NFL: AFC North Team Predictions

Earlier this week we went over the Wild Wild West of the AFC West. With that in the rearview mirror, we move on over to look at the AFC North as I review each team in 1 of the toughest divisions in the league and give my prediction for their record and what will help them separate the contenders from the pretenders. So with that being said, let’s get right into the AFC North Team Predictions.

Rays

Baltimore Ravens – I have to say, I am really impressed with the Raven’s offseason. When I checked their team from top to bottom, they have no significant holes and they are primed and ready for a Superbowl run. Starting QB Joe Flacco may be criticized for his up and down regular seasons, but he’s been pretty darn good in the playoffs. RB Justin Forsett was great running the ball last year, and WR Steve Smith will try to end his career with a ring. LBs Elvis Dumervil and T-Sizzle, Terrell Suggs, will continue to terrorize QBs all the way to a possible trip to Superbowl 50.

Record Last Year 10-6
Vegas Wins Over/Under 9
My Prediction 13-3

Rays2

Cincinnati Bengals – With all the talk about DT Geno Atkins being back to the old Geno Atkins, the Cincinnati Defense should be back to being a stingy top 5 D. You add that defense with and above average QB in Andy Dalton, a top 10 WR in AJ Green, and a very good running game, led by RBs Jeremy Hill and Giovani Bernard, and you have the makings for yet another team that can contend to get to the AFC Championship game or even the Superbowl. I only gave them 10 wins because this division is stacked, but more on that later.

Record Last Year 10-5-1
Vegas Wins Over/Under 8.5
My Prediction 10-6

Rays3

Cleveland Browns – I kind of feel sorry for the Browns. They are in a division with 3 powerhouse playoff teams, they have a stud WR who can’t keep himself on the field in Josh Gordon, and they drafted a QB who can’t throw in Johnny Manziel. If you want to play a trivia game with your friends, tell them to name 5 players on the Browns roster excluding Manziel, they may be there for days. The Browns will try to run the ball a lot with their 3 RBs (Isaiah Crowell, Terrance West, and rookie Duke Johnson). CB Justin Gilbert will have to step up and try to help his fellow CB Joe Haden. They’ll be running for their lives.

Record Last Year 7-9
Vegas Wins Over/Under 6.5
My Prediction 2-14

NFL: Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers

Pittsburgh Steelers – When I said earlier that this division is stacked, I meant it. With the top 3 teams in this division projected by me to go a total of 34-14, you know it is just going to be a dogfight. Two-time Superbowl champion, QB Ben Roethlisberger will once against lead this team out on the field, but with RB Le’Veon Bell, stud WR Antonio Brown, and emerging stud WR Martavis Bryant, this offense is ready to put up some numbers. LB Jason Worilds and long time and future Hall Of Famer, S Troy Polamalu are both gone, but this defense will be led by LBs Lawrence Timmons and Ryan Shazier. This team, like Baltimore and Cincinnati, will be a contender and a hard team to knock out in the playoffs.

Record Last Year 11-5
Vegas Wins Over/Under 8.5
My Prediction 11-5

The AFC North is arguably the best division in football. Its close, but I give the NFC West the slight advantage because the worst team in that division in my mind is way ahead of the Browns. However, when you are in the playoffs, divisions don’t matter, it’s about beating the team in front of you and this division has 3 teams that can beat anyone in the league. Cincinnati got the short end of the stick by having to play a divisional foe in Baltimore in the 1st round of the playoffs last year. It’s possible that the only teams that could beat the teams in this division this year end up being in the same division.

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Subscribe!