NFL: AFC North Preview

Welcome back to the continuing preview of the 2011 NFL season! This division is basically split in two, with the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers at the top, with the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals at the bottom. I know with all of my heart that the Browns and Bengals will not do anything this season, and the Ravens and Steelers are possible Super Bowl contenders. Now, it's just a matter of figuring out who is going to be the first and second place finishers, and who is going to be the third and fourth place finishers in the division. I think this should be a fairly easy division to predict, but, let's just figure it out.

Cincinnati Bengals

This team will stink. Because Paul Brown, the owner of the team, refused to trade Carson Palmer, the Bengals got nothing for him. Plus, Palmer was one of the lone bright spots on a team which went 4-12 last season. So, the Bengals then drafted Andy Dalton, who was a winner and very poised while at TCU, who they hope will be their next franchise quarterback. The Bengals also traded their top talent period in Chad Ochocinco to the Patriots to make room for new number one receiver A.J. Green, who should have an outstanding rookie campaign. So, other than Green Bengals fans, you have nothing to look forward to this season.

Prediction: 2-14

Cleveland Browns

Colt McCoy, who was an outstanding starter while at Texas, leading his team to a national championship appearance, is poised to become the starter in Cleveland. McCoy did a fine job last season after being forced into the starting role in week 6, thanks to injuries suffered by the insufferable Jake Delhomme and the capable Seneca Wallace. McCoy should only improve in his first full season as the Browns starting quarterback. Plus, the Browns are returning Madden 12 cover man Peyton Hillis, who, if he avoids the "Madden curse" should run for over 1,000 yards again and be a great help to McCoy. The Browns are also going into this season with a new head coach in Pat Shurmur, who was instrumental in helping rookie quarterback Sam Bradford last season and he should help McCoy out as well. Shurmur was the offensive coordinator for the St. Louis Rams last season. The defense for the Browns may not be much, but they should be a little less than a mediocre team.

Prediction: 6-10

Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens have made it to the playoffs in their first three seasons with head coach/quarterback tandem of Joe Flacco and John Harbaugh, who have brought leadership and stability to a team which was lacking it for several years prior. Every season the Ravens have been one of the wild card entrants from the AFC and then subsequently lose in the divisional playoffs. I see no reason for that to change this year. But, perhaps it will. The Ravens still have great players on defense including the ageless Ray Lewis, ball hawking safety Ed Reed and big Haloti Ngata who can sack with the best of any nose tackle. So, this team will still be really good, just not quite Super Bowl quality.

Prediction: 11-5, wild card entry.

Pittsburgh Steelers

The defending AFC champions are looking to return to the Super Bowl after narrowly missing out last season on their NFL best seventh Super Bowl win. The Steelers are returning their key pieces with Hines Ward as their number one receiver who continues to make plays now in his 14th season, Heath Miller at tight end, who is turning out to be a very reliable catching and blocking tight end. Plus, the defense is as hard hitting as ever, with James Harrison, Troy Polamalu, and Ike Taylor all back. So, therefore, I see absolutely zero reason to pick against this team.

Prediction: 12-4, number two seed.

Come back tomorrow for my NFC South division preview. What will Cam Newton do in his rookie season? Will the Bucs be a playoff team for the first time since 2007? Will the Falcons continue to dominate the NFC South? Can the Saints go back to the playoffs for an unprecedented 3rd straight time in team history? Find out the answers to these questions tomorrow!