AFC North Power Rankings
May 13, 2009 by steelerguy26
Filed under Blitz Blog
With the draft behind us, and preseason a few months away, there seems to very little news coming out of the AFC North. With little else to do but speculate on the upcoming season, it seems the right time for Pittsburgh Blitz to discuss our preseason Power Rankings for the division. As with anything of this nature, only time will tell if they are correct or not but for now this seems the most likely order.
1. The Pittsburgh Steelers.
They’re the Super Bowl champions, returning 20-22 starters this season. Yes they hope the offensive line improves this year with the addition of the rookies, yes their defensive line is getting a bit older, and yes there is a question mark at running back for Willie Parker, but in the end they are the Super Bowl champions and our pick to win the AFCN this year.
2. The Cincinnati Bengals.
A team with the most positive off-season in recent memory, the Bengals are awash in potential right now. On paper they look like playoff contenders, but communism looks good on paper too. If the O-line plays better, if the rookies develop, if Carson’s 100%, if Chad takes off the dress, if Keith Rivers stops curling into the fetal position every time he sees a picture of Hines Ward, they will be alright. A solid draft class added to a returning Palmer and much improved defense last season, should be a big boost the the Bengals. It’s hard to predict anything for this team but we can see them improving on last season and working to about 9-7 and a second place finish in the AFCN division.
3. The Baltimore Ravens
I’ve heard all the arguments about why this team will have a letdown this year and I am completely buying it. Flacco will have a sophomore slump and did not impress us his rookie season, Ray Lewis will need a walker by the end of the year, and they lost their best defensive player & coordinator to the Jets. It’s not all idle speculation folks, its the facts. A patch work secondary won’t help them much either as we see the defense taking a huge back wards slide to third place in the AFCN.
4. The Cleveland Browns.
There is a wall around Cleveland these days and it seems to me made entirely out of Eric Magini’s ego. A team 2 years away from a wild card playoff spot after going 10-6 through a cake schedule, the Brown’s seem to be in rebuilding mode and Coach Mangini is doing it his way. What remains to be seen is whether or not his way will be the right way or if he will become yet another Belichick disciple who can imitate the attitude of their mentor but not the success. Look for the Browns to bottom out and dwell in the AFCN cellar in 2009.
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The Power Ranking posted is also my prediction for this upcoming season. While the Ravens downplay their losses I am not one buying into their hype. In addition to their losses and age of their team captain, they did not address their biggest need. Wide Receiver. After an aging and injury prone Derrick Mason, Todd Heap has also not been very reliable. The Rookie Tackle (Oher), should be easy picking for a better Lamar Woodley and the small DB’s will probably more of a liability than an asset.
Yeah I am not sold on the Ratbirds either. Age and player turnover will hurt them. I agree totally.
child please….you seem to be forgetting that the bengals already defeated the mighty super bowl champs and those aging ratbirds…cincy is a clear number 1
Thanks for the post but until the Bungals have six rings or actually win more then one division title every 10 years your comments are lacking facts.