This time around its time to break down the AFC North.

Pittsburgh Steelers: 2010 Record: 12-4 Divisional Finish: 1^st Playoff Finish: Lost in Super Bowl to Green Bay Packers

Key Off-season Acquisitions:

WR Jerricho Cotchery (Free Agency)
RB Mewelde Moore (Resign)
K Shaun Suisham (Resign)
CB Ike Taylor (Resign)

Key Off-season Losses:

Antwaan Randle El (Released)
The Steelers didn’t do much in way of big off-season acquisitions, but then again they made it to the Super Bowl last year. What they did do was resign some key pieces such as RB Mewelde Moore and CB Ike Taylor which will be vital to them making another run at winning it all.

They did lose third string receiver WR Antwaan Randle El, choosing to part ways with the veteran receiver, but they were able to pick up WR Jerricho Cotchery who was released by the New York Jets and they have high expectations for young WR Mike Wallace who really came into his own at the end of last season into the playoffs.

Having no real major roster changes the Steelers are coming back with virtually the same team from last year which should bode well for them. It should be another solid season for Pittsburgh with a very good chance to get back to and win the Super Bowl

Record Prediction: 13-3

Baltimore Ravens: 2010 Record: 12-4 Divisional Finish: 2^nd Playoff Finish: Lost in Divisional Round to the Pittsburgh Steelers

Key Off-season Acquisitions:

CB Chris Carr (Resign)
FB Vonta Leach (Free Agency)
SS Benard Pollard (Free Agency)
RB Ricky Williams (Free Agency)

Key Off-season Losses:

DT Kelly Gregg (Kansas City)
WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh (Free Agency)
WR Derrick Mason (New York Jets)
DB Dawan Landry (Jacksonville)
FB Le’Ron McClain (Free Agency)
RB Willis McGahee (Released)

The Baltimore Ravens coming into this off-season had a lot of questions facing them with a lot of players becoming free agents. The Ravens had a solid season last year and where looking to take that next step toward winning it all. This off-season they were able to sign people to fill the voids left by losing some key people.

The losses of FB Le’Ron McClain and RB Willis McGahee were countered by the signings of FB Vonta Leach and RB Ricky Williams. Losing DT Kelly Gregg, WR Derrick Mason, and DB Dawan Landry are big loses for this team and they are looking within the team for some help filling those slots.

With their staunch defense, the Ravens should have another good year fighting for not only the AFC North title, but also for a high playoff seed and championship. The Ravens have all the pieces to make a run at the Super Bowl, but much of their chances rest with QB Joe Flacco and his performance this season.

Record Prediction: 12-4

Cleveland Browns: 2010 Record: 5-11 Divisional Finish: 3^rd Playoff Finish: Did not make playoffs

Key Off-season Acquisitions:

K Phil Dawson (Franchise)
RB Brandon Jackson (Free Agency)

Key Off-season Losses:

RB Mike Bell (Detroit)
QB Jake Delhomme (Released)
WR Chansi Stuckey (Arizona)

The Browns have a tough road ahead of them. With no big name signings they’re still in the rebuilding process and trying to develop young QB Colt McCoy. When a team uses there franchise tag on the kicker you know that they aren’t in the greatest of situations. Being in the same division as the Steelers and Ravens also doesn’t help being they have to play them both twice.

They haven’t lost much, but really haven’t upgraded either. It’s going to be another long season for the Browns as there division along with a lack of play making pieces will not make them contenders this year. They will again miss the playoffs and will be well short of .500.

Record Prediction: 4-12

Cincinnati Bengals: 2010 Record: 4-12 Divisional Finish: 4^th Playoff Finish: Did Not Make Playoffs

Key Off-season Acquisitions:

RB Cedric Benson (Resign)
CB Nate Clements (Free Agency)
C Kyle Cook (Resign)
QB Bruce Gradkowski (Free Agency)
TE Bo Scaife (Free Agency)
FS Gibril Wilson (Resign)

Key Off-season Losses:

MLB Dhani Jones (Free Agency)
QB Carson Palmer (Retirement)
WR Terrell Owens (Free Agency)
CB Jonathan Joseph (Houston)
TE Reggie Kelly (Atlanta)

The Bengals went from being a solid playoff team two years ago to dead last in the division last year. The team has some great pieces, but with QB Carson Palmer requesting a trade and then retiring when he wasn’t is going to resonate throughout this season. They did sign some good players, and resign a few key players, but lost some good players as well.

Resigning Cedric Benson was their biggest move and a move that needed to be made as they will have to rely heavily on the running game with either Bruce Gradkowski who they signed from the Raiders or TCU’s Andy Dalton who they drafted this year. The lack of receivers will hurt this team in the long run as they parted ways with Terrell Owens and traded Chad Ochocinco.

They also lost CB Jonathan Joseph who is one of the most talented in the league at his position, but were able to sign Nate Clements from the 49ers who also has the potential to be one of the tops in the league at his position. With the lack of a passing attack and a middle of the pack defense, combined with being in a tough division will spell a long season culminating in a few wins and no playoffs.

Record Prediction: 4-12

AFC North Prediction: The Steelers won the division last year due to a tie breaker, but they should win the division again this year outright. With the Ravens changing many key pieces and the Steelers not changing any the Steelers will defend their AFC North title and be on their way to a potential top seed in the playoffs.

Like the AFC East look for the Steelers and Ravens to have a rematch of their divisional round playoff game from last year.

For my next preview I will be looking at the AFC South.

Jerry Sharp / Shutterstock.com

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About the author

Jonathan Ellish
My name is Jonathan Ellish and I'm a recent graduate of URI. I'm a sports fanatic and love New York sports especially. I extensively follow the Jets, Mets, and Knicks.

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