The NFL season is getting closer and closer and I'm getting even more excited. This post is going to pull the series to its half way point and it is going to cover the predictions for the AFC North division. The AFC North holds the reigning Super Bowl Champions, a solid up an comer, a has been team, and a team that can not seem to pull its act together.
Lets look at last years results.
Baltimore Ravens: 10-6 record, 4-2 in division
Cincinnati Bengals: 10-6 record, 3-3 in division
Pittsburgh Steelers: 8-8 record, 3-3, in division
Cleveland Browns: 5-11 record, 2-4 in division
The best part about this division is that the division records were all pretty close, so you knew if it was a division game between these teams odds are you would get a pretty good game. The division in reality, even with the super bowl champs, is not all that flashy. The Ravens are a completely new team this year, the Steelers are a has been team in an awkward rebuild mode, and the Browns only ray of sunshine is the tremendous Trent Richardson. I left the Bengals out of that on purpose because they are a very solid team but they just do not display excitement.
Now a look at the teams schedules.
Baltimore Ravens:
Tough Games: Week 1 @ Broncos, Week 3 vs Texans, Week 6 vs Packers, Week 10 vs Bengals, Week 11 @ Bears, Week 16 vs Patriots, Week 17 @ Bengals.
Toss up Games: Week 7 @ Steelers, Week 9 @ Browns, Week 13 vs Steelers, Week 14 vs Vikings, Week 15 @ Lions.
Easy Games: Week 2 vs Browns, Week 4 @ Bills, Week 5 @ Dolphins, Week 12 vs Jets.
The Ravens are looking at a tough schedule, which will make it hard to have a repeat super bowl. With 7 of 16 games being tough games in my opinion its going to wear them out which will make the Toss up games later in the season more difficult. This is going to be an interesting season for the ravens and the tough schedule is not going to make things any easier. The easy games will really boost the record overall though as those really should be automatic wins.
Cincinnati Bengals:
Tough Games: Week 1 @ Bears, Week 3 vs Packers, Week 5 vs Patriots.
Toss up Games: Week 2 vs Steelers, Week 4 @ Browns, Week 7 @ Lions, Week 10 @ Ravens, Week 14 vs Colts, Week 15 @ Steelers, Week 16 vs Vikings, Week 17 vs Ravens.
Easy Games: Week 6 @ Bills, Week 8 vs Jets, Week 9 @ Dolphins, Week 11 vs Browns, Week 13 @ Chargers.
The Bengals have a schedule that should be setting them up for a really big season. They only have 3 really Tough games and all in the first 5 weeks, then they should be off to the races and ending the season with a big win streak. This is a nice schedule for the Bengals.
Pittsburgh Steelers:
Tough Games: Week 2 @ Bengals, Week 3 vs Bears, Week 9 @ Patriots, Week 15 vs Bengals, Week 16 @ Packers.
Toss up Games: Week 4 @ Vikings, Week 7 vs Ravens, Week 10 vs Bills, Week 11 vs Lions, Week 12 @ Browns, Week 13 @ Ravens, Week 17 vs Browns.
Easy Games: Week 1 vs Titans, Week 6 @ Jets, Week 8 @ Raiders, Week 14 vs Dolphins.
Steelers have a pretty well rounded schedule. They have a good chunk of each type of game and its set up for another pretty even season from the Steelers. The schedule does not really benefit the Steelers in any way but its not terribly demanding.
Cleveland Browns:
Tough Games: Week 3 @ Vikings, Week 4 vs Bengals, Week 6 vs Lions, Week 8 @ Packers, Week 11 @ Bengals, Week 14 @ Patriots, Week 15 vs Bears, Week 17 @ Steelers.
Toss up Games: Week 2 @ Ravens, Week 5 vs Bills, Week 9 @ Chiefs, Week 10 vs Ravens, Week 12 vs Steelers.
Easy Games: Week 1 vs Dolphins, Week 13 vs Jaguars, Week 16 @ Jets.
The Browns have a trying schedule by most teams standards, but the fact that they are not the greatest team by anyones standards makes it harder for the young Browns. This season will really test who the Browns want to rely on and can Norv Turner be a head coach in the league again, after dealing with the overall weak offense of the Browns.
