2008 AFC North: Why The Steelers Will Win The Division.

The AFC North is a division that has some of the best rivalries in the NFL. These teams and their fans really do not like each other.

The Bengals appeared to be poised to dominate the division after an 11-5 record with a young offensive core in 2005. The Steelers beat them in the Wildcard Round, won the Super Bowl, and appeared to be in complete control of the division. The Bengals have been irrelevant since.

The Steelers failed to make the playoffs after their Super Bowl win, and the 13-3 Baltimore Ravens reemerged in 2006. Then the Ravens crashed to 5-11 as the Steelers took back the division. Forgotten, have been the Cleveland Browns, who came out of nowhere to win 10 games in 2007.

The Browns were one of the biggest surprises in 2007. As big free agency spenders, they look to take the division for the first time since 1989.
 
The AFC North has been a wide-open race the last few years. Here is how I see the 2008 season playing out in the AFC North. Part I
 
Pittsburgh Steelers
 
'07 Record: 10-6
 
Points Scored: 393(ninth)
 
Points Allowed: 269 (second)
 
Playoff Result: Lost in Wildcard Round
 
2008 Strength of Schedule: 153-103 (.598) (first in NFL)
 
Strengths: The Steelers were a great statistical team in 2007. They finished second in points allowed, in large part due to the 27 points they gave up to Baltimore while resting starters the last game of the season. Indianapolis led the league with 262 points allowed.

The Steelers did finish first in yards allowed. They were third in rushing yards allowed and passing yards allowed. Mike Tomlin did a great job with this team in his first season as a NFL Head Coach.
 
On offense, they also did well. Ben Roethlisberger had only 3,154 yards passing, but recorded 32 touchdown passes. The reason for that is the Steelers threw a lot in the red zone. While the Steelers’ 2,168 rushing yards was third in the NFL, their nine rushing touchdowns were 22nd.

With Willie Parker coming back from injury, the Steelers got a gift by having Rashard Mendenhall fall to the 23rd pick. The Steelers figure to have a formidable running attack for years to come. They should get more rushing touchdowns in 2008, so long as they can replace Alan Faneca.

He is a seven-time Pro Bowler and five-time first-team All Pro, four of which were between 2004 to last season. That is difficult to replace and even though the Jets overpaid for the 30-plus year old guard, the Steelers have some large shoes to fill.
 
They also got some receiver help. They weren’t bad there to begin with. Hines Ward is starting to drop in productivity, but is still a great blocker and team leader. He is consistently reaching around the 1,000-yard mark with seven to ten touchdowns.

Santonio Holmes is entering the "magical" third year for wide receivers, and looks to be on the verge of a breakout year. I expect him to solidify himself as the No. 1 option. Limas Sweed is the tall receiver Big Ben wanted and should fit in well. He is a good end zone and third down target. Heath Miller is a fantastic tight end.
 
The Steelers figure to be in the top 10 of the league in scoring in 2008 again. With the defense they have, that should mean another divisional title.
 
Weaknesses: Here is the million dollar question. How does a team that finishes first in yards allowed, second in points allowed, ninth in points scored, and throws the sixth fewest interceptions, finishes 10-6 and loses in the first round of the playoffs?
 
The problems were two-fold. The Steelers were a terrible road team. They were 7-2 at home, with their sole losses coming to Jacksonville in the regular season and playoffs. Losing to the same team twice at home was a Steelers’ first.
 
A record of 3-5 on the road is just not good enough. Furthermore, those road wins were against Cleveland, Cincinnati, and St. Louis. This team has to show better on the road against the good teams in the NFL.
 

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