2018 AFC North Preview

We're 10 days away from the start of the NFL season, which means it's time for me to start looking into what I think will happen in the upcoming year!

I've plugged this a little bit already as the summer winds down, but the annual Pigskin Pick 'Em contest is back for its seventh year, and for the fifth year in a row Adam Quinn and I will present our picks every Thursday of the season. It's a project I'm once again looking forward to.

But in the meantime, I'm going to go through every team over the next eight weekdays and make my predictions. As usual, I will go division by division, alternating conferences until I end with the division holding the defending champion. The way I originally scheduled this had my home division predictions going up on Labor Day, and because I'd like to have a little more chance for web traffic, I'm opting to start in the north, and since an NFC team is champion, that means we start this series with the AFC North.

2018 NFL Divisional Preview

Twelve teams entered, and now only eight remain in the hunt for the Lombardi Trophy. I've missed out on a quest to hit 11-0 against the spread and straight up. Clearly this is my punishment for correctly guessing the score of Super Bowl XLIII.

I did a decent job picking in the Wild Card round, getting three of the four winners, though underdogs ruled the day in terms of the point spread, leaving me 2-2 in that regard. We'll see what ends up happening this time, as historically the bye favors the home teams to the tune of a nearly 3 in 4 chance of advancing to the conference championship round.

So without further ado, let's look at the matchups for this weekend.

2017 AFC North Preview

The NFL preview circuit rolls on as we swap conferences, but stay in the north!

I'm hitting up every division over the next several weekdays, with Saturday and Sunday off, even though Monday is Labor Day and a holiday because that's just how the timing works out.

This is also shameless plug time, as Adam Quinn and I will be picking games against the spread once again this season. If you would like to join us and try to beat us, you can do so here.

On to the previews.

2017 NFL Conference Championship Preview

We're down to the final four, and elite quarterbacks are the story in the NFL Playoffs.

It's conference championship weekend, and I'm trying to repress memories of what happened the last time my Packers made it this far. Fortunately, it's a different opponent and a different year, where anything can happen. On the other side, a pair of quarterbacks who have run this rodeo before return, as the two of them combined with the recently retired Peyton Manning have been to all but one of the last like 15 Super Bowls. For a league that claims to be all about parity, the AFC seems to run counter to that.

So without further ado, let's look at the two games coming up on Sunday.

2017 NFL Divisional Preview

We're fast approaching another weekend, and the NFL playoffs are in full swing. Just eight teams remain in the quest for the Lombardi Trophy, and the four best teams from this past season are back in action this weekend.

All in all, last weekend was relatively uneventful unless you're one of the idiots who's blowing the whole Giants-On-The-Boat thing out of proportion. Them spending the off day with their families back home or whatever probably wouldn't have changed their defense getting torched by Aaron Rodgers in the final 35 minutes of the game.

So with that out of the way, let's take a look at the four games on tap this weekend.

2017 NFL Wild Card Preview

For some reason, I've been getting a ton of hits lately on my 2015 Wild Card post. I guess I hit the sweet spot on SEO-related stuff without even meaning to, because most of those hits have come in the past few months. Whatever the case, we're onto the playoffs for the 2016 season, and I need to get a new post up.

In years past, I have also done an awards post, but I opted to skip that this year given the timing of everything and my lack of really paying super close attention to the NFL this year (contrary to my finally getting a winning record in the Pigskin Pick 'Em this season). But this is something I can't pass up.

12 teams have survived the past four months, and it's time to take a look at the road to Houston for Super Bowl LI.

2016 AFC North Preview

Welcome to September! We are officially a week away from the start of football season, and as such, I have more work to get to.

I'm going division by division predicting records for all 32 NFL teams, and I'm one division in. Today, I swap conferences and go to the AFC North.

With a week to go, you still have time if you want to join in on an NFL contest as Adam Quinn and I pick NFL game against the spread. If you think you can beat us, which isn't super difficult given how the last two years have gone, you can join our ESPN group here.

Let's get to the preview.

2015 AFC North Preview

It's Day 6 of going through the National Football League, division by division, and previewing the upcoming season. We're just a few days away now from the official start while the college season kicks into high gear today. I'll have more on the college game early this coming week once the NFL previews are complete.

If you want to read up on more details regarding the 2015 NFL season, my colleagues over at UKEndZone are running a series of previews going division by division as I am, and they're all brilliant football minds. If you want to try your hand at being a brilliant football mind, you can join myself, Adam Quinn, my dad, and Grabbing the Bull Horns blogger Geoffrey Clark in picking NFL games against the spread through ESPN's Pigskin Pick 'Em.

With that said, let's get to today's preview.

AFC North

Common opponents on schedule: AFC West, NFC West

1. Baltimore Ravens
2014: 10-6 (3rd), lost in AFC Divisional Game
A physical team and one who is always in the mix come December and January will be back atop the division this year. Joe Flacco lost one of his top weapons in Torrey Smith, but now that the whole Ray Rice fiasco is behind the team (I think), they can focus on the field. Justin Forsett will be a solid #1 back, and Steve Smith is still around to be a thorn in defenses' sides and stick up for his teammates when opponents are being thugs. Defensively, losing Haloti Ngata hurts a little bit, but their defense is still solid front to back. Terrell Suggs is still there, and brings an intimidating presence to lead the unit. It's going to be a dogfight, but I like the Ravens' chances to win the division.
2015 Prediction: 10-6

