According to the bettors at Sportsbook.com, the AFC North is the strongest division in the NFL. The North is the only division in the AFC that has had a different winner each of the last three seasons. Behind their usual dominant defense, the Ravens have the inside track to win their second straight North title. After an 11 win regular season in 2005, the Bengals only managed 8 wins a year ago. With as much offensive talent as any team in the NFL, the key to the Bengals returning to the playoffs lies in their players staying out of trouble with the law and improving on defense. After winning Super Bowl XL, not a lot went right last season for the Steelers. However, they still managed 8 wins and have too much talent to be counted out. The Browns had an outstanding draft and made a big step to secure a successful future but they are still a couple years from competing most likely.
1. Baltimore Ravens
Even though everyone thinks defense first in Baltimore, the offense isn?t looking too shabby. In his first year as Ravens? quarterback, Steve McNair wasn?t spectacular but was very solid. More importantly, he started all16 games and his completion percentage improved every month. The running game has been upgraded in a big way with the addition of Willis McGahee. McGahee showed flashes in his tenure in Buffalo but has yet to live up to his immense potential. The receiving unit has an improving talent who could be ready for a breakout season in Mark Clayton. Complimenting Clayton will be McNair?s old friend Derrick Mason and tight end Todd Heap. Despite losing linebacker Adalius Thomas, the defense should be as wicked as ever. The defensive line is led by
DE Trevor Pryce but the rising star of the group is second year DT Haloti Ngata. To the rest of the AFC North?s dismay, LB Ray Lewis had an outstanding year after a couple down years. At OLB Terrell Suggs is an elite pass rushing force who averages 10 sacks a season. In Ed Reed, Dawan Landry, Chris McAlister and Samari Rolle the Ravens have the NFL?s best secondary. Coming off a 13 win season, there is no reason to think the Ravens can?t win the North again assuming key aging veterans continue to produce at a high level.
2. Cincinnati Bengals
The 2005 Bengals were at times spectacular but the end result was a disappointing 8-8 season. Carson Palmer has quickly become one of the games best passers and big things are expected yet again. Despite missing out on his off season training regimen, Palmer passed for 4035 yards and 28 touchdowns. Don?t be surprised if those numbers even increase this season. Combining for 2450 yards, 177 receptions and 16 scores, Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh are as talented as any duo in the league. Unfortunately, Palmer will not have the game?s most talented third receiver, Chris Henry, at his disposal since he will be serving an eight game suspension due to chronic issues with the Law. The running game will once again be led by the hard running Rudi Johnson. The workhorse put up very impressive numbers again last season but his yards per carry average was down .5 yards from the previous season. Obviously the Bengals are sorted out on the offensive side of the ball; the defense, on the other hand, is kind of a mystery. Last season they ranked 30th in the NFL in yardage surrendered (355.1) and 17th in points allowed (20.7). There is some decent talent on the Bengals defense, including one of the better defensive end tandems in the NFL, Justin Smith and Robert Geathers. Brian Simmons will no longer be anchoring the linebacking unit; taking his place Ahmad Brooks and his loads of potential. The secondary is led by the effective safety tandem of Madieu Williams and Dexter Jackson. Cornerback Deltha O?Neal took a huge step back last season and could be pushed by rookie Leon Hall. In order for the Bengals to oust the Ravens a top of the North, the defense will need to play at an above average level at the very least.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers
Coming off a season where they went 8-8, it is hard to figure out what to expect from the Steelers this season. The fact remains, very little went right last season yet they still finished at the .500 mark and they have plenty of talent on both sides of the ball. With and uneventful off-season, Ben Roethlisberger is primed for a big season. ?Big Ben? has a very capable trio he will be throwing to. Veteran Hines Ward began to show some signs of slowing last season but is still a very effective target. WR Santonio Holmes came on strong late in the season and don?t be surprised if he puts up bigger numbers than Ward. TE Heath Miller had 5 scores and should have an increased role this season as well. RB Willie Parker ran for 1494 yards and 13 scores last season and is a threat to go score every time he touches the ball. The defensive line doesn?t put up huge numbers but they are the key to the Steelers 3-4 defense. NT Casey Hampton is a dominant run stopper while DE Aaron Smith is extremely underrated. It appears as if rookie LaMarr Woodley will fill the shoes of Joey Porter whose play dropped off last season and was subsequently released. Veterans Larry Foote, Clark Haggans and James Farrior also return so the LB unit should be rock solid. The secondary is once again headed by the hard hitting Troy Polamalu. Corner Ike Taylor struggled last season after signing a huge contract. If he can return to his 2005 form, it would give the secondary and defense a huge boost.
4. Cleveland Browns
If the Browns expect to get out of the cellar they will need to put more than 14.9 points on the board and 264.6 yards. Brady Quinn has been stellar during the preseason and it will be hard to keep him on the bench very long. Whoever steers the ship will have a couple young and talented targets to throw to in TE Kellen Winslow Jr. and WR Braylon Edwards. Finally healthy, Winslow proved he was the real thing last season en route to 89 catches and 875 yards. Jamal Lewis was signed during the off-season and although his better years are behind him, he shouldn?t have a problem improving the Browns? stagnant running game from last season. The defensive line should get a bit of a boost with the acquisition of DE Robaire Smith but in the end of the day they are an average unit. The LB unit is nothing to write home about either but they appear to have a good one in Kamerion Wimbley who registered 11 sacks last year. At the draft this past April, the Browns did a ton to secure a successful future but they are still probably a couple years away from doing any significant damage in the top heavy North.
