NFL Pro Football 2007 AFC North Preview

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Fearless Rick's NFL Preview - AFC NORTH

Rick Gagliano | 8/03/2007

AFC NORTH - Predicted order of finish and (predicted record)

Baltimore Ravens (11-5) - Adding Willis McGahee at running back was a major improvement for the Ravens, who simply could not depend on Jamal Lewis to get tough yards in crunch time. Steve McNair will guide the offense again, and this year they're going to fit rookies Yamon Figurs (Kansas St.) and Romby Bryant (Tulsa) into the offense. They will be more explosive than the team that put up 22.1 points per game in 2007.

What can you say about a defense that allowed just 12.6 points and 264.1 yards per game in 2006? Baltimore is brutally tough against both the run and the pass, so to win in the AFC, you're likely going to have to go through Charm City. Good luck. These guys are the class of this division.

Cincinnati Bengals (9-7) - Without a defense, the Bengals are pretty much doomed in the AFC. Their offense will be one of the best in the league with Carson Palmer throwing to Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh, alternatively handing off to Rudi Johnson. The Bengals defense allowed 355.1 yards per outing in 2006, and that didn't get fixed in the off-season. A wild card spot is a possibility, though it may take 10 wins to get one. The Bengals can't afford to give any games away, but their defense has a habit of doing just that.

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Pittsburgh Steelers (6-10) - Just two years removed from winning the Super Bowl, the Steelers are looking like a very beaten-down bunch. Free agency has taken its toll on this team and last year's 8-8 finish was only the result of a fortunate schedule. They won 6 of their last 8 games, but five of those wins were over Cleveland (twice), Cincy, Tampa Bay and Carolina. Not much to shout about.

Also departing after last season was coach Bill Cowher making Mike Tomlin the man on the spot. He has very big shoes to fill and it looks like it's going to be a long season in the Steel City.

Cleveland Browns (4-12) - Starters on offense include QB Charlie Frye, Jamal Lewis at running back, Braylon Edwards and Joe Jurevicius at the receiving positions and Kellen Winslow Jr. at tight end means that the Browns will not be an offensive force in 2007. They ranked 2nd last in points scored last season, ahead of only the dismal Raiders and their defense was also near the bottom in most categories. Last place again, or so it seems.

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