Examining The Unstable AFC North

(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Since the NFL's most recent realignment in 2002, the AFC North did not have a repeat champion until the Pittsburgh Steelers accomplished the feat in 2007 and 2008.

The division is so erratic that whichever team the experts prophesy will claim the crown, often, ends up underachieving.

Superbowl XL champion Pittsburgh was expected to follow up its fifth championship with a division title in 2006, but it missed the playoffs altogether.

In 2007, the Baltimore Ravens were lauded as the next juggernaut and were projected to repeat their 2006 performance.  They won only five games.

The Cleveland Browns just missed out on winning the division in '07 due to a head-to-head tiebreaker with the Steelers, and they were the choice of many to supplant Pittsburgh in '08.  Instead, injury and ineptitude culminated in a four-win campaign.

Much of the talk before this season's training camp indicates another two-horse race between the Steelers and the Ravens in 2009.

The NFL has averaged roughly six new teams to the 16-team playoff field every season since the realignment.  The '08 season saw a one-win team from the previous year become a division champion (the Miami Dolphins). 

Is it truly a stretch to envision either of Ohio's professional football teams in the AFC North's top spot at the beginning of January?

=============

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?