The Crystal Ball: How The AFC North Will End In 2009

There has been much debate here on Bleacher Report on who exactly the best division in the NFL is.  There is little respect for the AFC North, because of the Cleveland Browns.

I think my fellow writers may need to take a step back, because this year, there may not be two teams from the AFC North with tickets punched to the postseason, but three.

Last yea'rs AFC Championship game was played between two of the most physical teams the NFL has to offer, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens.  Neither team disappointed.

This year, expect to see more of the same.

The 2008 season was a very tough one for the AFC North, which drew all members of the NFC East (Giants, Eagles, Cowboys and Redskins), and all members of the AFC South (Titans, Colts, Jaguars and Texans) on the schedule.  Both of those divisions are regarded by many as two of the best in the NFL.

The Steelers' schedule was the hardest of any Super Bowl winner since the 1979 Steelers.

Pittsburgh Steelers, 14-2.

Almost the entire team that celebrated in Tampa in February will be returning this season.  Gone are third receiver Nate Washington (Tennessee Titans), corner Bryant McFadden (Arizona Cardinals) and Larry Foote (released, Detroit Lions).

The spot vacated by Nate Washington will probably be filled by second-year pro Limas Sweed.  Sweed was a second-round pick in last years draft.  After his rookie season, he returns with hopes of knowing how to catch the ball.

I did notice last year in the AFC Championship game that Sweed has been learning from Hines Ward how to throw a block.  Sweed crushed DB Corey Ivy late in the first half, showing signs of someone who knows how to hit.

Many people think our defense took a hit by losing Bryant McFadden. When McFadden was out for four games last year, William Gay took his place.  After McFadden returned from injury, and through the Super Bowl, Gay relieved him during every third series, and did not miss a beat.

As for the Larry Foote departure, Foote wanted released so that he could compete for playing time.  Lawrence Timmons is ready, willing, and able to step in and take Foote's place, as he would have even if Foote would not have been released.

With the core of this team returning, and an easier schedule than last year, I see Pittsburgh once again winning the division, and again hoisting the Lamar Hunt trophy at the conclusion of the AFC Championship game.

Baltimore Ravens, 12-4.

Joe Flacco enters his second season with the command of the offense.The Ravens bolstered the offensive side of the ball with the signing of center Matt Birk from the Minnesota Vikings.  He will help anchor the line, as well as help bring along first round pick Michael Oher.

Though the Ravens did not add anyone to help the passing game, Derrick Mason is as sure-handed as the Ravens could hope for.  As long as he doesn't start showing his age, this offense could be potent for another year.

The defensive side of the ball is the side that took most of the offseason hits.

Gone are defensive coordinator Rex Ryan, who left to be the head coach of the New York Jets. Along with him are LB Bart Scott and FS Jim Leonhard. However the Ravens believe their replacements are already on the roster.

Ray Lewis re-signed and Terrell Suggs accepted his franchise offer, which brings stability to the unit.  If new defensive coordinator Greg Mattison can call plays close to as well as Ryan did, this team shouldn't miss a beat.

The biggest area of concern would have to be the secondary.  Chris McAllister and Samari Rolle were both released, even though Rolle returned. Rolle should see limited playing time with the addition of Domonique Foxworth.

I see this unit returning to the playoffs as the No. 5 seed, and another possible return trip to Pittsburgh to once again play for the right to go to the Super Bowl.

Cincinnati Bengals, 10-6.

With a healthy Carson Palmer returning, the Bengals should once again be able to put some serious points on the board.

Even with the loss of T.J. Houshmandzadeh, the Bengals still have one of the best receiving corps in the NFL.  Chad Ocho Cinco, if he can be a team player, could be a gamebreaker.  Laveranues Coles was brought in to replace TJ, and Chris Henry, though troubled, still has the size and the hands to be one of the best third receivers in the league.

The underestimated defense has been bolstered by the return of Keith Rivers, who was knocked out of the season by Hines Ward last season, with a devastating, clean block that broke his jaw.

The Bengals were also fortunate enough to have USC standout linebacker Rey Maualuga fall to them in the second round.

This defense has the potential to not only be fierce, but a top 10 unit, with an easier schedule.

I believe the Bengals will win 10 games this year, and contend with Tennessee for the final playoff spot.

Even if they squeak in, it will be one and done for the orange and black this year—but with a lot of promise for the future.

Cleveland Browns, 2-14 or 4-12, depending on who gets the start at QB.

It looks to be another nightmare season for the Cleveland Browns.  A quarterback controversy is already brewing, with the coach having no loyalty to either of them.

Derek Anderson was signed to a contract extension prior to last season and rewarded the Browns with the fifth overall pick in the 09 draft.

Many, me included, believe that the Brady Quinn era needs to start as soon as possible.  At least with Quinn, you have a chance of being successful.  It is better to find out now what Quinn can do than to wait another year.  Until the Browns get some stabilization to that unit, thing will not improve.

All of the talk from two years ago saying the Ravens made a mistake by letting Derek Anderson go have been proven wrong, and the Ravens look like the smart ones now.

There was a lot of talk about the Browns drafting a QB, but instead, they traded down three times in the first round, eventually taking Alex Mack from Cal.  Normally centers aren't drafted in the first round, and many teams had Mack rated as the third-best center.

Instead of drafting someone who could help a porous defense, they drafted a project.

They traded TE Kellen Winslow to Tampa Bay for a second round pick.  Winslow had better than average speed and hands, but the Browns also kept stone-handed Braylon Edwards.

Eric Mangini has turned upside down a roster that was supposed to compete last year.  Sure, the previous regime made a lot of errors, but to turn a roster over the way the Browns were turned over is insane at best.

As the strength of this division goes, it is looking like the AFC North is ready to make the jump to one of the best in the league.  If the Cleveland Browns could turn things around, the NFC East could have some competition.

But, as long as the Browns are the Browns, they will hold down the rest of the division.