2014 NFL Preview, AFC North

Today I continue my NFL previews by division. I am looking at one division at a time, going from weakest division to strongest division in the NFL. I began with the AFC South on Monday, and now I'm moving to the AFC North. Below I have the teams listed in the order I think they finish in their division this season. At the end, I'll attempt to guess the season records for all 32 NFL teams. Let the laughing begin…

1. Cincinnati Bengals
About: This is a tough division to read for a lot of reasons. The Bengals won last year, but they didn't really improve themselves this off season. In fact, one of the differences between the AFC North and the AFC East is the lack of a dominant team. That being said, one team has to win here. The Bengals have essentially the same big pieces on offense. Andrew Hawkins is gone, but the team still has A.J. Green and enough to make the passing game decent. Giovanni Bernard should continue to grow, the Bengals will be OK on that side of the ball. What I think gives them an advantage is their defense. The Bengals have a tough front seven, and a decent defense. I think that's enough to help them win the division. Of course, the Bengals need to play their division tough, too, which means at least earning splits with the Steelers and Ravens. I think it can happen. In fact, I think the Bengals can win in Baltimore in week one.

2. Baltimore Ravens
About: The Ravens had been perennial contenders and playoff teams under John Harbaugh until last year. In his tenure Harbaugh has improved the offense, and he relied on the great pieces on defense that were already in place to win the Super Bowl. That great defense is gone. The offense, too, hasn't gotten any better. Joe Flacco is what he is, and hopefully the Ravens will have better luck running the ball this season. Of course Ray Rice is suspended for the first two games, which will hurt, but he needs to have a bounce back year. The addition of Steve Smith could give them more pop in the pass offense, and with Dennis Pitta and Owen Daniels they have a couple good tight ends. The offense should be better this season, or hopefully at least more consistent. The biggest question, though, might be the defense. After winning the Super Bowl two seasons ago, the Ravens shed their long-time defensive core. I don't think this team yet has an identity on defense. I think they'll be competitive, as they were last year, but might struggle to qualify for the playoffs. However, if the Bengals fall off significantly, the Ravens would be the best bet to win the division.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers
About: For years, the Steelers were a lock for the playoffs and to compete for the division title. That hasn't been the case for a couple seasons, and it won't be the case this year. Yes, Ben Roethlisberger has won two Super Bowls, and Big Ben is still a decent passer, but there's not much around him. The Steelers have continued to age, have a gaggle of bad contracts, and have shown little ability to improve their roster. This team has largely the same problems as the 8-8 team of a year ago. On offense the hope is Le'Veon Bell and LeGarrette Blount will keep the running game going, but what about the pass offense. Antonio Brown is a great target, but who else to the Steelers rely on? Is it Lance Moore, who came from the Saints? Is it second year man Markus Wheaton? Who knows. But the Steelers real problem might be on defense. What was once one of the best defenses in football has not aged well. Where do the Steelers get a rush from? Can they stop anyone in the passing game? There are a lot more questions than answers. I doubt the Steelers will be awful, but I think they'll hover around .500 all season.

4. Cleveland Browns
About: This is probably the trickiest team to predict. The Browns will see good improvement at the quarterback position with Brian Hoyer and Johnny Manziel as the top options, and addition Ben Tate should be a better option at running back. That being said, the receiving corps is a mess. Assuming Josh Gordon is suspended for the whole season — which seems likely — the Browns are left with Miles Austin, Nate Burleson, and Andrew Hawkins. That's OK, but none of those guys is the threat that Gordon is. The Browns second best receiver might be tight end Jordan Cameron. The Browns are in a similar situation on defense, where they have some talented players but questions about how they'll all come together. Joe Haden remains a great shutdown corner, while the Browns added Karlos Dansby at linebacker and Donte Whitner at safety through free agency, and linebacker Barkevious Mingo through the draft. There are some good pieces there, and I believe the Browns will be competitive, but it's hard to imagine them having a winning season or qualifying for the playoffs. A good start would be winning some division games this season and inching closer to .500.