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AFC NORTH PREVIEW
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1. Cleveland Browns

Predicted Finish: 10-6; AFC NORTH Champion

Last Season: 7-9

Insight: The Browns were riding high last season at 6-4, having just thumped Cincy 18-0. Then the wheels came off and they won only one of their last six games. Both the offense and defense sputtered and the Browns lost any hope of the playoffs as they were thoroughly beaten by Tennessee, New England, Jacksonville and Green Bay in consecutive games. However, the Browns had set the stage for better things to come earlier in the season, thouh they lost consecutive overtime games to Chicago and Pittsburgh. Last season was a learning experience for the young Browns and they have added some veteran talent to assist this year. Nost notable is ex-Viking safety Robert Griffin and outside linebacker Earl Holmes. The defense is anchored by the offensive line, especially DE Courtney Brown, who is among the best in the league when healthy. The additions at linebacker and in the secondary can only help. Offensively, Tim Couch has matured into a solid QB and coach Butch Davis has added some weapons, including rookie RB William Green (Boston College), who may vie for league offensive rookie honors. The Browns also picked up WR Chris Sanders to complement top target Kevin Johnson. The Browns get four almost automatic wins with Cincy and Baltimore in the division and they also have games they should win against Houston, Carolina and Jacksonville.

Key Games: Sept. 29, at Pittsburgh - week 4 matchup could be the key to this division; Nov. 3, Pittsburgh - in week 9, last game before the Browns' bye week, another pivotal game. After the bye, the Browns have Cincy, NO, Carolina, Jacksonville, Indy, Baltimore and Atlanta - all beatable teams.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers

Predicted Finish: 9-5; wild card

Last Season: 13-3; lost to New England at home in AFC Championship, 17-24

Insight: The Steelers were supposed to be pretty good last season, but the play of Kordell Stewart made them very good. Having a shut-down defense certainly didn't hurt either. Though last season's AFC Championship loss was hard to stomach, the Steelers did lose to the eventual SB champ, so there should be no shame, only a vow of revenge. Coach Bill Cowher demands excellence, but one wonders how much more gas the Bus - Jerome Bettis - has in the tank and whether Stewart can repeat last season's heroics. Amos Zereoue will spell Bettis and he provides more speed to open up the outisde. WR Plaxico Burress is an emerging star with size, speed, great hands, but a bit of an attitude. The Steelers excelled on defense last season, employing a base 3-4 to full advantage, completely shutting down opponents' rushing games. They will be just as good this season, but with more teams using 3-4 defenses, the opposition may be able to adjust to the Steelers' schemes better than last year. Unreliable PK Kris Brown is gone, replaced by ex-Chief Todd Peterson, who is only a little better. The rest of the special teams woes the Steelers had last season still need to be addressed.

Key Games: Sept. 9, at New England - opener against the Super Bowl champs; Oct. 21, Indianapolis - key test for secondary; Nov. 3, at Cleveland - the Browns should be at or near the top coming into this game, second straight road game for Steelers.

3. Cincinnati Bengals

Predicted Finish: 5-11

Last Season: 6-10

Insight: The Bengals have a pretty good defense, with most of their strength in the linebacking corps, Justin Smith and Vaughn Booker are the most solid of this group, but lack of a pass rush and a shaky secondary will hurt. On offense, the QB position is a sore spot with Gus Frerotte, Akili Smith and Jon Kitna vying for the position. Of the three, Smith has the most upside, but he still plays like a rookie. Frerrote has starting experience and will probably win the job, but he's still a second-flight playcaller. The bright spots on offense are Corey Dillon and Peter Warrick, but that's just not enough. This team still needs major retooling. Winning 6 games may be optimistic.

Key Games: The first three of the season, San Diego, at Cleveland and at Atlanta. These are teams of roughly the calibur just above where the Bengals are. Losing all three would set a poor tone for the rest of the season.

4. Baltimore Ravens

Predicted Finish: 5-11

Last Season: 10-6; wild card, won at Miami, 20-3; lost at Pittsburgh, 10-27

Insight: It's difficult to believe that the Ravens won the Super Bowl just two years ago. As of this year, the salary cap has imploded this team. Gone are Sam Adams, Rob Burnett, Sam Gash, Corey Harris, Quadry Ishmail, Jermaine Lewis, Kyle Richardson, Shannon Sharpe, Tony Siragusa, Rod Woodson and Elvis Grbac. Those were all key players and the Ravens are officially in rebuilding mode. They still have RB Jamal Lewis, who missed last season with injury, Ray Lewis, their all-world linebacker, Peter Boulware and Jonathan Ogden. They still have no hope at quarterback, with Chris Redman and Jeff Blake the likely suspects to get the starting call. The loss of Jermaine Lewis, possibly the most explosive return man in the game, will certainly damage field position. With the defense less than it was and the offense possibly worse than last season, it may be a very ugly season in Baltimore.

Key Games: Sept. 15, Tampa Bay - another team with an imposing defense, the Ravens must find some offense here; Nov. 17, at Miami - could be a season-ender.