Overall Team Rankings
Baltimore Ravens:
The Ravens are going to be interesting this year, but I think it is going to be tough for the team to repeat or even win there division again. They lost there best two defenders, who were the rock and solid ground for the team, Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, and then on offense they lost Anquan Boldin the Red Zone threat and big game machine. Not to mention they also lost Bernard Pollard who was the other starting safety for the Ravens. The good things about the Ravens is they still have a lot of defensive players that are really good like Haloti Ngata and Terrell Suggs, but they are not as star powered as they were. On offense at least they still have Torrey Smith and Jacoby Jones, but you really are putting a lot of faith into Jones to be your #2 guy. They also lost there very solid TE for the season in Dennis Pitta. The best thing about the Ravens right now is Ray Rice, a consistent and powerful back! He really does not get enough credit but he really opens up everything for the offense. Now the story of Joe Flacco. He played outstanding right when he needed to, but the question is can he play like that at all times and actually lead the team again, I personally do not think that he can. I do not think he has a good enough receiving core to make him look as good as he needs them to and I just do not think he really is that good.
Cincinnati Bengals:
The Bengals are an good team, they play well together and are beginning to win some games. Andy Dalton is no huge threat at QB but he works hard and gets the job done. The two biggest things that thrive the Bengals are A.J. Green and the Bengals defense. A.J. Green dominates defenses with his size, speed, and spectacular catching! He has similar abilities to Calvin Johnson and in time could be almost as successful. The Defense in Cincinnati is very underrated as well, ranking 6th overall last year in total yards per game allowed and now they made a big add in James Harrison. The defense is going to be very solid this year. The big question is who gets the running back job or do the split carries pretty evenly between Giovanni Bernard and Ben-Jarvis Green-Ellis. Personally I think you give BJ GE the carries he has proved to be fairly consistent and can get some good yards for you.
Pittsburgh Steelers:
The Steelers are a team that is an awkward rebuilding stage. They are not ready to commit in full to the rebuilding stage but for them I think that is probably the best thing for them. They still have a lot of really good things going for them defensively, they get back Troy Polamalu for hopefully the whole season and then they have my pick for defensive rookie of the year Jarvis Jones. Defensively they are still an above average talent. Offense is going to be a toss up this year. Big Ben is still an amazing QB and his WR are going to still be solid with out Mike Wallace. The two GLARING issues are RB and the offensive line as a whole. Running back looks like its going to be Le'Veon Bell but injuries are plaguing the position and no one is truly outshining the rest. The next issue is the offensive line that has looked horrible in the preseason as they are replacing 4 out of the five starters from last year and are introducing an entire new zone blocking scheme system that seems to be throwing the men for a loop.
If the team cannot get their offensive line in check then it will not matter who plays at running back or how good Big Ben is, they will not get anywhere.
Cleveland Browns:
Hmm the Browns, the Browns. They have a very weak overall team. The defense is a work in progress with by far the best player D'Qwell Jackson. The team is not going to impose its defense on opponents this year but they will overall hold there own as an average defense. The offense is not going to blow out any team by passing the ball even against some of the worst. Weeden just is not that kind of Quarter Back and then the Wide Receivers are not really helping him to much. Then they have the running back Trent Richardson!!! Trent is in the running for my favorite running back in the whole league! He is just a tremendous athlete and has an unbelievable drive! He played unreal all year last year, and was battling injuries all year including broken ribs, who else can do that! I think that he has a very very real shot of being a top three running back this year. I believe in Trent Richardson.
Final Predictions
Cincinnati Bengals: 10-6 record, 4-2 in division
Baltimore Ravens: 9-7 record, 3-3 in division
Pittsburgh Steelers: 7-9 record, 3-3 in division
Cleveland Browns: 6-10 record, 2-4 in division
The Bengals have a very solid team and an amazing defensive front seven which i think gives them the victory in the division. The Ravens are going to have a hard time repeating with everything the lost this year, but they have enough to still have a winning season. The Steelers line is terrible this year and way to many questions at running back. They are also the oldest defense in the league so you know they are going to be a step slow. The Browns are going to improve just a tad because of Trent. Trent is going to be big this year mark my words. I think its going to be close overall, but pretty far apart in reality. Only time will tell though.
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