco. He has to win now.

The Steelers decided to change their offensive philosophy, letting offensive coordinator Bruce Arians walk and bringing in Todd Haley. It didn't appear as if QB Ben Roethlisberger was on board with the move. Slowly but surely, Arians was giving Roethlisberger freedom in the offense. Haley has a knack for being a hot head, and a clash between quarterback or coordinator may happen. Also, WR Mike Wallace's late arrival to the team will probably have the offense out of sync. That means more opportunities for WR Antonio Brown, who signed his surprising five-year extension earlier this month.

Will QB Brandon Weeden's age give him an
advantage in his rookie season?

Since the AFC North was formed in 2002, the Cleveland Browns have never won a division title. The last time they actually won a division title was 1989, when they won the AFC Central title. The Browns did make it to the postseason in the first year of the AFC North division, but lost a great battle against their rivals in Pittsburgh. They've only come close once since, when they went 10-6 in the 2007 season behind the surprising great performance from QB Derek Anderson. Now the Browns have benched a 25-year old quarterback with a couple years of experience in favor of a 28-year old rookie. We'll see how it works out.

There isn't much doubt about who will be competing for the division title. The Ravens and Steelers are clearly the two best teams in the division, but they both have their issues. The Steelers defense is aging, which could be a concern if they do not perform well. In the 2009 season, the season after winning the Super Bowl, their defense was not as solid as many people expected, and they missed the playoffs altogether. Also, how will Roethlisberger perform with Haley calling the shots for the offense? Does Haley put pride to the side and defer a little to the two-time Super Bowl champion? These are questions they will need to answer early.

Will QB Ben Roethlisberger and new offensive
coordinator Todd Haley get along?

The Ravens main components on defense are aging as well. They already lost LB Terrell Suggs for a significant portion of the season due to a torn Achilles tendon. S Ed Reed has expressed doubts about continuing his career in the past, so he may be slowed from the grind and toll his long NFL career has put on his body. LB Ray Lewis is entering his 17th season in the NFL, so the things he can bring to the table may be limited. Can the Ravens offense pick up the slack? RB Ray Rice is satisfied with his new deal, and Flacco is next for his extension. However, Flacco has to show the Ravens they don't only have to depend on defense to win football games.

The Bengals could be one of those teams who improve upon their 9-7 record last season, or bottom out, similar to what the Tampa Bay Buccaneers did last season. Their defense is solid, and adding veteran CB Terrence Newman can only be good for their young defense. Marvin Lewis has surpringly hung on to his job this long. The Bengals have only made the playoffs three times in his nine seasons as head coach. Naturally, he'll be on the hot seat this year, so unless injuries pile up during the season, expect the Bengals to be solid again.

The Browns are the team we don't know much about. They are now turning to QB Brandon Weeden, who they used their first round pick on. Weeden's age didn't scare away the Browns. The Browns have not gotten the production they expected from QB Colt McCoy, but if Weeden struggles, he can be right back in it with something to prove. Adding a running back in RB Trent Richardson can only help, as the Browns have not had a solid every down back in a while.

The Ravens should win the division because of their continuity on offense. Don't be surprised if the Steelers win the division however. Flacco has a lot to prove, and Roethlisberger is still a better quarterback at this point. Those two teams will be battling all year, while the Bengals and Browns will be looking to grow as a team.

Predictions

Baltimore Ravens 12-4
Pittsburgh Steelers 11-5
Cincinnati Bengals 7-9
Cleveland Browns 6-10