2016 NFL Preview: Analyzing The AFC North

The AFC North is always tough to predict because of the gripping rivalries. How will the Baltimore Ravens and their divisional foes do?

The AFC North always promises great games and strong competition from all the teams in the division. Well, all the teams except the Browns who have had more starting quarterbacks than wins in the past 16 seasons. Not really, but they keep creeping closer. This upcoming season, the AFC North returns to form with three competitive teams as the Ravens get healthier.

Steelers 14-2
Ravens 10-6
Bengals 8-8
Browns 4-12

Pittsburgh Steelers 14-2

Pittsburgh’s season starts with Le’Veon Bell playing and not suspended unlike last year. If Bell can remain healthy, the Steelers offense looks like it can average close to 30 points per game even without the suspended Martavis Bryant who will miss the entire 2016 season.

In typical fashion, the Steelers spent most of the off-season resigning free agents than bringing new pieces into the fold; Ladarius Green signed to replace Heath Miller who retired after last season. Pittsburgh stretched in taking Artie Burns in the first round, but cornerback became a larger need after nickel corner Brandon Boykin left for Carolina.

Baltimore Ravens 10-6

Using the phase “bounce back year” feels strange to describe the Ravens who routinely make the playoffs under coach John Harbaugh; the truth of the matter remains, they were 5-11 last season. This season should play out differently since it’s nearly impossible for the same string of devastating injuries to happen this season.

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The Ravens took advantage of trading down and accumulating 11 draft picks at this years draft. With a much-needed injection of youth, Baltimore overhauled both sides of the ball and expect immediate dividends from Ronnie Stanley, Kamalei Correa, and Tavon Young. Plus, Breshard Perriman, who missed his entire rookie season, gets to take the field for the first time, and they signed two big free agents in Eric Weddle and Benjamin Watson.

Cincinnati Bengals 8-8

The Bengals went 12-4 last season while looking like one of the top four or five teams in the league. A late season injury to Andy Dalton derailed the team in the playoffs in one of the strangest playoff games in NFL history. Dalton looks to return this year and prove last season he came into his own, and it wasn’t the result of Hue Jackson offensive scheme.

Like the Steelers and Ravens, the Bengals stayed in-house and refused to chase over priced free agents or over pay their departing talent. It turns out they didn’t need to open their wallet for free agents because they turned in a draft class which looks damn good on paper. Cincinnati’s biggest cause for concern, losing offensive coordinator Hue Jackson who was the first coach to make Andy Dalton look like a real NFL quarterback.

Cleveland Browns 4-12

Browns fans, be patient. Jimmy Haslam, be patient. Hue Jackson’s football knowledge and coaching ability can fix this train wreck of a franchise, but it will take time. Seeing as how this team posted only two winning season since returning to the NFL in 1999, I think the coaching carousel can take a break for a few years.

Next: Baltimore Ravens Football 101: Zone Blocking

Hue Jackson’s roster for his first season as head coach of the Browns resembles an expansion team. Nearly every player the front office targeted to retain left for other teams. Most of the new front office consists of first time NFL execs which showed in this first off-season failure. The win total remains low, but Jackson coaches the team up enough to at least stave off complete domination after being out scored by 154 points last year

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