Sportsbook.com AFC North Odds:
Odds to win the North:
Ravens 3-2
Bengals 3-2
Steelers 2-1
Browns 13-1
Odds to win the AFC:
Ravens 8-1
Bengals 10-1
Steelers 13-1
Browns 100-1
Odds to win the Super Bowl:
Ravens 12-1
Bengals 18-1
Steelers 25-1
Browns 200-1
1. Baltimore Ravens
Even though everyone thinks defense first in Baltimore, the offense isn?t looking too shabby. In his first year as Ravens? quarterback, Steve McNair wasn?t spectacular but was very solid. More importantly, he started all16 games and his completion percentage improved every month. The running game has been upgraded in a big way with the addition of Willis McGahee. McGahee showed flashes in his tenure in Buffalo but has yet to live up to his immense potential. The receiving unit has an improving talent who could be ready for a breakout season in Mark Clayton. Complimenting Clayton will be McNair?s old friend Derrick Mason and tight end Todd Heap. Despite losing linebacker Adalius Thomas, the defense should be as wicked as ever. The defensive line is led by
DE Trevor Pryce but the rising star of the group is second year DT Haloti Ngata. To the rest of the AFC North?s dismay, LB Ray Lewis had an outstanding year after a couple down years. At OLB Terrell Suggs is an elite pass rushing force who averages 10 sacks a season. In Ed Reed, Dawan Landry, Chris McAlister and Samari Rolle the Ravens have the NFL?s best secondary. Coming off a 13 win season, there is no reason to think the Ravens can?t win the North again assuming key aging veterans continue to produce at a high level.
2. Cincinnati Bengals
The 2005 Bengals were at times spectacular but the end result was a disappointing 8-8 season. Carson Palmer has quickly become one of the games best passers and big things are expected yet again. Despite missing out on his off season training regimen, Palmer passed for 4035 yards and 28 touchdowns. Don?t be surprised if those numbers even increase this season. Combining for 2450 yards, 177 receptions and 16 scores, Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh are as talented as any duo in the league. Unfortunately, Palmer will not have the game?s most talented third receiver, Chris Henry, at his disposal since he will be serving an eight game suspension due to chronic issues with the Law. The running game will once again be led by the hard running Rudi Johnson. The workhorse put up very impressive numbers again last season but his yards per carry average was down .5 yards from the previous season. Obviously the Bengals are sorted out on the offensive side of the ball; the defense, on the other hand, is kind of a mystery. Last season they ranked 30th in the NFL in yardage surrendered (355.1) and 17th in points allowed (20.7). There is some decent talent on the Bengals defense, including one of the better defensive end tandems in the NFL, Justin Smith and Robert Geathers. Brian Simmons will no longer be anchoring the linebacking unit; taking his place Ahmad Brooks and his loads of potential. The secondary is led by the effective safety tandem of Madieu Williams and Dexter Jackson. Cornerback Deltha O?Neal took a huge step back last season and could be pushed by rookie Leon Hall. In order for the Bengals to oust the Ravens a top of the North, the defense will need to play at an above average level at the very least.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers
Coming off a season where they went 8-8, it is hard to figure out what to expect from the Steelers this season. The fact remains, very little went right last season yet they still finished at the .500 mark and they have plenty of talent on both sides of the ball. With and uneventful off-season, Ben Roethlisberger is primed for a big season. ?Big Ben? has a very capable trio he will be throwing to. Veteran Hines Ward began to show some signs of slowing last season but is still a very effective target. WR Santonio Holmes came on strong late in the season and don?t be surprised if he puts up bigger numbers than Ward. TE Heath Miller had 5 scores and should have an increased role this season as well. RB Willie Parker ran for 1494 yards and 13 scores last season and is a threat to go score every time he touches the ball. The defensive line doesn?t put up huge numbers but they are the key to the Steelers 3-4 defense. NT Casey Hampton is a dominant run stopper while DE Aaron Smith is extremely underrated. It appears as if rookie LaMarr Woodley will fill the shoes of Joey Porter whose play dropped off last season and was subsequently released. Veterans Larry Foote, Clark Haggans and James Farrior also return so the LB unit should be rock solid. The secondary is once again headed by the hard hitting Troy Polamalu. Corner Ike Taylor struggled last season after signing a huge contract. If he can return to his 2005 form, it would give the secondary and defense a huge boost.
4. Cleveland Browns
If the Browns expect to get out of the cellar they will need to put more than 14.9 points on the board and 264.6 yards. Brady Quinn has been stellar during the preseason and it will be hard to keep him on the bench very long. Whoever steers the ship will have a couple young and talented targets to throw to in TE Kellen Winslow Jr. and WR Braylon Edwards. Finally healthy, Winslow proved he was the real thing last season en route to 89 catches and 875 yards. Jamal Lewis was signed during the off-season and although his better years are behind him, he shouldn?t have a problem improving the Browns? stagnant running game from last season. The defensive line should get a bit of a boost with the acquisition of DE Robaire Smith but in the end of the day they are an average unit. The LB unit is nothing to write home about either but they appear to have a good one in Kamerion Wimbley who registered 11 sacks last year. At the draft this past April, the Browns did a ton to secure a successful future but they are still probably a couple years away from doing any significant damage in the top heavy North.
Sportsbook.com AFC North Odds:
Odds to win the North:
Ravens 3-2
Bengals 3-2
Steelers 2-1
Browns 13-1
Odds to win the AFC:
Ravens 8-1
Bengals 10-1
Steelers 13-1
Browns 100-1
Odds to win the Super Bowl:
Ravens 12-1
Bengals 18-1
Steelers 25-1
Browns 200-1
