Day four of the “Division Prediction Marathon” – tonight I predict the AFC North, and as al of you that know me I have a veste4d interest in this division, after all, I am a life-long Browns Fan and I am usually biased when it comes to the Browns.  This time, however I will put my blinders aside, take off my rose colored glasses and present an honest, non-biased review of the division and how I truly feel it will play out for 2022.

This division contains four teams that all hate each other, there are historic rivalries, rivalries that have been around for over 50 years.  However there are some rivalries that have not lasted that long…  simply 20 or so years, specifically since the “Ratbirds” came into the NFL in 1996, a bastard child of what once was the proud franchise in Cleveland, a stain on the league, a team that I have grown to hate more than that team in Pittsburgh, the traitorous owner Art Modell, may he rot in Hell, moved his ownership to Baltimore and will forever be known as the most hated man in Ohio, even a decade after his death this month in 2012.  (Do I sound bitter?)

Moving on…

Here is my prediction for the AFC North for 2022…

Cincinnati Bengals – The Bengals are coming off their first division championship since 2015 and their first Super Bowl appearance since 1989.  QB Joe Burrow has injected a winning mindset into the franchise and has become the leader of this team in just his second season, going into his third.  The Bengals weakness last year was their offensive line, allowing a historic amount of sacks on Burrow, including 9 sacks in the playoff game against Tennessee.  Despite those sacks, and his lack of protection, burrow was still able to lead the Bengals to the Super Bowl, where once again Their offensive line showed signs of weakness allowing another 7 sacks against the Rams.  The game was close the entire way, but a late near-sack by Aaron Donald stopped the Bengals final drive and sealed the victory.  I say all of this to point out the fact that the Bengals have made a ton of offseason moves to bolster their offensive line with a few key additions in the offseason making them still the favorite in the division in my mind.

Baltimore “Ratbirds” – As much as I hate to admit it, Baltimore will finish second in the division.  They have the X-Factor in Lamar Jackson and one of the best defenses in the NFL.  The only weakness I can see in this team is their WR corps, loaded with a bunch of no-names and unproven players with the exception of Demarcus Robinson, but he doesn’t fuel any hopes of having a breakout year.  The Ravens were decimated last year with injury, which is mostly responsible for their last-place finish in the division.  they are mostly healthy now, wit the exception of their mascot, who suffered a season-ending knee injury just this week.  Still, with al of that being said, I feel they will finish second in the division, despite the “experts” saying they will actually win the division.  I am still of the opinion that Jackson is overrated and teams have figured him out going into 2022.  My second place division prediction does not mean I feel they will make the playoffs, as most of the AFC is loaded with much more talented teams.  With that being said, FUCK the “Ratbirds”…

Cleveland Browns – *sigh* ok…  here we go…  after yet another off-season full of drama, The Browns are still trying to find their identity.  this team is loaded with talent, top defense, top WR corps, arguable the best 1-2 punch at RB in the NFL.  The ONE position that has plagued this team for over 20 years is quarterback.  Baker was drafted #1 overall in 2018 and he was the hope of the future for this team.  He led them to the playoffs in 2020 but an injury plagued season last year caused the front office to second-guess that decision.  Baker played with a Torn labrum in his left shoulder for most of all last season and it affected his throwing motion and the Browns finished out of the playoffs.  The Browns traded for Deshaun Watson in the offseason, despite the 24 accusations of sexual abuse/assault against him, causing this fan to question why he is still following this shit-show of a franchise.  When the Browns hired Andrew Berry as GM and Kevin Stefanski as Head Coach, I had high hopes for The Browns.  this off-season put a lot of doubt in my head and my fandom.  Watson has been suspended the first 11 games of the season, leaving Jacoby Brissett as the starter for the season until Watson returns.  Brissett is a game manager and has not proven he can lead a team so I do not have a lot of hope for a successful season.  The Browns finish third in the division and miss the playoffs for the second straight season.  I will root for them nonetheless, as I have for the last 50+ years, but I am not hopeful and I am not positive they can win 7 or 8 games this season.

Pittsburgh Steelers – Big Ben is gone…  Roethlisberger retired after the 2021 season and the Steelers are left with a trio of journeyman quarterbacks on the roster.  I don’t necessarily like talking about the Steelers because of how much I hate this team.  but with their options at QB – Mitchell Trubisky, Rookie from Pitt Kenny Picket, and Mason Rudolph the potential of this team is questionable at best.  The Steelers will still have a good defense with it’s leader TJ Watt, a potential defensive player of the year candidate, but the defense cannot make up for the weak offense they will put on the field.  the WR corps is average, with Chase Claypool as the potential WR1 and Najee Harris as their #1 back, he may be the lone bright spot for this team.  It’s gonna be a long season in Pittsburgh, they will finish last in the division.

Join me tomorrow as I preview the NFC North, home of the Packers, the favorite team of one of our favorite guests on The Sports Nerds – Derek Lofland…

Join me and my cohosts @jongolson, @scubatexan, and Eliot “Big E” Lomba each and every Sunday night at 7:30 PM Eastern time for The Sports Nerds!  60 minutes of sports talk, trash talk, and laughs as we discuss the week in sports.

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