NFL Preview: AFC North

Now this should be one of the more competitive and interesting divisions in the entire league — even with the Browns in there!

AFC North

1. Baltimore (12-4)
2. Pittsburgh (10-6)
3. Cincinnati (9-7)
4. Cleveland (4-12)

Baltimore Ravens: I made the mistake of constantly underestimating this team all of last season when I made my picks, and I'm not going to make that same error again. Still, I turned out to be right in underestimating them in the playoffs when I picked the Colts to beat them in a truly horrible playoff loss/choke job that I feel was unfairly overshadowed by the Chargers playoff loss/choke job against the Patriots.

Although they've lost LB Adalius Thomas, I don't really expect the team to skip a beat. We'll maybe they'll skip ONE beat, but then they'll figure out a way to get back on rhythm, especially since they still have the leadership of Ray Lewis ("leadership" is code for "wasn't the player he once was, but still pretty ok) another rising star at LB in Bart Scott and Ed Reed (one of the top 5 defensive players in the league).

On offense, Steve McNair resurrected his career and I believe he has two more decent years (this year and next year) left in him. Air McNair (what does that nickname even mean? McNair doesn't jump high OR throw the ball that deep! It's just a lazy play on his last name) has proven that he can play effectively through pain and he's going to have to when he gets banged up because I don't think Ravens fans are ready for Kyle Boller (pictured, left, in an image no Baltimore fan wants to see this year...playing) time!

Fortunately, the Ravens acquired Willis McGahee, who's not quite as good as he thinks he is (as is the case with most players coming out of the University of Miami except Ed Reed), but it still a significant upgrade over Jamal Lewis. Partnered with Mike Anderson, McGahee and the Ravens running game should take pressure of McNair and help the team win the division easily.

Pittsburgh Steelers: I mean, I'll come right out and say it: last year, Bill Cowher didn't really look like he gave a damn.

And, really, who can blame him? The man had just won the Super Bowl, so there was the inherent hangover effect. Then the Steelers refused to give him more money which, to be fair, is their prerogative given how they stuck with Cowher through some not so easy times. Sure, Cowher's "retirement" (till he comes back next year) was painted as a nice farewell to the Steelers, but, as with most things, it was about money.

Of course, Cowher wasn't the only one to blame for the team missing the playoffs a year after winning it all. QB Ben Roethlisberger CLEAR came back too soon from a motorcycle accident and having his appendix removed. He actually had career best numbers last year, but was WAY too wild with the ball.

Maybe it was because, having lost Jerome Bettis, the Steelers running game wasn't as effective with Fast Willy Parker running the ball on most downs. Speed isn't really Pittsburgh's game. The defense was solid and certainly didn't carry them the same way the title team's D did.

Enter new coach, actor Omar Epps, I mean Mike Tomlin, (pictured, right) formerly of the Minnesota Vikings and who I think is going to do great things for the Steelers. The loss of Joey Porter notwithstanding, this team already has most of the parts they need to get to the playoffs. They just needed a boost, or a shot in the arm, or a booster shot in the arm.

Roethlisberger will bounce back after having a not-horrific off-season, and Tomlin, a defensive guy, will have the Steelers D kicking ass again. I expect the team to grab the other wild card spot (along with San Diego).

Cincinnati Bengals: I like this team, I really do. They're one of the most fun teams to watch. At least when they can keep most of their players out of jail.

To me, Carson Palmer is the best NM-NB (NonManning-NonBrady, QB in the league and he still has receivers T.J. Houshmandzadeh (yes, I had to look it up to spell it correctly) and Chad Johnson, who has promised the return of Ocho Cinco (pictured, left). Hopefully he'll reconsider his stance on bringing the sizzlin' bacon action.

Unfortunately, the Bengals lost rookie RB Kenny Irons, who they hoped would alleviate some of starter Rudi Johnson's load this season. That means that sometime around week 9, the Johnson will either get hurt or be rendered completely ineffective and the team will go in the tank.

Sure, their defense is still atrocious and the Bengals didn't really do too much to address that fact during the offseason, but, like the Colts, the Bengals will be able to light up the scoreboard and outgun many of their opponents. Why is their defense so bad, by the way? Isn't head coach Marvin Lewis supposed to be some kind of defensive genius? It's the same thing with Tony Dungy in Indy — their defense sucks too. Actually, you see the reverse of that with offensive geniuses like Brian Billick of the Ravens and Jon Gruden of the Bucs having anemic offenses? What's the deal?!

Anyway, unlike the Colts, the Bengals will be kept out of the playoffs because they play in a much tougher division with only one guaranteed easy victory. Speaking of which...

Cleveland Browns: This team just has no hope. Right now, their starting QB's name is Charlie Frye, who just sounds like he would've been really good in…actually, that name doesn't really inspire confidence in any era. His backup is Derek Anderson, who is just as nondescript as his name. I mean, when I hear the name Derek Anderson, the Browns QB isn't even the first pro-athlete I think about. I think of this guy.

Then there's Mr. Delusional himself, Brady Quinn (pictured, right), who won the yearly "Guy who drops in the first round of the NFL Draft and sits there for over an hour trying not to look embarrassed" award. Apparently, no one sent Mr. Quinn the memo that he had NOT been picked in the top 10, as he demanded top 10 money from the Browns and held out for most of training camp, thereby significantly stunting his progress.

Fortunately for him, the team wasn't really going anywhere, so he didn't really disappoint anyone. Despite having some talent in the passing game in WR Braylon Edwards and TE Kellen Winslow III, the Browns have NO running game (signing former Raven Jamal Lewis was a great idea...five years ago!)

Most disappointing is their defense which, once again, has never come together under head coach Romeo Crennel, the defensive coordinator for those Patriots Super Bowl team. In fact, I have him as my odds-on-favorite for "first coach to be fired during the regular season."

Who do YOU think is going to get fired first? Is this the toughest division? I don't mean football-wise, I mean spelling-wise (Roethlisberger, Houshmandzadeh, etc.)