Now, this will be an intriguing division. There could be a changing of the guard at the top for the first time in a while. The Steelers and Ravens have owned this division for almost 20 years. Now, there could be a new sheriff in town.

AFC North

Steelers

Can Ben Lead the Steelers Back to the Playoffs?

The Steelers missed the playoffs for the first time in a while in 2018. The dissention among the team with the Le’Veon Bell hold out and the Antonio Brown late season antics cratered this talented team to return to a potential Super Bowl. Changes were needed and they took place.

  • Coaches: Mike Tomlin was not fired, much to my surprise, but I would have to think he needs a successful season to stay employed. He is the 3rd longest tenured coach in the league after Belichick and Sean Payton in New Orleans. He maintains Randy Fichtner as the OC, so the offense will be similar with balance and allowing Big Ben to chuck it. Keith Butler returns as DC, but that is the difference in these Steeler teams the past couple seasons, the Defense has been suspect. Butler needs to get more out of his LB corps.
  • Key Departures: Which was bigger, well, I guess WR Antonio Brown (Oakland) was bigger given that the other guy didn’t play last year. AB has been a stud for fantasy owners, but his antics both on and off the field have divided the Steelers locker room. I actually think the offense could improve without him from 2018 to 2019. RB Le’Veon Bell held out the entire year to prove a point, and I guess it worked in some ways signing a big contract with the Jets. However, he lost a prime earning year. James Connor stepped up really well in his absence last year, and he will get the full load barring injury.
  • Key Additions: The Steelers signed WR Donte Moncrief to help fill the Brown absence. He can be a good red zone threat. On defense, they signed LB Mark Barron to try to stop the run this year.
  • Draft: The Steelers went for playmaking LB Devin Bush (Michigan) at 10th overall in the search to fill Shazier’s shoes. He can be a great rush linebacker, but his size may not be good against the run. They also added 2 guys in the 3rd round that could help – Diontae Johnson, WR, Toledo – who may be an attempt to get the next AB and CB Justin Layne (Michigan State) – the Steelers’ secondary was rough last year. I usually only go 3 rounds, but RB Benny Snell from Kentucky could get some run – selected in the 4th round.
  • Final Analysis: I believe the Steelers will get better via addition by subtraction by removing the 2 guys who were huge distractions last year. They have upgraded the LB corps a bit, which was needed. I still think they will struggle in coverage, but for all of those reasons, I think they win the hotly contested division in 2019.

Browns

Can Baker Make OBJ Happy and Still Win?

The media darling, Cleveland Browns, made a great run late in the 2018 season after finally firing Head Coach Hue Jackson and OC Todd Haley mid-season. The focus on the running game and no nonsense took Cleveland to a near playoff berth.

  • Coaches: Interim, now full Head Coach Freddie Kitchens is at the helm of what now appears to be as talented a team in the AFC as anyone. Kitchens has not been a head coach at any level, so managing these egos could be a challenge. Kitchens played to QB Baker Mayfield’s strengths last year, so I would expect more of the same from him and OC Todd Monken. Run to set up the pass and quick decision making of Baker. On defense, this unit is getting really good. DC is now Steve Wilkes after his one year stint in AZ has Head Coach. Wilkes was a successful DC in Carolina with strong front 4 pressure and great linebacking. I’m not sure he has the same mix of talent, but DE Myles Garrett is as good as it gets outside with some new additions that should make them even more menacing.
  • Key Additions: Huge signings and trades for this team this spring – WR Odell Beckham and DE Olivier Vernon come over from the Giants. Plus, they added DT Sheldon Richardson who bounced a bit since being drafted by the Jets, but he is a force in the middle. Another lesser addition from last year was RB Kareem Hunt who will start off serving an 8 game suspension.
  • Key Departures: The changes on defense led to S Jabrill Peppers to go to the Giants and LB Jamie Collins to be outright cut. QB Tyrod Taylor was not re-signed. OG Kevin Zeitler was also traded with Peppers to the Giants.
  • Draft: The Browns did not have a 1st round pick, so their first selection in the 2nd round was CB Greedy Williams (LSU) who is a long athletic guy. They also added a guy with a cool name – Sione Takitaki, LB, BYU in the 3rd round.
  • Final Analysis: The Browns were close to the playoffs last year. They have upgraded talent at WR, DE and DT. QB Baker Mayfield seems to be the real deal. I think people aren’t talking enough about the defense. So, they are going to make the playoffs. Can they win the division or advance in the playoffs? It’s hard to see that with a really green HC and 2nd year QB. However, Baker has moxy. Should be a very interesting team to watch this year.

