ROCKY RIVER, Ohio- All of the pre-season talk is over. It’s everyone’s favorite time of the year. No matter how your favorite team is projected to do, this time of year every team is in first place. Every city lays claim to their team being at the brink of something new and exciting, yes the NFL is back! With all the rosters being set at 53 players we begin the season preview with the division that concerns us the most, the AFC North.
Baltimore Ravens- Joe Flacco returns this season after sitting out a huge portion of last year with a knee injury suffered at the hands of none other than your Cleveland Browns. His receiving corps will have more speed than ever before and also playing in, what he says is his final season, Steve Smith Sr. An upgraded offensive line should benefit Flacco this season. Maybe not enough to overcome the Steelers and Bengals, but still a force to be reckoned with. Prediction: 8-8
Cincinnati Bengals- The Bengals will finally, finally win a game in January. All signs point to Andy Dalton picking up where he left off last season, but he has lost some weapons, including his offensive guru Hue Jackson, Dalton however still has one of the NFL’s best in A.J.Green. Providing they can keep their cool in big games, this is the year of the tiger. Prediction: 11-5
Cleveland Browns- What is there to say? Robert Griffin III and his corps of receivers may be the lone bright spot on this sure to be fiasco of a season. Hue Jackson must keep his young team focused in the big picture because this won’t be pretty. That being said look for a breakout season from RB Duke Johnson. Stay strong Cleveland, there’s a gleam. Prediction: 4-12
Pittsburgh Steelers -As much as I dislike having to write this, being a lifelong Clevelander, this is the cream of the crop in the division, Ben Roethlisberger has his weapons healthy and hungrier this year with the return of LeVeon Bell (suspension) and the great Antonio Brown. The Steeler defense is well, the Steeler defense. The Steelers will have to shore things up in the red zone where they had some struggles last year, if they do, you will see them in February. Prediction: 12-4
I’ll have my predictions of who I think will ultimately play in Super Bowl 51 at a later date, for now I want to enjoy the start of a fresh new season, and remember Browns fans… anything can happen on any given Sunday.
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