1.
Steelers
2.
Ravens
3.
Bengals
4.
Browns
Pittsburgh,
Baltimore, and Cincinnati are the best three teams in this division.
The
Steelers started 2013 0-4 and by midseason they were 2-6. The Steelers finished
the season on 6-2 run to end the season at 8-8.
In
the offseason, the Steelers added safety Mike Mitchell from Carolina and
drafted defense with their first two picks in the 2014 draft: linebacker Ryan
Shazier and defensive end Stephon Tuitt.
While
the team has undergone a youth movement, they still have Ben Roethlisberger at
quarterback and Troy Polamalu playing safety. I think this mixture of youth and
veteran talent is enough for the Steelers to return to the playoffs in 2014.
Glancing
at the Steelers schedule, they only play five 2013 playoff teams. Pittsburgh
opens at home against the Browns and then have a Week 2 Thursday Night
encounter in Baltimore which will be an early test for these teams. Pittsburgh
and Baltimore split the season series last year. The Steelers won by a field goal in Pittsburgh
while the Ravens won by 2 in Baltimore.
The
Steelers have a month-long stretch where they play against teams that went a
combined 14-50 in 2013. After hosting the Texans on Monday Night in Week 7, the
Steelers have a short week to prepare for the Colts and their second primetime
meeting with the Ravens on Sunday Night in Week 9.
The
Steelers have a later bye week in Week 12. Pittsburgh's final five games are
hosting the Saints, at the Falcons in Week 15, home against the Chiefs, and
twice against the Bengals. Week 14 is their first meeting of the season
taking place in Cincinnati followed by
closing out the regular season against the reigning AFC North champions at
home.
The
Ravens were a playoff regular from 2008 through 2012 when they won the Super
Bowl. In 2013 the Ravens finished the season 8-8 and missed the playoffs for
the first time since 2007. Baltimore was at 8-6 before losing their final two
games by a combined score of 75-24.
Quarterback
Joe Flacco set a career high in passing yards last season but set a career high
in interceptions with 22. If the Ravens are to return to the playoffs, Flacco
needs to cut down on the interceptions. In the offseason, the Ravens hired Gary
Kubiak as their offensive coordinator.
The
Ravens will be without running back Ray Rice for the first two games due to a highly
publicized domestic violence incident. League commissioner Roger Goodell admitted that
the suspension was too light and tweaked the league's punishment to 6 games for
a first incident and a lifetime ban for a second incident.
Baltimore
opens the season at home against the Bengals. In Week 4, the Panthers come to
town. Former Panthers receiver Steve Smith is now a Raven and has that game
circle on the calendar. Week 5 the Ravens travel to Indianapolis to play the
Colts. The quarterback class of 2008 reunites in Week 7 in Baltimore as the Falcons
led by Matt Ryan come to won.
After
the Ravens bye week in Week 11, the Ravens travel to New Orleans for the first
time since Super Bowl XLVII. This time it is time to play the hometown Saints
on Monday Night Football. The Chargers are the last 2013 playoff team the
Ravens play in 2014. Their last four: at Dolphins, Jaguars, at Texans, and
Browns. Those games could mark a return to the playoffs for the Ravens.
Cincinnati
ranked 3rd in yards allowed and tied for 5th in points allowed last season. The
Bengals beat the Packers, Patriots, Chargers, and Colts as part of their 11-5
2013 campaign.
In
the playoffs, the Bengals allowed 196 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns against
the Chargers. Quarterback Andy Dalton threw for 334 yards and a touchdown but
tossed two interceptions and completed 56.8% of his passes. The Bengals front
office awarded Dalton with a six-year, $115
million contract
in the offseason. Is Dalton worth this money? He has a 30-18 record as a
starter but is 0-3 in the playoffs. The Bengals defense can be one of the best
in the NFL but they need the offense to perform better if Cincinnati is to win their
first playoff game since George Bush was president.
No,
not THAT George Bush.
THIS
George Bush.
(hey,
don't acted shocked that I would throw in some politics in this)
For
their 2013 record, the Bengals were awarded three primetime games: Week 5 at
New England, Week 10 against in-state rival Cleveland, and Week 16 hosting the
Broncos on Monday Night
Football.
Other challenges to the defense will come in Week 11 when the Bengals travel to
New Orleans to face off against Drew Brees and the Saints.
Cleveland
has been the center of the news world. Cleveland was awarded the 2016
Republican National Convention. LeBron James announced that he was returning to
play for the hometown Cavaliers. The Indians are still in playoff contention
for the MLB postseason.
And
then there are the Browns.
The
Browns are on their 8th head
coach
since the team returned to the NFL in 1999. Rob Chudzinski was fired after one
season and is currently on the Chuck Pagano staff in Indianapolis. His
replacement, Mike Pettine, has bounced around the NFL as an assistant coach for
the last decade.
The
one addition that everyone is paying attention to that was added to this team
in the offseason: Johnny Manziel.
For
now Manziel is not slated to start. Those duties are being handled by Brian
Hoyer. The Browns have a brutal opening stretch opening at Pittsburgh and then
hosting the Saints and Ravens. The bye week comes in Week 4 and is followed by
at Tennessee, Pittsburgh, at Jacksonville, the Raiders, and the Buccaneers.
Other notable games are at Cincinnati for the Week 10 Thursday Night game, at
Atlanta in Week 12, and hosting the Colts and Bengals before closing out the
season on the road in Carolina and Baltimore.
It
is possible that the Browns could be flirting with .500 by Week 9. Eventually
Manziel will be under center for the Browns. It is just a matter of time before
Pettine makes the decision to start him.
Let's
review the list of quarterbacks that have started for the Browns since their
return to the NFL in 1999:
Tim
Couch
Ty
Detmer
Doug
Pederson
Spergon
Wynn
Jeff
Garcia
Luke
McCown
Trent
Dilfer
Charlie
Frye
Derek
Anderson
Brady
Quinn
Ken
Dorsey
Bruce
Gradkowski
Jake
Delhomme
Seneca
Wallace
Colt
McCoy
Brandon
Weeden
Thad
Lewis
Jason
Campbell
Brian
Hoyer
That
is one impressive list of draft busts, over-the-hills, and journeymen ever
comprised.
This
year is the 50th anniversary of the Browns 1964 NFL
championship.
This was the last title that any Cleveland based professional sports team has
won. The Browns are nowhere near to making the playoffs and the only way the
Browns win the Super Bowl is on Madden.
With
the clock set on 7 minutes.
And
set on the easiest play level.
I
could see two teams make the playoffs out of this division. The Browns will not
be one of them.
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