2. Pittsburgh Steelers
2014: 11-5 (1st), lost in AFC Wild Card Game
It's going to be weird watching the Steelers play without Troy Polamalu in the defensive backfield after he retired during the offseason. It's a bit of a blow to the defense, but this is still a solid unit, though not quite as good as Baltimore's in my opinion. They balance that out though with the best offense in the division. Le'Veon Bell will sit out the first two games of the season due to a suspension, but when he comes back he'll have DeAngelo Williams to complement him, making for a pretty fearsome rushing attack. Ben Roethlisberger, meanwhile, remains one of the best quarterbacks in the league, and he has an elite #1 receiver in Antonio Brown. They'll score some points and be right in the mix, but I'm thinking they just miss out on a second straight division title.
2015 Prediction: 10-6, Wild Card

3. Cincinnati Bengals
2014: 10-5-1 (2nd), lost in AFC Wild Card Game
The league has pretty much figured out the Bengals at this point: solid in the regular season, but will disappear in the playoffs. I still question Andy Dalton's big money contract, as he's a decent quarterback, but not a great one. A.J. Green has slowed down from his rookie year, and other than the Geo Bernard/Jeremy Hill tandem in the backfield, there's not much here offensively. The defense, however, is really good, with a solid front four and strong linebacking corps. Even the secondary isn't bad. I just think Dalton will make a few too many mistakes and just barely keep the Bengals out of the postseason, which probably means the end of the Marvin Lewis Era.
2015 Prediction: 9-7

4. Cleveland Browns
2014: 7-9 (4th), missed playoffs
Dwyane Bowe has left quarterback purgatory and comes to... quarterback hell. Josh McCown is nothing more than a journeyman backup to keep the seat warm for Johnny Manziel, who I continue to think is overrated. I'm not sold on their running game led by Isaiah Crowell either, though the offensive line is solid. This defense is pretty good though, with a really good 1-2 punch at cornerback with Joe Haden and Tramon Williams as well as a linebacking corps that can do some damage. Problem is, in this division, they aren't going to be able to keep up. It will be a long year in Cleveland.
2015 Prediction: 5-11

We have just two more divisions left. Tomorrow I will take a peek at the media darling NFC East.

AFC North Preview

Slowly but surely, we've been working our way around the country. Half the league is done, and we have yet to come across any wild cards. Playing the odds, you'll probably see one today, right? Read on to find out.

Because I have no shame, I'd like to once again invite you readers to join in on picking games against the spread with me. ESPN's Pigskin Pick 'Em is free, and you can join the COAS group to see how well you can do picking games against me. After all, I can be an idiot sometimes.

But for now, let's get to today's preview. Today, we take a look at the AFC North.

Common opponents on schedule: AFC South, NFC South

1. Cincinnati Bengals
2013: 11-5 (1st), lost in AFC Wild Card Round
While I think he's a good quarterback, I don't understand why the Bengals gave Andy Dalton a 9 figure deal. He leads a good offense though; there's a solid two-pronged rushing attack of Giovani Bernard and the Law Firm, and AJ Green is a legitimate #1 receiver. On defense, the front seven is solid, and while I'm not as high on the secondary as I am that front unit, they allowed the fifth-fewest passing yards in the league last year. That has to count for something. They're good enough to make the playoffs again. I'm just not sold on what happens when they get there.
2014 Prediction: 10-6

2. Baltimore Ravens
2013: 8-8 (T-2nd), missed playoffs
The Ravens are one of 15 defending Super Bowl champs to miss the playoffs in their title defense year. A down year offensively didn't help (the Ravens were 18th in passing and 30th in rushing last year), and missing Ray Rice for the first two games for being a horrible fiancé during the offseason hurts them too (it should hurt them more than just two games, but that's another story). Joe Flacco gets another weapon this year in Steve Smith, which should help the passing game somewhat. The wheels didn't fall off too bad on defense last year either, and the unit they have isn't too shabby. Drafting CJ Mosley out of Alabama was a good pick in the first, and if he can live up to the standard of Ray Lewis, the Ravens should be in the hunt again this year.
2014 Prediction: 9-7, Wild Card

3. Cleveland Browns
2013: 4-12 (4th), missed playoffs
Call me crazy, but this defense should be good. Joe Haden is like Nnamdi Asomugha was during his Oakland days, and adding Justin Gilbert to play opposite him makes for a pretty darn good corner tandem. It's the offense that gives me pause. Miles Austin is pretty much the #1 receiver by default since Josh Gordon is done for the year due to suspension. The running game isn't good unless Ben Tate turns into a sleeper, and I'm not sure what to make at quarterback. Brian Hoyer was decent for stretches last year, but if he struggles, Johnny Manziel waits in the wings. (Honestly, I think he's overrated. Will probably become an average starter someday, but not this year).
2014 Prediction: 6-10

4. Pittsburgh Steelers
2013: 8-8 (T-2nd), missed playoffs
This is probably the biggest "Huh?" that I'm calling for this season., but I think the recent news about top two running backs LeGarrette Blount and Le'veon Bell facing possible suspensions really hurts. Even with Big Ben leading the offense, I'm not sold on their receivers either. There are some interesting names on defense, like first round pick Ryan Shazier, but Troy Polamalu isn't getting any younger. This might be a stretch, but I have a hunch it's going to be a down year for the black and gold.
2014 Prediction: 5-11

There's one wild card, which means the other is coming from the AFC West. If you're looking for a football fix tomorrow before the college games start, I can oblige, especially for my local readers. The NFC North predictions will be up tomorrow! Will they be able to sneak two teams into the playoffs? Check back in the morning and find out!