The Baltimore Ravens winning 13 games and earning the top seed in the AFC was even more impressive than it seemed, as they needed to work their way through the toughest division in the league in order to check that box. Every team in the AFC North finished 2023 with a winning record.
The Ravens will be in for an equally tough task this time around. The Pittsburgh Steelers have an elite defense to go along with quarterback upgrades, the Cleveland Browns retained many of the best players from a very deep roster, and the Cincinnati Bengals will get Joe Burrow back at full health.
The Ravens are also a much weaker team this time around. Not only did the ravages of free agency do a number on their overall depth, but the Ravens have a loaded schedule that includes games against the Chiefs, Cowboys, and Bills in the first four weeks of the 2024 season.
After such a wild few months that involved so much change on a team that was one game away from making it to the Super Bowl, is it still reasonable to say Baltimore is in a position to take home the AFC North crown once again?
AFC North predictions after schedule release: Ravens and Bengals on top
Team | Record | |
|---|---|---|
1 | Ravens | 12-5 |
2 | Bengals | 11-6 |
3 | Steelers | 8-9 |
4 | Browns | 7-10 |
The Browns have one of the best defenses in the league, but the uncertainty surrounding Nick Chubb off an injury and Deshaun Watson multiple years removed from his best seasons in Houston could make it difficult for them to sustain any sort of consistent high-end offensive play.
While the Steelers did make a massive upgrade at the quarterback spot by swapping out Kenny Pickett for Russell Wilson, their performance in one-possession games last year was unsustainably lucky. With the skill position group still underwhelming, the Steelers will be facing an uphill climb.
While the Bengals managed to add players like former Baltimore stud Geno Stone and Trent Brown at positions of need, they could be at the end of the Tee Higgins era. Burrow might not be able to light up the scoreboard as frequently now that both Tyler Boyd and OC Brian Callahan are on the Titans.
The Ravens are a weaker roster this season, and their early schedule is brutal, but any team with the MVP quarterback at their disposal should be considered the top dogs until they are dethroned. Baltimore failing to win the division this season will be seen as a massive failure.