NFL Preview and Predictions - AFC North

A series of reviews, predictions and ramblings on what to expect in the upcoming NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE season. As always, don't hold me to these.

AFC North

Baltimore Ravens
Many peoples favourite to be contender to be playing in the Super Bowl, but they will have to get through one of the toughest divisions. The Ravens made lots of bold moves in the off-season, one of the biggest being Anquan Boldin from the Arizona Cardinals and the other is Donte Stallworth. Quarterback Joe Flacco adds these two targets to the consistent Derrick Mason. This gives Flacco the options he never had before which will only make him and the Ravens better. Flacco still has the option to check down to his running back, Ray Rice. One of the best all around running backs in the league with the ability to catch passes out of the backfield, but also break free for the home run style run. The new look offense will be a relief to the defense who have been carrying the flag for the Ravens for the past decade. The Ravens defense is ferocious led by Ray Lewis, Terrel Suggs and Ed Reed. You can't overlook the defensive line that can put four guys on the field who are 350lbs or more. The Ravens will be an AFC to be reckoned with this season and a real Super Bowl contender.

Cincinnati Bengals
One of my favourite teams because the cheerleaders are named the "Ben-Gals". The Bengals made headlines and will continue to make headlines because they have two of the biggest news makers in the NFL in Chad OchoCinco and Terrell Owens. The acquisition of Owens will delay the growth of players like Andre Caldwell and rookie Jordan Shipley from Texas. Quarterback Carson Palmer will have to find a way to spread the ball around and also include running back Cedric Benson. Benson had a very productive year in 2009 and will look to repeat his year. The defense has a great secondary with Leon Hall and Jonathan Jospeh, plus the ageless Roy Williams at safety. If the rest of the team can keep themselves out of jail, these Bengals just might challenge the division - a division they went unbeaten in last year.

Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers are going the wrong way. There star quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is suspended for the first 4-6 games of the season and they shipped out Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes because of his off-field actions. Without Big Ben for the first month and a half of the season they will need a major contribution for veteran Byron Leftwhich or young inexperienced Dennis Dixon. Coach Mike Tomlin hasn't made it clear which QB will fill the void. Last year Fast Willie Parker lost his 5th gear and the clear number 1 running back this season will be Rashard Mendenhall. Whoever is still at QB will have the reliable Hines Ward to throw to (just don't expect him healthy for every game) and the improving Mike Wallace. The defense is counting on the return of Troy Polamalu and more kick ass seasons from LaMarr Woodley, James Harrsion and Ryan Clark. The Steelers will be fun to follow all season because you will never be certain what team will take the field. In this division they better come prepared every week though.

Cleveland Browns
Oh the Brownies! With their iconic Orange uniforms, I just want them to be good. A Browns game on TV always looks so good. Unfortunately, this season I think the uniforms will be much better than the team. The Browns are the proud new owners of Jake Delhomme's rubber arm. Delhomme lands in Cleveland with lots to prove after imploding in Carolina. The Browns have gotten rid of Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson so the team is Delhomme's to run with. If he does falter, they still have Seneca Wallace and rookie Colt McCoy to fall back on. Running back James Harrison will carry the bulk of the work load, although it will be interesting to see how Peyton Hillis (formerly of the Denver Broncos) is after missing time with injury. Josh Cribbs is the Browns loan threat at wide receiver and he is actually more dangerous on special teams. The Browns risk throwing him off his game like the Bears did with Devin Hester a few years ago, and then they would be left without a wide receiver or a special teams player. The defense isn't that exciting, but the player to look for his rookie Joe Haden, the rookie corner from Florida. The Browns will struggle in 2010+, I just hope that the Cleveland fans can take it.