NFL
By: Greg Rector
Here’s how I see the AFC North division shaping up for this upcoming season. This division is simply loaded with talent and it won’t be easy for the Cincinnati Bengals to repeat or will it?
Cincinnati Bengals
As our Bengals writer Jalen Willingham already stated in his preview article for Cincinnati this team had an excellent off-season in the draft and free agency. Now as long as Joe Burrow can remain healthy and I believe his call for a 12-5 season is correct I believe the Bengals will indeed repeat as the AFC North champions.
Joe Burrow is walking around at practice today for the first time since his injury. 💪 #Bengals pic.twitter.com/IBkeB4Og6r
— Cincinnati 💔 (@CincyProblems) August 9, 2023
That’s Joe Burrow walking around at practice yesterday. He will be ready to go for week one in my opinion. As long as the new O-line led by Orlando Brown does protect him the Bengals offense is loaded. The defense is led by Trey Hendrickson and he is simply not given enough respect for his abilities.
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens of course went through their off-season dealing with Lamar Jackson and his contract. They got the deal done and next up was signing Odell Beckham Jr to give Jackson a legitimate target in the receiving game. I am uncertain of the running back situation for the Ravens but under a new offensive coordinator in Todd Monken, they should be just fine. The offensive line will need to keep Lamar Jackson healthy and that’s why I simply don’t know where this team is really headed in the 2023 NFL season.
Roquan Smith’s Bold Statement on the Ravens Offense
“Every week, they’ve gotten better and better. There are some things that I’m just like, ‘Wow. This is going to get a lot of people.’
“I think I’m a pretty smart ball player, and I’ve gotten ‘got’ a couple times with some of… pic.twitter.com/1b6C6bH3LF
— Sarah Ellison (@sgellison) August 11, 2023
The Ravens’ defense will be what we can expect from them as in the last several seasons. A tough group to deal with and they will fight everyone for control over the AFC North. It’s going to be a tough season as always in their own division and if the defense can turn the ball over more than they did last season then Lamar Jackson and the offense can do their thing. more often.
Pittsburgh Steelers
What else can you say about Mike Tomlin and his ability to get the most out of his team than we saw them do last year? Despite the calls for Matt Canada to be fired as the offensive coordinator Tomlin held his ground and didn’t fire him. You see the Steelers were really much better down the stretch last season by going 5-0 and making the playoffs.
My question mark is still going to be the pay from Kenny Pickett. If Pickett can continue to grow and he finds George Pickens his second season will be made easier. Pat Freierumuth is also joined by Darnell Washington at the tight end spot and he has been lighting things up in training camp.
I loved the draft for the Steelers as they grabbed Keeanu Benton who will be the new NT for the 3-4 defense. The secondary will be all new players as they used free agency to get over the losses they had. Add in Joey Porter Jr and I am confident that the Steelers addressed what should have been a weakness will be just fine.
https://twitter.com/Luciow1992/status/1690041027980144657?s=20
TJ Watt must stay healthy and if he does stay healthy this Steelers team will be just fine. His absence last season was so noticeable and when the dominating linebacker returned so did the Steelers. They will make noise in the AFC North.
Cleveland Browns
As I wrote about in my Cleveland Browns preview I really don’t know what we will see from Deshaun Watson as he gets ready for his first full season of football in three years. Based upon what I and all of us have seen from the Browns over the tenure of Kevin Stefanski they continue to shoot themselves in the foot time and again. How the Browns play their division will matter most and they open their season against the AFC North champions in the Bengals.
🔥🔥🔥🔥 Straight heat🔥🔥🔥 BROWNS ARE BACK. Never seen a quarterback laser the ball right to a defender like Deshaun Watson. Definitely a skill that can’t be taught #DawgPound pic.twitter.com/QgjGoy28oN
— Inshallah (@BosshogAZ) August 9, 2023
If Watson can return to his old form then fine my 7-10 mark for this season will be moot. I just want to see the Cleveland Browns play the way their talent implies. Until I see both sides of the ball being played properly I can’t give the Browns much of a shot to win the AFC North.
My Divison Outlook
I have the Cincinnati Bengals winning the AFC North and then the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens both going 10-7 with the Cleveland Browns being that 7-10 roster. I might be wrong and if so I am prepared for any that to happen. Whoever wins the AFC North division will be battle tested and will be ready for the playoffs.
