With Training Camps in full swing across the league, we continue to overview each NFL Division.
We previously looked at:
NFC South
NFC East
NFC North
NFC West
AFC East
AFC South
AFC West
AFC North
2023 Standings
Baltimore 13-4
Cleveland 11-6
Pittsburgh 10-7
Cincinnati 9-8
Buffalo knocked out Cleveland 31-17, and Houston demolished Cleveland 45-14 in the Wild Card Round.
The Ravens beat Houston 34-10 in the Divisional Round, before losing 17-10 to Kansas City in the AFC Championship.
2024 Current Over / Under Projected Win Totals
Baltimore 10.5
Cincinnati 10.5
Cleveland 8.5
Pittsburgh 8.5
Quick Hits
Ravens – Last seasons’ AFC Championship Game loss at home remains disappointing. The Ravens had to reach that game, to suffer that disappointment. By DVOA, the ’23 Ravens were one of the better teams of all-time. Even if you disregard that metric, they outscored their regular season opposition by 203 points. Since that loss to KC, the Ravens have lost Mike MacDonald, and Patrick Queen. MacDonald certainly grew on me, as it felt he just flat-out out schemed teams last year. I seemed to like Queen more than most Ravens fans, during Queen’s tenure. I certainly acknowledge that having Roquan Smith next to him was a large part of why his play improved. It allowed him to be more reactionary and think less. It put his athleticism on display more. This is the NFL though, and you can’t keep everyone, it’s just the way it is.
I gave my early Ravens thoughts in an article last month. I don’t need to rehash everything here.
To boil things down, I love what the Ravens have up-the middle on defense. I love the offensive skill position talent. WR might be a little thin, but the depth at TE minimizes that concern. I don’t think Trenton Simpson will be as good as Queen last year, but he’ll be productive. The Secondary is loaded. Can be spectacular if Marlon Humphrey is improved this year, and this is the season where Marcus Williams finally stays available. I’m not in love with the offensive line, and I think it’s the biggest current concern. The early camp news seems encouraging though.
Overall, it’s pretty simple. The Ravens have a great chance to win any game Lamar Jackson suits up. Get leads, and allow Derrick Henry to run between tackles. Make teams tired of tackling him, and tap out.
There are no easy weeks in the division, so not sure we will see the Ravens again have a chance at home field advantage throughout the playoffs.
But I do believe the Ravens will be back in the playoffs, and there one of a small handful of teams which should have legitimate Super Bowl aspirations as the year begins.
Bengals – Joe Burrow was done for the year after his Week 11 wrist injury. Truthfully, he didn’t look right all of last year starting with the calf strain he had in Training Camp. A healthy Burrow elevates the entire roster. He’s the definition of an elite QB. Injuries are hard to predict, but going back to the Bengals ’21 Super Bowl season, I was saying then that I thought Burrow might be a guy that flashes bright, and sees his career end quickly. He’s listed at 6’4, 215, but he seems pretty slight. If he does have to miss a week or two, I liked what I saw from Jake Browning. Zack Moss is now the starting RB, coming over from Indianapolis. He’s fine. Chase Brown will also get carries. Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins are a talented WR duo. Neither seems happy with their existing contract. The 3rd WR is 2024 Rookie 3rd Rounder Jermaine Burton (Alabama). New TE Mike Gesicki had 73 catches for the Dolphins in 2021, but just 61 over the last two years combined with the Dolphins and Patriots. Orlando Brown Jr is back at LT for Year 2 of his 4 year deal. The Bengals 1st round pick (18th overall) was OT, Amarius Mims. The Defense is led by Trey Hendrickson who had 17.5 sacks. He apparently wanted to be traded, but the Bengals declined. I liked their 2nd round pick of Kris Jenkins Jr. The Secondary added former Raven Geno Stone. I’d expect that DJ Turner II emerges. I’ve seen lots of people saying that a healthy Burrow means the Bengals are the AFC North’s best team. I think that’s a step too far. I’m obviously biased as a Ravens fan, but it seems apparent to me that Baltimore has a stronger roster overall. Can Cincinnati win the North? Yes. Will the differences in schedule strength help Cincinnati? Yes. Should the Bengals be the favorite? Not in my opinion.
Browns – Without even getting into outside the lines, Deshaun Watson missed the 2021 season, and played 6 games in each of ’22, and ’23. The rust he showed in the limited ’22 action was understood. He didn’t look much better last year, even after a full off-season. That has to be scary for the Browns. Joe Flacco walking in off the street, and being a more significant threat also had to be concerning. I think Jameis Winston was a good signing. If Watson looks better this year, the Browns are in good shape. If he doesn’t, it’s not hard to imagine Winston looking similar to Flacco last year. For all of their QB drama last year, the Browns did win 11 games. If they get consistently near average QB play, and you couple that with the defense; that’s a good team. RB Nick Chubb was limited to 28 carries last year before his injury. That’s a 4x Pro Bowler. Get the defense a lead, hand him the ball. Use him to set-up the play action game. Amari Cooper, Jerry Jeudy, and Elijah Moore are solid WR’s. TE David Njoku is coming off of a 81 catch season. Offensive Guards Joel Bitonio, and Wyatt Teller were both Pro Bowlers last year. Both tackles – Jedrick Willis, and Jack Conklin – are former 1st rounders. Defensively, the Browns are in great shape. Myles Garrett is one of the biggest stars in the game. LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and CB Denzel Ward were Pro Bowlers. Jim Schwartz is a strong Coordinator. I like Safety Grant Delpit. Cleveland’s first pick in the ’23 Draft was 2nd rounder DT Michael Hall Jr. I like the Browns roster overall better than Cincinnati’s. I think the Browns can finish ahead of the Bengals. Forced to pick one or the other, I’d take Cincinnati because of Burrow over Watson / Winston.
Steelers – Pittsburgh’s QB play was a disaster last year, and they still won 10 games. Is it crazy to think that one of Justin Fields or Russell Wilson can be near league average? At this stage of their careers, I prefer Fields. The running ability and arm strength are dynamic. George Pickens averaged 18.1 yards per catch last year. Pretty remarkable given who was throwing to him. (Kenny Pickett has some ability, but last year was rough.) The WR depth doesn’t look good me, but I do like TE Pat Freiermuth. He should be in-line for a big year. This is Year 4 for RB Najee Harris. Harris has played every game during his previous 3 seasons. He’s not an intimidating dynamic back, but he’s solid. I think Pittsburgh would be better overall if they committed to running with some physicality. Backup RB Jaylen Warren has some pop. He averaged 5.3 yards per carry, and he also had 61 receptions. The O-Line was improved with 1st rounder OT Troy Fautanu. RT Broderick Jones was a 1st rounder last year. Defensively TJ Watt is a problem anytime he’s on the field. He’s coming off of a 19 sack season. I’ve always respected Cameron Heyward as an edge setter. I talked above about liking Queen, and I do. I think he’s talented guy who is just turning 25. I don’t know that he’s a Pro Bowler without Smith next to him, but I do think he improves the Steelers. FS Minkah Fitzpatrick is coming off another Pro Bowl season. Joey Porter Jr. is entering his 2nd year. I liked him at Penn State. Pittsburgh should rightfully be picked to finish last in the North, but this isn’t a team devoid of talent. In some divisions, they’d look a lot better. If Fields / Wilson isn’t a disaster, reaching the playoffs is possible. That said, one and done in the Wild Card round looks like the ceiling to me.
Owner
Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.