AFC North Preview

Tony: The AFC North sent three of its teams to the playoffs last season, and despite all the turmoil at quarterback, the lowly Browns even managed to finish 7-9. The Steelers won the division at 11-5, although I’m not sure I would have guessed that if you’d asked me on the street—my first thought would have probably been the Bengals, followed by the Ravens. Well, ok, my first thought would have probably been “Why the hell is this random person asking me who won the AFC North while I’m trying to enjoy this delicious Dilly Bar?” THEN I would have thought Bengals, Ravens and Steelers.

Possibly more amazing than the fact that they won the division is HOW they won the division—with offense. Ben Roethlisberger—who I’ve heard still isn’t exactly a “Student of the Game” when it comes to things like reading a defense—threw for just under 5,000 yards, with a 67% completion percentage, and 32 touchdowns—all career highs—and just 9 interceptions. It wasn’t just the passing game, though, as Le’Veon Bell tacked on 1,361 yards rushing and 854 yards receiving on 373 touches. Of course, a little preseason partying will cost him the first two games of 2015. Defensively…well, legendary defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau was basically forced out the door, only to take a job in Tennessee less than a month later.

Will they be able to retain their crown in 2015?

Andy: The defense is young. Talented, potentially. But really young. And the injuries. And suspensions. It was bad enough when Le’Veon Bell heard he was going to miss a couple games for his party time. Injuries to center Maurkice Pouncey and two kickers and a suspension for fantasy football dream sleeper Martavis Bryant leave me wondering what the Steelers are going to look like, at least early.

It opens the door, anyway. But who is going to kick it down? The Ravens’ top WR prospect, Breshaud Perriman, has missed all of camp with an injury. Have they improved much? And the Bengals seem like … the same Bengals that have been good-but-not-good-enough for the last half-dozen years.

Tony: As I mentioned, I was surprised the Bengals didn’t win the division last year. Their version of Bash & Dash, Thunder & Lighting, Juke & Duke, whatever you want to call them, may be the best combination the league has seen since the days of Adrian Peterson’s rookie year alongside Chester Taylor. Both Jeremy Hill and Giovanni Bernard could easily put up 1,000 all-purpose yards, if not rushing yards this season.

Add in the competent regular season play of Andy Dalton, throwing to All-Pro potential (and 4/4 Pro Bowler) AJ Green and potential breakout TE Tyler Eifert, and you’ve got a heck of an offense. The defense worries me a bit, since they took a significant step back losing Mike Zimmer, but if the offense clicks and the defense makes a small step back, they will be tough to beat for the division. Now, the playoffs would be a different story.

John Harbaugh—somehow the less douchy of the brothers—always finds a way to squeeze maximum talent out of the Ravens, who every year seem like they should finally collapse.

The least likely team to jump up for the crown? The Cleveland Browns, who appear to be set with making the same mistake the Tampa Bay Buccaneers made last year, in anointing Josh McCown their starting QB. But even the Browns appear to have solidified their front seven on defense, and have added talent. If they can find a quarterback by 2016, they could make this the toughest division in the league.

Andy: Wow. You are way higher on Cincinnati than I am. There is talent there, but I just can’t get excited about Dalton. Or, at this point, Marvin Lewis. It just feels to me like a mix whose window has closed. They had a shot when Pittsburgh and Baltimore were in rebuilds, but those teams have come back fast and strong while the Bengals just feel like … the same old Bengals. They’ll be good and competitive, but I don’t see them making the playoffs. This division is coming down to the Ravens and Steelers again.

Tony: Yep, same old Bengals. 10-5-1 last season, 11-5 the year before that, 10-6 the year before that. Not sure how my 11-5 spot for them is too far off—they certainly don’t appear to have gotten significantly worse. As mentioned, I would still peg them to crap the bed come first week of the playoffs, too.

I assume you’ve got the Steelers stepping up to retain their division crown, even with the question marks on defense and the leader of their offensive line missing the first half of the season?

Andy: Yeah, for all of those wins, I’ve just never really gotten the sense from the Bengals that they are a threat to do much. I have little to base this on other than a hunch, but it feels to me like a team ready to slide. Not dramatic – not to 4-12 or something like that. But to something like 8-8, 9-7. And then they’re just another decent, middle-of-the-pack team languishing in mediocrity.

To answer your question, the issues you mention are legit. I lean Ravens for the division, but I do believe it will come down to Pittsburgh and Baltimore in week 16.

Predictions: