AFC North 2012 Schedule: Breaking Down Steelers, Browns, Ravens and Bengals

The AFC North put three teams in the playoffs last season and is primed to be one of the best divisions in football once again in 2012. With the release of the 2012 NFL schedule, it’s time to break down how the prospects for the division this year.

Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens won the AFC North last season with a 12-4 record, and their reward was a first-place schedule in 2012. The Ravens play eight games against returning playoff teams and must also deal with non-divisional road trips against the Philadelphia Eagles, Houston Texans and San Diego Chargers. They must also travel to Kansas City, and the Chiefs are always tough to beat at Arrowhead Stadium.

The only easy road games I see on the schedule are at Cleveland in Week 9 and at Washington in Week 14.

Baltimore also will host both of last year’s Super Bowl teams, as the New England Patriots come to town in Week 3, while the New York Giants visit in Week 16.

All in all, this is a pretty brutal schedule for the Ravens, but given how good they have been over the past few seasons, they should be able to weather the storm.

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers went 12-4 last season, but were shocked in the playoffs this January by Tim Tebow and the Broncos. In 2012, they will have to bring their best all season long if they hope to finish atop the division.

Pittsburgh will open the season by traveling to Denver to face Peyton Manning in the four-time MVP’s first real game in a Broncos uniform. They will then host the New York Jets and travel to face the Oakland Raiders before getting a bye in Week 4.

The Steelers have six games against playoff teams in 2012, including a road trip to face the Giants in Week 9 and the Cowboys in Week 15.

In addition to that, Pittsburgh will host the Eagles and Chargers, two teams sure to be in the mix for a playoff berth.

The Steelers certainly got off easier than the Ravens, who have a more difficult slate in 2012. That should give Pittsburgh the inside track at an AFC North crown.

Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals surprised everyone last season, as they rode rookie quarterback Andy Dalton and a improved defense to a 9-7 record and a playoff berth. That feat will be extremely difficult to top in 2012.

Cincinnati will open the season by traveling to face the Ravens on Monday Night Football. Luckily, their next three games should give them time to recover, as the host the Browns before traveling to face the Washington Redskins and Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Bengals will host the New York Giants in Week 10, and non-divisional road games against the Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers and Philadelphia Eagles will all prove difficult.

The Bengals will really have to show a lot of improvement in 2012, and Andy Dalton’s development must continue rapidly if they hope to return to the playoffs this year.

Cleveland Browns

The Browns finished 4-12 in 2011 and were the only team in the division left out of the playoffs. The 2012 season will continue the team’s rebuilding project, as a spot in the postseason will be nearly impossible to achieve.

The Browns have seven games against playoff teams in 2012, including trips to face the New York Giants (Week 5) and Denver Broncos (Week 16). They will also host the Eagles in Week 1, the Chargers in Week 8 and must travel to face the Cowboys in Week 11.

That list of games obviously doesn’t include a brutal divisional schedule that includes two games apiece against three playoff teams.

It should be another long season in Cleveland in 2012.