AFC North Preview

The Sports Guys have been on a blogging hiatus for most of the summer. Nothing like NFL Camps starting to pull us back in. It’s time to predict the upcoming NFL season. Yesterday we covered the AFC West. Today we’ll look at the AFC North. We will cover a different division each day this week and next.

AFC North

Division Winner: Baltimore Ravens (Andrew), Pittsburgh Steelers (Greg)

Division Cellar: Cleveland Browns (Andrew), Baltimore Ravens (Greg)

Other Playoff Teams: Cincinnati Bengals – Wildcard #2 (Andrew)

Andrew:                                            Greg:

1. Baltimore Ravens                       1. Pittsburgh Steelers

2. Cincinnati Bengals                      2. Cincinnati Bengals

3. Pittsburgh Steelers                     3. Cleveland Browns

4. Cleveland Browns                      4. Baltimore Ravens

Andrew – If the AFC West is the best division in the AFC, the North is the most balanced. This is the one division that I struggled picking a winner, but also picking the correct order of finish. The Ravens had a great offseason, which put them on top in my opinion, but the Bengals are still solid and the Steelers could return to form. The Browns also got a lot better, but the impending suspension of Josh Gordon will really hurt the offense.

Greg – This division reminds me of the NFC East from about five years ago.  All four teams are fairly solid, but none of them are really spectacular. They will beat up on each other, as they usually do, but the Steelers mix of young offensive and defensive talent will lead them back to the top of the division.

Preseason Division Awards

Offensive MVP: AJ Green (Cincinnati) or Le’Veon Bell (Pittsburgh) – Greg and Andrew are again in disagreement. Andrew thinks AJ Green is the best skill position player in this division easily. His production will get Cincy back into the playoffs. Greg thinks Bell will breakout as the workhorse in Pittsburgh. In fact, Greg thinks Bell will carry them to the division title.

Defensive MVP: Vontaze Burfict (Cincinnati) or Lardarius Webb (Baltimore) – In a division known or defense, there are a lot of intriguing options. Andrew likes Burfict, one of the league’s best tacklers. Greg likes Webb, who is one of the better cornerbacks in the league.

Rookies to Watch: Johnny Manziel (Cleveland), CJ Mosley (Baltimore), Ryan Shazier (Pittsburgh), Jeremy Hill (Cincinnati)

Free Agents to Watch: Steve Smith (Baltimore), Ben Tate (Cleveland), Miles Austin (Cleveland), LeGarrette Blount (Pittsburgh)

By: The Sports Guys