LINKS PRO FOOTBALL HOME AFC EAST AFC NORTH AFC SOUTH AFC WEST NFC EAST NFC NORTH NFC SOUTH NFC WEST COLLEGE FOOTBALL HOME SPORTS HOME	1. Cleveland Browns Predicted Finish: 10-6; AFC NORTH Champion Last Season: 7-9 Insight: The Browns were riding high last season at 6-4, having just thumped Cincy 18-0. Then the wheels came off and they won only one of their last six games. Both the offense and defense sputtered and the Browns lost any hope of the playoffs as they were thoroughly beaten by Tennessee, New England, Jacksonville and Green Bay in consecutive games. However, the Browns had set the stage for better things to come earlier in the season, thouh they lost consecutive overtime games to Chicago and Pittsburgh. Last season was a learning experience for the young Browns and they have added some veteran talent to assist this year. Nost notable is ex-Viking safety Robert Griffin and outside linebacker Earl Holmes. The defense is anchored by the offensive line, especially DE Courtney Brown, who is among the best in the league when healthy. The additions at linebacker and in the secondary can only help. Offensively, Tim Couch has matured into a solid QB and coach Butch Davis has added some weapons, including rookie RB William Green (Boston College), who may vie for league offensive rookie honors. The Browns also picked up WR Chris Sanders to complement top target Kevin Johnson. The Browns get four almost automatic wins with Cincy and Baltimore in the division and they also have games they should win against Houston, Carolina and Jacksonville. Key Games: Sept. 29, at Pittsburgh - week 4 matchup could be the key to this division; Nov. 3, Pittsburgh - in week 9, last game before the Browns' bye week, another pivotal game. After the bye, the Browns have Cincy, NO, Carolina, Jacksonville, Indy, Baltimore and Atlanta - all beatable teams.
	2. Pittsburgh Steelers Predicted Finish: 9-5; wild card Last Season: 13-3; lost to New England at home in AFC Championship, 17-24 Insight: The Steelers were supposed to be pretty good last season, but the play of Kordell Stewart made them very good. Having a shut-down defense certainly didn't hurt either. Though last season's AFC Championship loss was hard to stomach, the Steelers did lose to the eventual SB champ, so there should be no shame, only a vow of revenge. Coach Bill Cowher demands excellence, but one wonders how much more gas the Bus - Jerome Bettis - has in the tank and whether Stewart can repeat last season's heroics. Amos Zereoue will spell Bettis and he provides more speed to open up the outisde. WR Plaxico Burress is an emerging star with size, speed, great hands, but a bit of an attitude. The Steelers excelled on defense last season, employing a base 3-4 to full advantage, completely shutting down opponents' rushing games. They will be just as good this season, but with more teams using 3-4 defenses, the opposition may be able to adjust to the Steelers' schemes better than last year. Unreliable PK Kris Brown is gone, replaced by ex-Chief Todd Peterson, who is only a little better. The rest of the special teams woes the Steelers had last season still need to be addressed. Key Games: Sept. 9, at New England - opener against the Super Bowl champs; Oct. 21, Indianapolis - key test for secondary; Nov. 3, at Cleveland - the Browns should be at or near the top coming into this game, second straight road game for Steelers.
	3. Cincinnati Bengals Predicted Finish: 5-11 Last Season: 6-10 Insight: The Bengals have a pretty good defense, with most of their strength in the linebacking corps, Justin Smith and Vaughn Booker are the most solid of this group, but lack of a pass rush and a shaky secondary will hurt. On offense, the QB position is a sore spot with Gus Frerotte, Akili Smith and Jon Kitna vying for the position. Of the three, Smith has the most upside, but he still plays like a rookie. Frerrote has starting experience and will probably win the job, but he's still a second-flight playcaller. The bright spots on offense are Corey Dillon and Peter Warrick, but that's just not enough. This team still needs major retooling. Winning 6 games may be optimistic. Key Games: The first three of the season, San Diego, at Cleveland and at Atlanta. These are teams of roughly the calibur just above where the Bengals are. Losing all three would set a poor tone for the rest of the season.
	4. Baltimore Ravens Predicted Finish: 5-11 Last Season: 10-6; wild card, won at Miami, 20-3; lost at Pittsburgh, 10-27 Insight: It's difficult to believe that the Ravens won the Super Bowl just two years ago. As of this year, the salary cap has imploded this team. Gone are Sam Adams, Rob Burnett, Sam Gash, Corey Harris, Quadry Ishmail, Jermaine Lewis, Kyle Richardson, Shannon Sharpe, Tony Siragusa, Rod Woodson and Elvis Grbac. Those were all key players and the Ravens are officially in rebuilding mode. They still have RB Jamal Lewis, who missed last season with injury, Ray Lewis, their all-world linebacker, Peter Boulware and Jonathan Ogden. They still have no hope at quarterback, with Chris Redman and Jeff Blake the likely suspects to get the starting call. The loss of Jermaine Lewis, possibly the most explosive return man in the game, will certainly damage field position. With the defense less than it was and the offense possibly worse than last season, it may be a very ugly season in Baltimore. Key Games: Sept. 15, Tampa Bay - another team with an imposing defense, the Ravens must find some offense here; Nov. 17, at Miami - could be a season-ender.