The AFC North is a tougher division than it was a year ago and the Steelers will find it challenging.
The AFC North has been one of the toughest divisions to play in since the group of teams was formed together. It has always been the definition of a club and how their season shakes out by the way the specific team performs against the division rivals. It has always led to some of the greatest teams battle with each other.
The 2021 season saw the young Cincinnati Bengals make a statement and win the division with little pushback. It also saw them make it the whole way to the Super Bowl, which put the league on notice. It is going to be tough for them to repeat their success from last year with the quality of clubs in the division.
The Cleveland Browns have been hard at work and could have a huge upgrade on the field at quarterback. The Pittsburgh Steelers also added to their roster by bringing in some youth and talent into the building. The Baltimore Ravens will be stronger than ever with the players they have returning from injury and the other talents that they have acquired as well.
The Cleveland Browns will finish last with a record of 6-11
The Cleveland Browns pulled off the unthinkable and acquired a franchise talent at the quarterback position. The biggest issue is that Deshaun Watson carries a giant red flag along with him. He is currently solving civil suits against him for sexual misconduct, which could mean that he will not play.
This article will only delve into his impact on the field and that could change the prediction for the Browns record. If Watson plays, they will probably add another three wins or more onto their total. They have a talented team, but this division is so good that it will be tough to overcome each week. If Watson does not play, their record could look worse than this.
Steelers hold onto third place with a record prediction of 9-8
The Steelers getting to a 9-8 record might be one that fans will have mixed emotions about. It would keep them in the playoff hunt for most of the year, but it would also show not much improvement from last season. This is a young team that is in some sort of transition period, so do not expect a Super Bowl this year.
The play at quarterback is the biggest question mark on this team right now. Pittsburgh has grown accustomed to great quarterback play with Ben Roethlisberger over the years, but that is gone now. There is no more comfort at the position and one of these other guys will need to step up for this club to get a better record and into the playoffs.
There are other concerns across this roster that will need to be answered for this group to get to where they want to go. Cornerback has two guys that are not proven to be true number one options at their spot. The Steelers defensive line should bounce back from last season, but there are no guarantees there either.
Mike Tomlin is still one of the best Head Coaches in the NFL because he knows how to connect and motivate his players. That allows him to keep his team steady throughout the ups and downs of the crazy schedule. This team is good enough to win more games than most experts believe.
Bengals take a step back but make the playoffs with a record of 10-7
The Cincinnati Bengals were the shocking team to emerge in the NFL last season. They rode a nice conclusion to the season that got them to the Super Bowl. They did lose the big game, but it proved to the NFL that they should be in contention for a while.
They won the AFC North last season after posting a 4-2 record in division play. That saw them beat the Steelers pretty easily in both contests, which many fans do not like to recount. Their solid record against the AFC North helped them win the division and get ready for a deep playoff push.
It was a coming out party for the young team that really put things together as the year went on. Joe Burrow proved that he was everything that he was billed as entering the draft. The other weapons on offense also proved that they could compete with some of the league’s best throughout the playoffs.
A target is now on the Bengals backs and that will cause issues. The Super Bowl hangover could still hit this young team even though they lost. This should still be a playoff contender despite them not taking the division in this prediction with all of the quality players that call the north home.
Ravens propel themselves into the top spot of the division with a record of 11-6
Baltimore is one of the most consistent teams from a competitive aspect among these clubs in the division. The Steelers are probably the only other franchise that has been more consistent when you look at win-loss totals in recent history. Baltimore should be on their way to winning another division title in 2022.
Many fans that cheer on the Steelers will hate this idea of one of their most hated rivals getting another throne for the AFC North. It could very well happen after the Ravens struggled in 2021 as they dealt with many different issues. The biggest problem for them was the number of injuries that piled up for them rather quickly and early on.
That put them behind the eight ball and the biggest issue was the play of Lamar Jackson at quarterback. He seemed to be dealing with injuries of his own and that created a stale offense that could not carry them. This is an improved roster after a successful offseason of solid additions.
This team is still not perfect and presents its own flaws that will cause them to lose. They are an experienced team that will have impact starters back and, in the fold, as healthy contributors. That will pay dividends and get them back into the playoffs as division winners.
The Ravens get back to winning the AFC North after a year of injuries hampered them. The Steelers have too many question marks to win the division but they should stay competitive.