AFC North: Stock Up, Stock Down, or Stasis?

[Hostile]

Part III of this series takes us to the AFC North. Here's how they finished last year. How do you see their stock this year.

1. Ravens, 12-4.
2. Steelers, 12-4.
3. Bengals, 9-7.
4. Browns, 4-12.

 

[Hostile]

1. Ravens, stock down. Without Terrell Suggs they are going to have a harder time this year. With Ray Lewis and Ed Reed nearing the ends of their careers they will need to rely on Flacco and I do not believe he is a QB who can carry a team. Still going to be very good, but not 12-4 good. I see 10-6.

2. Steelers, stock down. Losing Mendenhall and learning all new Offensive terminology I just don't see them repeating last year. Again, will still be a good team, but not that good.

3. Bengals, stock up. In my opinion this team had the best Draft in the NFL. Dalton proved last year that he is a player in this league. A. J. Green was the real thing. Could be the division winner if the cards fall right.

4. Browns, stock up. But not much. They are going to need to run the ball with Richardson a lot. They have too many holes on both sides of the ball to do much else.

 

[Shinywalrus]

Agree with all the above. I'd always bet on mean reversion anyway, regardless of the decisions these teams made in the offseason.

Most 12-4 teams get "worse". Most 4-12 teams get "better".

 

[ShiningStar]

Ravens: Down and i think that will be the popular choice. Instant downgrade, yes Suggs is that good. Will they feel it as hard as other teams, possibly not because in my view the AFC will benefit from tons of mediocre teams in that conference.

Steelers: Stable, i dont know if they get worse or better Tomlin is a good coach and his staff is good at eecking out wins when they need them and losing while everyone scratches their head. THe Ravens were coming around but they hit a big road block and the Steelers can take advantage of it.


Bengals: Down I dont know, i just dont have faith in this team, i dont get on board saying they are doing good when they might hit a winning streak and i dont care when they lose because i feel thats what they strive for. More needs to be done for thsi team in the coaching level than the player level.



Browns: Up U have to eventually, u can only ride the bottom so long that even the owners know the fans are going to give up on coming out to see a horrid team, something has to be done to show the fans this team has a pulse.

 

[RS12]

Browns up= Richardson is a difference maker.

Ravens down= Upshaw is no Suggs.

Steelers even= Upgraded O Line, D aging.

Bengals up= Have been drafting well lately.

 

[rkell87]

i agree with everything, especially the Bengals having the best draft

 

[DFWJC]

Ravens__DOWN__11-5 or 10-6.
Only slightly down. This team has plenty in place. Losing Suggs clearly hurts. Adding Upshaw shoodl help and don't forget that last year's #1, Sergio Kindle, is finally ready to roll. Torry Smith needs to keep progressing at WR to help Boldin. Ray Rice is awesome.

Steelers__DOWN_11-5 or 10-6
Again, only slightly down. This defense is dominant. They have a strong QB and once the best WR groups in the league. And, unlike some teams, the strongly addressed their needs on O-line. DeCastro and Mike Adams should really help the one area they really needed help in (though RB does have some short-term questions). Chris Rainey may get reps there to go with edman until Mendy returns.

Bengals__UP_10-6 or 9-7
Slightly up but in a tough division. This young athletic team just keeps getting better. What a draft!! They may get solid contributions from 6-8 rookies this year. Kirkpatrick, Zeitler, Still, Sanu, B Thomson, O Charles, M Jones, etc...good grief. Green-Ellis was a solid add as well.

Browns__UP__5-11 or 4-12
Barely up. They have a rough schedule for a cellar team. Rookie Richardson will help and Weeden and Schwartz will probably help too. I though Weeden was much more ready than Tannehill. They look better on paper, but this still will be tough sledding.