2009 NFL Preview Part 7: AFC North

Rough and tumble as per usual...

1. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4) - The champs return all but 3 starters from their championship team...Larry Foote, Bryant McFadden, and Kendall Simmons are gone...but those aren't gigantic losses...Big Ben, Willie Parker, forgotten 2nd year RB Mendenhall, Hines Ward, and Santonio Holmes....all back and they'll form a consistent and above-average offense to go along with a good run blocking line that showed some improvement in the passing game late last year.... And that defense...well you know how good they are...but let me tell you they could be better this year than last...rookie Ziggy Hood joins the ridiculous front 7 talent (James Harrison, Lamarr Woodley, etc.) and the secondary is healthy and could be dominant....not alot of holes to speak of....if Roethlisberger and Parker can stay healthy...pencil in the division win and a late run...
2. Baltimore Ravens (9-7) - Same position...a step back in record....I felt like (and still do feel like) Baltimore was a bit of a mirage in winning 11 games last year...the offense could be potentially putrid once again...yes, Flacco should improve at least slightly...but the running back trio has huge questions (I'd vote for Ray Rice in 09) and the receiving corps had to pry the previously retired Derrick Mason back to the field...the defense? They'll be good...but at some point the step back (with age) has to come for guys like Ray Lewis...I love Terrell Suggs, Haloti Ngata, and Ed Reed....3 of the top 15-20 defensive players in the league in my opinion...but there could be some holes....
3. Cincinnati Bengals (7-9) - A little rebound in Cincy....Carson Palmer is the key as always...if he's healthy, they could go .500....if not...ewww....Cedric Benson is all they have at running back and that's troubling but Chad, Chris Henry and Laveranues Coles is an NFL receiving trio...and the defense has some fairly good talent... Tank Johnson comes in (very talented if he can stay on the field), 2nd rounder Rey Maualuga could be special, and the secondary has some talent... I'm taking the optimistic route in predicting 7 wins...but I'm also assuming health for Palmer
4. Cleveland Browns (5-11) - I just don't see it... Jamal Lewis has hit the wall...and there's no young emerging option in sight...they can't pick a QB and neither is a good enough option to contend...Braylon has all the talent in the world, but outside of him....the offensive cupboard is as bare as ever after the loss of Stallworth and Winslow (rookies Robiskie and Massaquoi could fill the void but rookie receivers are always a chore)... Mangini brought in alot of "his guys" from the Jets...that could help in the transition but you still need talent, and there isn't alot... the loss of Sean Jones at safety could be big on defense, they have some younger talent in Wimbley and D'Qwell Jackson... but they are a year away...at least