The AFC North is more competitive than ever before. Each team can make a case for the division. Except for the Bengals, sorry Bengals fans. Can the Steelers defense carry again? Will Lamar play like an MVP again? Can the Browns win their first AFC North division title?
Cincinnati Bengals:
Offense Overview: Even with a poor offensive line, Joe Burrow was able to prove himself 2688 yards and 13 touchdowns through 10 games before tearing his ACL against the Washington Football Team. Now healthy, Burrow looks to bounce back in a huge way. After an injury-plagued season, Joe Mixon looks to return to the 1,000 yard back he once was. With the departure of Giovanni Bernard, the bulk of the carries should belong to Mixon. Ja’marr Chase has been underwhelming so far in training camp but, Burrow still has Tyler Boyd and Tee Higgins to throw to. The Bengals’ offensive line couldn’t keep pressure off of Burrow last year. Riley Reiff was brought in as a veteran presence but more still needs to be done to keep Burrow safe.
Defense Overview: The Bengals defensive line got a rework and not for the better. They lost Carl Lawson and Geno Atkins for Trey Hendrickson and Larry Ogunjobi. Hendrickson only had one big season with the Saints and that was last year posting 13.5 sacks. Hopefully, for the Bengals sake, he can replicate that again. The linebacker core isn’t groundbreaking either with Germaine Pratt being the only real standout name. Their safety tandem each had more tackles than any of their linebackers. Jessie Bates and Von Bell are easily the most impressive part of this defense. Their corners are all new so I expect so high-scoring games for the Bengals opponents.
Overall Assessment: This Bengals team isn’t good. They have pieces but they don’t have enough good pieces to over way the bad ones. The offensive line has barely improved, the front 7 is almost near nonexistent and their first-round pick isn’t looking too hot in training camp. I wouldn’t be shocked if the Bengals fire Zac Taylor halfway through the year and they end up with another top 5 picks. Projected Finish: 3-14, 4th in the AFC North.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Offense Overview: Big Ben is entering his 18th season and some speculate it may be his last. He had a great start to the first half of the 2020 season but it all went downhill after losing to the Washington Football Team in week 13. Najee Harris is here to help in a big way. The Steelers expect the 2021 first-round pick to be a huge difference-maker right out the gate. I like the wide receiving core, especially Diontae Johnson. The offensive line is by far the biggest question mark. Pouncey and DeCastro are out in Pittsburgh and they have three new starters on that unit. The offensive line has been nice to Big Ben in the past but, this may be his toughest year.
Defense Overview: This front seven is elite. Starting with the down lineman, Stephon Tuitt, Tyson Alualu, and pro bowler Cameron Heyward are a menacing unit. Even with the loss of Bud Dupree, the Steelers linebacking core is amazing. Off the edge, they have a defensive player of the year candidate in TJ Watt and a promising second-year player in Alex Highsmith. Devin Bush and Joe Schobert are a great duo have at inside linebacker. In the secondary, they have the young and talented Minkah Fitzpatrick who was named to first all-team pro the past two seasons. However, this is where the praising stops. They lost Steven Nelson and Mike Hilton in free agency and replaced them with Cameron Sutton and Justin Layne. Their corners were already suspect and I can’t say they got better.
Overall Assessment: I’m not sure how I feel about this Steelers team. They have a very gifted front seven but lack skill in the secondary. On offense, they have great talent at running back and the receiving positions, but a questionable offensive line and an aging Big Ben. This division is no pushover anymore with the Browns making their presence known and the Ravens battling them every year. I just don’t know if I can trust them with the question marks that they present. Projected Finish: 9-8, 3rd in the AFC North.
Baltimore Ravens
Offense Overview: Lamar Jackson is one of the best in the league even though he may not be a very consistent passer. He threw for 2757 passing yards and had 1,005 rushing yards. This man is the definition of a dual-threat. In the backfield alongside him is JK Dobbins who had a very solid start in his rookie year. With the departure of Mark Ingram II, I expect Dobbins to get more touches. It finally seems like Jackson will have some solid weapons to work with. Marquise Brown, Rashod Bateman, and Sammy Watkins are a good unit to have. The only concern with them is injuries. The offensive line is very good including new signing Kevin Zeitler and Alejandro Villanueva. Franchise left tackle Ronnie Stanley should return sometime early in the season.
Defense Overview: Calais Campbell and Derek Wolfe are two very good interior defensive linemen to have alongside nose tackle Brandon Williams. Patrick Queen established himself as the starting MLB and he improved his play every game in the 2020 season. The pash rush takes a bit of a hit after losing Yannick Ngakoue and Matthew Judon. They still have Pernell McPhee, Tyus Bowser and they drafted Odafe Oweh to help the pass rush. The secondary has great corners including Marcus Peters, Marlon Humphrey, and Jimmy Smith. Chuck Clark and DeShon Elliot proved themselves as a good safety tandem.
