By Kenny Burgess Contributor
Updated 7/20/23 3:35am ET
The AFC North is one of the deeper divisions in the NFL and none of the teams should be taken lightly headed into next season. Last year, all four teams in the AFC North won at least seven games, and two teams made it to the AFC playoffs. The Bengals have won the division for the past two seasons and have had deep playoff runs. In 2021, the Bengals made it all the way to the Super Bowl and then fell in the AFC title game last year. Don’t expect much to change this season as Joe Burrow and the Bengals are widely considered title favorites again.
The Baltimore Ravens re-signed Lamar Jackson and surrounded him with some great offensive weapons. This should make them even more dangerous, and the Ravens are a real threat in this division. The Pittsburgh Steelers are one of the most consistent franchises in football. Under Mike Tomlin’s watch, the team has never had a losing season. Pittsburgh returns with a solid core and Kenny Pickett’s play down the stretch was much improved. The Cleveland Browns didn’t live up to expectations in 2022, but their franchise quarterback missed most of the season due to suspension. With a full season of Deshaun Watson, we’ll get to see what the Browns can really do.
Cincinnati Bengals (2022 Record: 12-4)
Last year was another successful season for the Cincinnati Bengals, who were one game away from returning to the Super Bowl. Burrow and his offense were extremely dangerous, finishing seventh in total scoring. If that isn’t impressive, remember Cincinnati finished this high despite missing top receiver Ja’Marr Chase for a large portion of the season. The Bengals are also one of the better defensive teams in the NFL and have finished inside of the top ten for scoring the past two seasons.
Dominance on both sides of the ball leaves the Bengals as the betting favorite to win the AFC North (+130) and their win total is at 11.5. The Bengals have shown the past two postseasons that they play their best when their season is on the line — this resulted in their Super Bowl odds being the fourth shortest (+1000) and AFC title odds set at +500. This division is super competitive, but the Bengals are extremely formidable and should be right in the middle of things all year.
Baltimore Ravens (2022 Record: 10-7)
The Baltimore Ravens had a very solid season last year and made it to the playoffs, even though Jackson only played 12 games due to an injury. This 2023 offseason, the Ravens re-signed Jackson and surrounded him with the best weapons he’s had in his career. Baltimore acquired wide receivers Odell Beckham Jr. (free agency) and Zay Flowers (1st Round – 2023 NFL Draft). The two are added to a receiving core that already has Mark Andrews and a healthy Rashod Bateman.
These moves have left the Ravens as the second favorite to win this division (+250) with a win total of 10.5. Oddsmakers really do like the Ravens and see them as a true Super Bowl contender and their odds to bring home the Lombardi Trophy are eighth-best (+1800). If Jackson can stay healthy this season and is able to take full advantage of his offensive weapons, the Ravens could be in store for a big season.
Pittsburgh Steelers (2022 Record: 9-8)
In Tomlin’s 16 years as head coach, the Steelers have never finished a season with a losing record and there isn’t a reason to believe that it’s going to happen any time soon. The Steelers racked up nine wins last year, despite some key injuries, and can be a very sneaky team this upcoming season, but this will be very dependent on Kenny Pickett. The second-year signal-caller didn’t start last season as the starter, but took over in the middle of Week 4 against the Jets. It was an up-and-down rookie season for Pickett, but we got to see him improve and he played his best football down the stretch, resulting in the Steelers winning their final three games.
The Steelers currently have the worst odds to win the division at +470 and their win total is at 8.5. The Steelers had a top-ten scoring defense last season, so if that holds up and Pickett’s play improves, the Steelers could be a dark horse for this division.
Cleveland Browns (2022 Record: 7-10)
Last offseason, the Cleveland Browns traded for as well as extended Watson to a long-term contract, despite his off-the-field issues. Watson was suspended for the first 11 games last season and underperformed upon his return, but the Browns as a whole really underperformed, even with one of the more talented rosters in the NFL. Also, prior to last season, Watson was widely considered one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. This has left some thinking the Browns might be a dangerous team this season as they currently have the third-best odds to win the division at +390. The Browns’ win total is also set at 9.5 and it could very well be a possibility if we see the Watson we saw during his time in Houston.
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