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.


AFC North

Common opponents on schedule: AFC South, NFC North

1. Pittsburgh Steelers
2016: 11-5 (1st), lost in AFC Championship Game

Le'Veon Bell has not been at camp, but is expected to be with the Steelers in time for the start of the season. His conditioning may be in question, but he'll be healthy if nothing else as part of the three headed monster on offense with Antonio Brown and Ben Roethlisberger. Their defense wasn't bad last year, but that's all they really need with that firepower. Given their schedule as well, they should be more than okay.
2017 Prediction: 11-5

2. Cincinnati Bengals
2016: 6-9-1 (3rd), missed playoffs

I don't know what to make of the 2016 Bengals. Their defense was pretty good, albeit somewhat susceptible to the run, but their offense was eh. It's not like Andy Dalton is a slouch, and he's still got AJ Green to throw to and some decent running backs. The biggest problem is that their defense is filled with problem players. Pacman Jones will miss the opener, and most likely so will the thug Vontaze Burfict for yet another dirty hit, though whether it was actually illegal is up for debate. If these guys can keep their heads on straight it will probably help the defense out, which will put less pressure on Dalton and the offense, but I don't think it'll be enough in the long run.
2017 Prediction: 9-7

3. Baltimore Ravens
2016: 8-8 (2nd), missed playoffs

Joe Flacco is supposedly going to be ready for the opener, for all the good it does. He's a good quarterback, but he has yet to really replicate his play from their Super Bowl run that was now four years ago. The defense still has some fearsome names, but I'm not sold on Flacco's weapons even if he is healthy. Jeremy Maclin and Mike Wallace would be a good 1-2 punch if this were a couple years ago, and when Lorenzo Taliaferro is listed as your top running back... have fun, guys.
2017 Prediction: 8-8

4. Cleveland Browns
2016: 1-15 (4th), missed playoffs

Rookie Deshone Kizer gets thrown immediately into the fire that is playing quarterback for the Browns. Isaiah Crowell isn't awful, but when Kenny Britt is your #1 wideout, you're probably not going to have a good time. There are some interesting pieces on defense though, like Myles Garrett and Jabrill Peppers, but at the end of the day, it's still the Browns. They'll get more than one win to top last year, but that's about it.
2017 Prediction: 2-14