AFC North predictions: Where will the Steelers finish this year?

The AFC North looks to be a very competitive division in 2021. Could the Pittsburgh Steelers rise above their opponents this season?

The AFC North should be a close division that will crown a winner towards the end of the season. The top three teams in this group could all win the division based on how they perform against each other during their bi-annual matchups. The Steelers, Ravens, and Browns are all expected to come back with solid seasons after each one of them made the playoffs in 2020.

The offseason saw some changeover for these teams and the Bengals are still an up-and-coming club. They are young and will give their division foes issues when they play them. Each team had its schedules dissected and predicted. That is what led to each one of them having their records out of this prediction. This will be a tough year with the AFC North’s division of schedule difficulty during the 2021 campaign.

Fourth place: Cincinnati Bengals, 6-11 (1-5 division record)

The Cincinnati Bengals are getting Joe Burrow back and that will make them an instant underdog threat every week against their opponents. The issue with them is the offensive line is still having major question marks and their defense is suspect as well. It seems like this squad is still another couple of years from emerging out of the rebuilding phase. They are in a good position now to stay competitive in competition and potentially shocking a team or two. As long as Burrow stays healthy, this team should win another game or two when compared to last season. They have a great young core of talented offensive playmakers but that line protecting their franchise is going to cost them many games. Their defense has some solid promising cornerstone pieces but they still need work going forward.