2009 NFL Previews - AFC North

The AFC North is the home of the reigning NFL Champion, Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers biggest rival in the division is the Baltimore Ravens, a team looking to avoid a sophomore slump for its quarterback and coach. The Cincinnati Bengals generated some buzz this off-season, and this time it wasn't for player arrests. The Cleveland Browns are starting over...again. I'm changing things up a little for the AFC North. My cousin Josh, a diehard Steelers fan, was kind enough to provide a preview. You can see my predictions for the division immediately below his post.

1. Pittsburgh Steelers

2008 Record: 12-4, AFC North, AFC and NFL Champions
Coach: Mike Tomlin (3rd year Pittsburgh, 25-11 career)
Schedule: http://www.profootball-fans.com/nfl-schedule/pittsburgh-steelers.html
Key Additions: DE Evander "Ziggy" Hood, WR Shaun McDonald, CB Keiwan Ratliff
Key Losses: WR Nate Washington, CB Bryant McFadden, ILB Larry Foote

2009 Outlook: The Pittsburgh Steelers finished 2008 at the pinnacle of their profession, as Super Bowl Champions. They had a dominating defense and a deceptively effective offense. A status quo team never repeats, so the question for 2009 is can they be better? Last year's defense was almost perfect, and while the personnel has only seen two changes, the loss of ILB Larry Foote could make the run defense a little more vulnerable. The offense and special teams should be better than last year, and that could be enough to bring a seventh shiny football on a stick to the City of Champions.

Prediction: 11-5

2. Baltimore Ravens

2008 Record: 11-5, 2nd place in AFC North
Coach: John Harbaugh (2nd year Baltimore, 13-6 career)
Schedule: http://www.baltimoreravens.com/Gameday/Schedule.aspx
Key Additions: C Matt Birk, RT Michael Oher, TE L.J. Smith
Key Losses: Defensive Coordinator Rex Ryan, OLB Bart Scott, FS Jim Leonhard, CB Chris McAllister, FB Lorenzo Neal

2009 Outlook: The Ravens are looking to boost themselves from dangerous sleeper to scary contender in QB Joe Flacco's second year. During the off-season the Ravens defense was ransacked by the New York Jets, who took two starters and their Defensive Coordinator, Rex Ryan. The Ravens are getting old in multiple areas and now have lost two of their best young players, but they will still have one of the leagues top defensive units. Baltimore should be improved on offense, with Flacco having a year under his belt, RB Ray Rice giving more help in the run game, and C Matt Birk and RT Michael Oher helping the offensive line.

Prediction: 11-5

3. Cincinnati Bengals

2008 Record: 4-11-1, 3rd place in AFC North
Coach: Marvin Lewis (7th year Cincinnati, 46-50-1 career)
Schedule: http://www.bengals.com/schedule/preseason09.html
Key Additions: WR Laveraneus Coles, SS Roy Williams, DT Tank Johnson, OT Andre Smith, LB Ray Maualuga
Key Losses: WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh, OT Stacy Andrews

2009 Outlook: The Bengals are a tough team to grasp this year. They were awful last season but Carson Palmer's seemingly never ending return from injury has made the Bengals a potential sleeper team. While predictions of Cincinnati stunning both the Ravens and the Steelers and making the playoffs are wildly exaggerated, they should be significantly better with some of their additions and the return of Palmer. WR Laveraneus Coles will be an adequate replacement at receiver for the departed T.J. Housmandzadeh, and while both are overrated, CB Roy Williams and DT Tank Johnson should improve the defense. Just like every year under Marvin Lewis, the Bengals will be good if the ego's and personalities on the team remain in check. If not, it will be another year of bags over heads in Cincinnati.

Prediction: 8-8

4. Cleveland Browns

2008 Record: 4-12, last place in AFC North
Coach: Eric Mangini (1st year Cleveland, 23-26 career)
Schedule: http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/gameday/schedule.php
Key Additions: C Alex Mack, WR Brian Robiskie, ILB Eric Barton, RG Floyd Womack, WR Mike Furrey, CB Rod Hood, WR David Patten
Key Losses: TE Kellen Winslow Jr., WR Donte Stallworth (1 year suspension), WR Joe Jurevicius, S Sean Jones

2009 Outlook: Last year the Browns, like they have been most seasons, were a disaster. Their run defense was relatively nonexistent last year, as was their decision on a starting quarterback. This season the Browns problems begin, but certainly don't end, at finding a solidified starting QB between Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn. They also need to figure out who the QB will throw to. With both Winslow and Stallworth gone and Braylon Edwards consistent inconsistency, the Browns passing game is in dire straights. Despite a new, and probably better coach, and a smarter approach to the 2009 draft, the Browns are still a team of woeful possibilities.

Prediction: 4-12

Chris' AFC North Predictions

1. Pittsburgh Steelers, 13-3

2. Cincinnati Bengals, 10-6

3. Baltimore Ravens, 9-7

4. Cleveland Browns, 3-13