Overall Assessment: I think this is a very solid football team that could be hindered by the offense. By that I mean they can’t stay healthy. Their first 3 receivers are already questionable heading into the season and Ronnie Stanley won’t be back for a few weeks. Besides those question marks, I really like this football team and I still think they have a good chance to win games and be a playoff team. Projected Finish: 11-6, 2nd in the AFC North.
Cleveland Browns
Offense Overview: Baker Mayfield put up a solid season last year in 2020 under first-year head coach Kevin Stefanski. With the weapons around him, there is no reason Baker shouldn’t continue to improve. Speaking of those weapons, they have Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt in the backfield. Need I say more? Odell returns alongside Jarvis Landry and rising training camp star Donovan People-Jones. The offensive line is the best in the league when healthy. They are great at blocking for the running backs and finished in the top 10 for the least amount of sacks given up. Now the same 5 offensive linemen return and so should the success they have had.
Defense Overview: Myles Garrett is a top 5 pass rusher in the league and will now be paired with Clowney who looks to get back on track. The linebacking core is a bit suspect. They drafted Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah who is a hybrid-type player. It will be interesting to see how they use him. Denzel Ward, Troy Hill, and Greedy Williams are a solid CB trio to work with. John Johnson III and Ronnie Harrison Jr should prove to be a solid duo.
Overall Assessment: I really like this Browns team this year. I’m a huge fan of their offense and I think the defense can hold their own. It will be a tough test in this division but I think they are ready for it. Projected Finish: 12-5, 1st in the AFC North.
The CloudZeroSports Team Division Predictions:
Stephen’s Pick: Browns This division is more competitive than ever before with the Browns emerging as legit contenders. I am a big fan of the offense and especially that offensive line. Although if the Ravens offense can stay healthy and Big Ben can sling the rock at a respectable rate, any team can take this division. However, I feel this is the year Baker Mayfield will truly breakout.
Dante’s Pick: Steelers Big Ben might not be the old gunslinger he used to be but he looks reenergized and ready to roll in this new offense. The offensive line has gotten much better and the Pittsburgh defense is as stout as they come. While the other teams have taken steps I still believe the Steelers will win the division. As years past have proved, defenses will figure out Greg Roman and the Ravens offense in year 3 of the Lamar Jackson era. I still don’t believe if forced, Mayfield can sit back and throw for 350+ yards. The Steelers have an excellent mix of veteran and young guys ready to go on what might be Big Ben’s last ride.
Puggy’s Pick: Browns When looking at the AFC North’s competition, you can immediately say that the Bengals won’t win. No disrespect to the Bengals, but they’re still missing a plethora amount of pieces and to top that, they have a quarterback returning from a torn ACL and MCL. After the Bengals, it’s honestly a toss-up on who would win this division. The Ravens, Steelers, and Browns all have solid teams that can easily make a case for themselves. The Ravens have a former MVP in Lamar Jackson as well as a very solid defense, but their receiving core lacks. The Steelers have an unbelievable front seven, top 10 receiving core in the league, but a very questionable secondary and aging quarterback. Finally, the Browns. I personally think the Browns will win this division because when you look at this team from top to bottom there aren’t many weak points. Yes, their linebacking core is questionable, but everything else about them is outstanding from the defensive standpoint. On the offensive side, they have a solid receiving core in OBJ, Jarvis Landry, and Donovan People-Jones to help the third-year quarterback Baker Mayfield. They also have arguably the most formidable running back duo in the league with Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt as well as a top 3 offensive line to support them. With how dominant the Browns team is, I just can’t see how they don’t win the division.
Zach’s Pick: Ravens I don’t really have much to say about the AFC North. The Browns and Steelers have extremely good weapons on each side of the field, but they don’t have Lamar Jackson. Yeah, the passing yards were the lowest in the league, but their rushing was the best. Not the mention their defense was one of the top defenses in the league. So my pick for the AFC North, the Baltimore Ravens.
Ryan’s Pick: Browns Originally, I would’ve said the Pittsburgh Steelers however the Cleveland Browns have my pick. The Browns have a strong offense thanks to the running backs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. They also have the accredited accuracy of Baker Mayfield’s arm. The reworked defense is a little more of a question with 9 new starters. Along with that, the defense has a lot of injuries, many questionable, which could be a cause for concern if they are severe enough. With the strong offense and promising defense, the Cleveland Browns should have this division.
Micky’s Pick: Browns The AFC North reminds me of the AFC South in which it’s a toss-up between two solid teams that both have a case to win the division being the Browns and the Ravens, but I believe the edge goes to the Browns. The Cincinnati Bengals should see a more solid team all-around especially now that Burrows is in his second year and I believe that the Steelers will decline in quality because after all, Big Ben isn’t getting any younger. The Browns added Jadeveon Clowney who should pair well with Myles Garrett in making quite the scary defense for teams to face.
Dustin’s Pick: Ravens I really like the Ravens. Lamar Jackson is a dual-threat and I like the weapons that surround him heading into the season. On defense, they have a great all-around unit that if healthy can be considered one of the best. I feel like this is the year Lamar Jackson could break out in a big way.
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