The Pittsburgh Steelers overcame the loss of Ben Roethlisberger for the first four games of the season, and made it to the Super Bowl for the third time in 6 years. The Baltimore Ravens were once again good, but still couldn't get past the Steelers. The Cleveland Browns were awful most of the year, but had convincing wins against New Orleans and New England that gave them some hope. The Cincinnati Bengals were dreadful as per usual and now have lost any semblance of the recognizable players they once had.
1. Pittsburgh Steelers
2010 Record: 12-4, 1st place AFC North, AFC Champions
Head Coach: Mike Tomlin (5th season Pittsburgh, 48-23 career)
Key Additions: DE Cameron Heyward, WR Jericho Cotchery
Key Losses: TE Matt Spaeth, WR Antwaan Randle El, OT Flozell Adams, OT Max Starks
2011 Outlook: The Steelers followed a different model in the 2011 off-season. Usually they are quick to jettison certain players but this time they kept around most of their free agents. The only significant free agent acquisition they made was signing former Jets WR Jericho Cotchery. Ben Roethlisberger is free from scandal this year and has entrenched himself in the discussion of Top 5 quarterbacks in the NFL. The running game chugs behind Rashard Mendenhall. Mendenhall may be an idiot conspiracy theorist but he runs hard and is effective, as long as he doesn't get fumbleitis like he did in the Super Bowl. The Steelers have proven to find some gems at wide receiver. Mike Wallace is expected by many to have a breakout year, and Antonio Brown made some clutch catches in the playoffs. They join up with Hines Ward and TE Heath Miller to give Roethlisberger plenty of choices. Offensive line is always a question mark for Pittsburgh, but they have proven that with Roethlisberger's shiftiness, the struggles of their line are much less of an issue than they would be for other teams. However, despite the talent of the offense, it has always been about defense in Pittsburgh. The unit was once again strong last season but cracks did show at times. Their pass defense was handled by Tom Brady, Drew Brees and even to an extent Joe Flacco. The secondary will be challenged early, as not only do the Steelers go on the road for three of their four, they also get to play Joe Flacco, Peyton Manning, and Matt Schaub in those games. The schedule lightens up after that, including the final quarter which isn't challenging at all. The Steelers have always been a good road team and I think they will be just fine in those first four. I am not nearly as high on Baltimore as others are, and the Colts are a huge question mark right now. The Steelers should capture another division crown and are once again legit Super Bowl contenders.
Prediction: 12-4
2. Baltimore Ravens
2010 Record: 12-4, 2nd place AFC North
Head Coach: John Harbaugh (4th season Baltimore, 36-19 career)
Key Additions: CB Jimmy Smith, WR Lee Evans, FB Vonta Leach, RB Ricky Williams
Key Losses: WR Derrick Mason, WR Donte Stallworth, WR TJ Houshmandzadeh, TE Todd Heap, RB Willis McGahee, RB Le'Ron McClain, OG Chris Chester, OT Jared Gaither, NT Kelly Gregg, CB Fabian Washington
2011 Outlook: The Ravens were quite busy during the abbreviated off-season. They decided to go younger on offense, jettisoning Derrick Mason, Donte Stallworth, TJ Housmandzadeh, Willis McGahee, Todd Heap, and Le'Ron McClain. The only one of those still significantly contributing was Derrick Mason and he is very old, so those were smart moves by Ozzie Newsome. The Ravens also did a nice job by trading for Lee Evans, making him their second wide receiver, and providing Anquan Boldin with a good complement. Flacco is a pretty good quarterback, who has been anointed by the media as a great quarterback for some reason. The Ravens brought in one of my favorite players, Ricky Williams to replace McGahee. However, the bulk of the carries will still go to the electrifying Ray Rice. Another media myth perpetuated about the Ravens is that their defense is still premier. They are still strong up front but their passing defense ranked just 21st in the NFL last season, and cost the Ravens dearly, especially against Pittsburgh in the playoffs. Josh Wilson and Dawan Landry are gone, so the Ravens are hoping some new blood, and the return of Dominique Foxworth will improve their secondary. I think the Ravens are trying to shuffle too many parts in too short of a time frame. I think this is a team that has reached their precipice and will start to slide back now.
Prediction: 9-7
3. Cleveland Browns
2010 Record: 5-11, 3rd place AFC North
Head Coach: Pat Shurmur (1st season Cleveland, 0-0 career)
Key Additions: DT Phil Taylor, WR Greg Little, RB Brandon Jackson, CB Dimitri Patterson
Key Losses: QB Jake Delhomme, CB Eric Wright, DT Shaun Rogers
2011 Outlook: Its the start of another new era in Cleveland, as the Eric Mangini era ended just as quickly as it started. He has been replaced by former Rams offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, the son of coordinator Fritz. He inherits a team that does have some rising stars. QB Colt McCoy showed some toughness and talent in his rookie year and has looked good thus far in the preseason. The Browns best player emerged to be RB Peyton Hillis. Hillis was incredibly physical and a dominating presence running the ball. He is hoping to prove the doubters wrong that he was a one year wonder, and also tries to avoid the Madden Curse. However, at wide receiver the Browns are still looking for talent. They drafted Greg Little out of North Carolina, and hope that Mohamed Massaquoi and Brian Robiskie continue to improve. Josh Cribbs is still there but with the change in the kickoffs rule, he becomes almost irrelevant. TE Ben Watson was the Browns best receiver last season and that will likely be the case this year as well. Defensively the Browns are a major question mark. Dick Jauron replaces Rex Ryan, and known defensive players Eric Wright and Shaun Rogers are also gone. The Browns drafted Phil Taylor and hope he can achieve instant success. The Browns biggest friend in 2011 will be their schedule. A soft schedule for most of the year could have the Browns in playoff contention. However, the way it ends seems to be a cruel joke. Four of their last five games are against the Ravens and the Steelers, ouch. I think the Browns are building towards something good and this year will be that first step.
Prediction: 7-9
4. Cincinnati Bengals
2010 Record: 4-12, last place AFC North
Head Coach: Marvin Lewis (9th season Cincinnati, 60-69-1 career)
Key Additions: WR A.J. Green, QB Andy Dalton, QB Bruce Gradkowski, OL Max Jean-Gilles, TE Bo Scaife, LB Manny Lawson, CB Nate Clements
Key Losses: QB Carson Palmer, WR Chad Ochocinco, WR Terrell Owens, S Roy Williams, DE Antwan Odom, CB Jonathan Joseph
2011 Outlook: This team is a mess. It used to be that they were a mess that was filled with stars and guys you at least wanted to watch. Now they are a mess and filled with guys who are unproven or unknown. Carson Palmer, Chad Ochocinco, and Terrell Owens are gone, replaced by Andy Dalton, Jerome Simpson, and A.J. Green. Green potentially could up end up at Owens or Ochocinco's level but for now, not much should be expected. RB Cedric Benson came back and hopefully 20 days in jail doesn't take too much out of him. Dalton will have to be mentally tough as he will likely take a beating this year. If he goes down to injury, journeyman Bruce Gradkowski can step in to replace him. Defensively, 49er busts Manny Lawson and Nate Clements join the team. The Bengals will miss Jonathan Joseph, as Clements is nowhere near the player he once was. The Bengals are such a sad, sorry franchise. I am feeling a lack of motivation in life just writing about them.
Prediction: 4-12
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