A Stack NFC North: Can The Bengals Survive?

In the Bengal’s division, the AFC North, is in a good position to be the best division in the league if not already.  Backing this up, is the fact that the reigning Super Bowl Champions, the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the team who lost to the Steelers in the AFC Championship, the Baltimore Ravens, are also in the division. 

                The Steelers will come into this season being many fan’s favorite to win the Super Bowl again in 2010 as they have hardly lost any factors to last season’s team.  They lost a few DB’s, highlighting that group is Bryant McFadden.  Another known player that will not be returning is LB Larry Foote, who was cut.  To replace those DB’s, the Steelers used two third round picks on Cornerbacks.  One thing many people are forgetting is that most of the regular season, the Steelers were really banged up.  Willie Parker was not 100% most of the season and first round pick Rashard Mendenhall was placed on the injured reserve.  This is a team that might be able to run the tables with there spectacular defense and solid offense.

                Another team that will be a great challenge is AFC runner up Baltimore Ravens.  They might not be as great as they were last year defensively as there long time coordinator Rex Ryan moves on to being the Jet’s new coach.  Following Ryan was LB Bart Scott, and S Brian Leonhard who were with the Ravens last season.  Offensively though, they should be better as Joe Flacco is coming into his sophomore season, and they drafted OT Michael Oher in the first round to help protect Flacco.  Expect the Ravens to make a good run at making it into the playoffs.

                One team the Bengal’s shouldn’t necessarily worry about is the Cleveland Browns .  The Browns shouldn’t do as bad as they did last year, but it’s possible.  What isn’t helping them is former pro bowl TE Kellen Winslow was traded to the Buccaneers and another former pro bowler, WR Braylon Edwards), remains on the block and could still be traded.  The Browns also didn’t try to draft a play maker, as they traded down from there 5^th overall pick.  They eventually drafted a Center of all positions in the first round.  Defensively, unless new coach, Eric Mangini, draws up a much better defensive scheme, there defense will struggle yet again as they did not make any moves to boast there team.

                Looking at all of this, the Bengals have a tough road, but with Carson Palmer back at Quarterback, the team will be completely different.  Hopefully Ocho Cinco also comes back playing like he did all the years before last season.  If those two get back to the spot they were, and the defense picks it up some, who knows how good the Bengals will be.