A LOOK AT THE AFC NORTH

A LOOK AT THE AFC NORTH

PROJECTIONS FOR 2012

1. PITTSBURGH..POWER RATING 99.83…RECORD 10-6
2. BALTIMORE..POWER RATING 98.53..RECORD 10-6
3. CINCINNATI..POWER RATING 94.42…RECORD 8-8
4. CLEVELAND..POWER RATING 93.77…RECORD 6-10

BEST UNIT RANKINGS

QUARTERBACK:  PITTSBURGH 9.59

RUNNINGBACKS: BALTIMORE 9.17

RECIEVERS: PITTSBURGH 9.19

OFFENSIVE LINE: BALTIMORE 8.81

DEFENSIVE LINE: BALTIMORE 9.00

LINEBACKERS:  PITTSBURGH 9.44

DEFENSIVE BACKS: BALTIMORE 9.29

SPECIAL TEAMS: CINCINNATI 8.39

PITTSBURGH:  The Steelers finished 12-4 but lost to Baltimore twice and finished as a wild card team.   Denver beat the Steelers in the playoffs.   The schedule gets tougher this season but return the #1 defense in the NFL.   If healthy, Pittsburgh should get to the playoffs again this season.

BALTIMORE:  The Ravens came close to going to the Super Bowl last season.  They would have beaten New England if the Ravens hadn’t dropped a touchdown pass and missed a FG.   Baltimore will have another chance this season but remember their schedule goes from #28 to #13.  Injuries and age on defense is a concern.

CINCINNATI:  The Bengals made the playoffs last season after improving in most areas from 2010.  They did it with a rookie QB and beat only one team with a winning record and faced the #27 schedule.  They also stayed relatively healthy missing only 22 starts due to injury.   Cincinnati has the pattern of winning one season and losing the next.  This year they may lose again because of the tougher schedule.

CLEVELAND:  The Browns have just 2 winning seasons in their last 13.   Last season they won only four games, all against losing teams.   They added a lot of talent in the draft including a QB and RB.   The coaching staff has had an entire off-season to work with the team and that should make the Browns better.   Problem is the schedule got tougher, going from #15 to #4.  Despite being better, the Browns won’t make the playoffs because of the tough division.