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AFC North Edition

Baltimore Ravens
2006: 13-3 AFC North Champions

What’s Improved? The passing attack was a little different with Steve McNair in the backfield, and it looks to improve even more this year. The offense also subtracts Jamal Lewis and adds Willis McGahee which puts a lot more speed and youth in their running game. The defense still rates as one of the NFL’s best.

What’s Worse? While the running back corps are getting younger, the rest of the team is getting older. How many more productive years do Ray Lewis and Steve McNair really have left in them? Troy Smith probably isn’t the answer to the Raven’s future QB concerns. Also, with McGahee, you have an oft injured back who needs to be a workhorse in this offense. A dangerous combination.

Prediction: This is an interesting team to watch as the year wears on. The defense is still an elite unit and the offense is showing signs of improvement, but there are so many injury prone or questionable players in the lineup that things could go any way. I expect one or two key injuries to lead to a 9-7 season.

Cinncinatti Bengals
2006: 8-8, 2nd Place AFC North

What’s Improved? Carson Palmer and Chad Johnson are over having targets on their back. Last year, Palmer played hurt and defenses had it out for the formerly soaring offense. With Palmer back at full strength, one would assume, and an off season’s worth of tweaking, the Bengals might have a chance to put up the same kind of numbers they did in 2005.

What’s Worse? The defense is still middling and they haven’t really taken big enough steps to get a playoff caliber defense in place. If Palmer isn’t right in the backfield, the Bengals don’t have much depth at the quarterback position.

Prediction: Say Palmer, Chad and Rudi Johnson stay healthy and the team stays relatively out of jail. There’s enough talent here to put another playoff run together. Assuming the defense can step up and put the offense in a position to win, this team should be able to go 11-5.

Pittsburg Steelers
2006: 8-8, 2nd Place, AFC North

What’s Improved? Ben Roethlisberger was clearly not all there as the Steelers began the season, and he didn’t come around until it was far too late to make a playoff push. However, if Willie Parker can stay healthy, they can take a lot of pressure off Ben’s arm and give the offense time to gel. On defense, the Steelers took a sizable step backwards, but are in a good position to come back under new coach Mike Tomlin.

What’s Worse? Adjusting to a new Coach is always a growing process, especially one that flew through the ranks as quickly as Tomlin. Whether or not he will put his players in the position to win remains to be seen. Parker is currently sore, the defense and Big Ben have to step up after a mediocre start last year, and the receiving corps still lacks some depth.

Prediction: The learning curve for Mike Tomlin is going to be huge, but he’s inherited a solid team and has a decent coaching staff. The biggest test will be to come right out of the gate and win games to give the team the drive it needs to make a playoff push at the end of the season. They have a hugely favorable schedule to open things up with Cleveland, Buffalo, Arizona and Seattle to start things off, but with such a rough conference schedule and a new coach it looks more like another 8-8 season.

Cleveland Browns
2006: 4-12, Last Place AFC West

What’s Improved? The offensive line, for starters. Even if LeCharles Bentley never takes another NFL snap, Joe Thomas is an immediate boost even as a rookie. There’s always a chance, however slim, that Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow might be able to stay healthy enough to actually get onto the field together at some point this year. Jamal Lewis adds power and experience to the backs.

What’s Worse? Jamal Lewis is also getting old, and he was basically dumped by the Ravens, so one wonders how much he actually has left. Brady Quinn is at least a year away from doing anything remotely interesting, so they’re stuck with Charlie Frye directing plays on offense, not exactly thrilling.

Prediction: Injuries, poor management, and lack of talent have all plagued this team in the past. They’re good in spots, but it’s going to be rough for a few more years while they build the team around Quinn, Thomas and Edwards. Unfortunately for fans in the Dawg Pound, that means another year of suffering. 5-11.