Ravens

New Faces, but Same Ole Tough Ravens Defense

The Ravens took the running only method to a big win streak and playoff berth in 2018, as the torch passed from QB Joe Flacco to the rookie Lamar Jackson. However, in the playoff game, the Chargers completely shut down the attack.

  • Coaches: Head Coach John Harbaugh continues to keep his job. I like him as a coach, but the style of play may cost him at some point. At OC, the Ravens have hired Greg Roman who is a running game master mind. Yet, in both stops in SF and BUF, the pure running game has been extinguished in Year 2 or 3. Roman needs to get Jackson to air the ball out enough to keep defenses honest. On defense, DC Don Martindale led this talented Ravens team to the #1 defense. He can do it again, for sure.
  • Key Departures: Longtime QB and Super Bowl MVP, Joe Flacco left the team to play in Denver. It was a necessary step, but now the future rides with the arm and more like legs of Lamar Jackson. FS Eric Weddle was cut, and that leaves a void on the back end of this defense. RB Alex Collins the 2018 Day 1 starter was cut along with WR Michael Crabtree. WR John Brown was not re-signed, either. Long time DE and pass rush specialist Terrell Suggs did not re-sign.
  • Key Additions: RB Mark Ingram was signed from the Saints to solidify the RB corps. DE Pernell McPhee returns to Baltimore after going to Chicago and elsewhere to try and replace the Suggs production. S Earl Thomas steps in to Weddle’s place as the former Legion of Boom member goes to the East Coast.
  • Draft: The Ravens tried to get Jackson a weapon in 1st rounder WR Marquise “Hollywood” Brown from Oklahoma. Brown is lightning quick, but he is coming off a foot injury that could slow him in 2019. In the 3rd, they added Jaylon Ferguson, a raw DT from Louisiana Tech, and another WR from Notre Dame, Miles Boykin – a 6’4, 220 lbs beast.
  • Final Analysis: The Ravens will be a great defense with a running game, but is that enough to make the playoffs in the loaded AFC and new look AFC North. I think they will be right around .500 and miss the playoffs this year, as Cleveland ascends.

Bengals

Great Hair, but Could be A Rough One for Dalton and Cincy

The Bengals will be interesting to say the least this year. They finally let go the very long tenured, Marvin Lewis, for new leadership. His stability helped get the Bengals out of the Bungles territory. However, the talent base has eroded, and the division continues to improve. Could be a long year.

  • Coaches: New Head Coach Zac Taylor takes the reigns here. Taylor was the OC in Los Angeles for the Rams, but that was only for one year. The Bengals are trying the Sean McVay tree like a few others around the league. Taylor brings in Brian Callahan at OC. Callahan has spent time in Denver, Detroit and Oakland never as an OC. So, Taylor will be calling the plays more trying to emulate the Rams offense, most likely. On defense, Lou Anarumo is the DC, another first time coordinator spent time in Miami and the Giants with early time in college. Not sure his style at all here, so that should be interesting with this aging unit.
  • Key Departures: LB Vontaze Burfict, the oft troubled player, was finally cut by the Bengals (signed with Oakland). TE Tyler Kroft was not re-signed and went to BUF. So, not a ton of departures at least.
  • Key Additions: I’m not seeing anyone of note added in Free Agency here. A lot of 1 year contracts extended to marginal free agents.
  • Draft: With the 11th pick overall, the Bengals tried to solidify the Offensive Line with OG Jonah Williams from Alabama. However, Williams has already been injured and will miss 2019. In the 2nd, they added Drew Sample, a TE from Washington who may help the depth given Eifert gets hurt every year. Germaine Pratt, LB, NC State was selected in the 3rd round and could help the LB corps some.
  • Final Analysis: The Bengals were already down in talent, but with the injury to Williams and then AJ Green hurt his foot and likely to miss at least 2 regular season games, this squad will be down. I’m not a big fan of the coaching changes here. You have rookies at HC, OC and DC with no real scheme in sight. I expect the Bengals to be the division’s worst team and potentially compete with the Dolphins for the AFC cellar. No more than 4 wins here.

That is my take on the AFC North. The top 3 teams are solid to good. I’m very curious to see the Browns and how Freddie Kitchens handles the personalities he has in the locker room. Should make for some great fun along with the Steelers and Ravens.

Wegs

About the author

I'm a 49 year old, twice divorced guy with a 20 year old. The blog has morphed a bit lately. Not just sports or dating, social commentary and now some stories from my past experience.