2020 AFC North Preview
Yahoo Sports’ Senior NFL Writer Frank Schwab gives an in-depth breakdown of the division. Including team-by-team roster changes, key points of the schedule, and his over/under picks for season win totals.
Video Transcript
FRANK SCHWAB: Last season, the Baltimore Ravens ran away with the AFC North. This year, can other division contenders catch up to the Ravens? Let's take a team-by-team look at the AFC North, starting in Baltimore.
The Ravens won 14 and 2 last year and improved themselves this off season. They added key defensive line pieces, like Calais Campbell, Derek Wolfe, and then had a fantastic draft led by LSU linebacker Patrick Queen. And then in the second round, they took Ohio State running back JK Dobbins, who helps their run first mentality.
When you look at the Ravens schedule, one game really, really stands out. That's Week Three Monday Night Football hosting the Kansas City Chiefs. If the Ravens want to get the number one seed in the AFC again, beating the Chiefs is going to be crucial. It's the biggest game of the year in the AFC. Can't wait to see that one. It's going to be good.
At BetMGM, the Ravens over-under win total is 11.5. And even though that's a high total, I'm still going to take the over. Yes, Lamar Jackson could get hurt. Everything could get derailed. But I just don't see how this Baltimore Ravens team is any less than 12 and 4. They could be really, really good again this season.
Now moving on to the Ravens' biggest rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers. What a very quiet off season. They didn't add much. They didn't have a first-round draft pick. They did go out and sign tight end Eric Ebron, couple of other pieces. Basically going to be the same team back, except quarterback Ben Roethlisberger should be returning from an elbow surgery.
With the Steelers' schedule, a stretch late in the year really stands out, because they have three of their last four games on the road. They play the Bills, Bengals, and Browns all on the road in December. How the Steelers play on the road late in the year is going to determine how good their season is.
Over at BetMGM, the Steelers' over-under win total is 9. And I just think that's a little bit high, given that we don't know what we're going to get out of Ben Roethlisberger. This is a guy nearing 40 who just had major elbow surgery. He had three tendons reattached. I think he could slip a little bit. And if he does, I think the Steelers are going to have a hard time getting to 10 wins. So my lean is the under on 9.
Moving on to the Cleveland Browns, who don't have the hype they did last off season, but still made some pretty key additions. They signed Jack Conklin and tight end Austin Hooper in free agency, two of the biggest signings in the league, and then had a really solid draft let off by offensive tackle Jedrick Wills, Jr. I think the Browns have improved, but we've seen this before. We really need to see the results on the field for Cleveland before we buy into the hype.
When it comes to Cleveland's schedule, it is back-loaded with road games, which could be tricky. A lot of the opponents should be beatable. The Jaguars, Titans, Giants, and Jets are those four road games in a five-game stretch late in the year for the Browns. They have a lot of home games early, and if they could get some road wins late, it'll help bolster their record and maybe give them a push towards the playoffs.
At BetMGM, the over-under for the Browns win total is 8.5. We've been through this before, expecting too much out of the Browns. And I'm not picking them to win nine games or more like I did last year, so I'm leaning to the under with the Cleveland Browns at 8.5.
Finally, we move on to the Cincinnati Bengals, who were active in free agency, which is unlike them. They got run stopping defensive tackle DJ Reader, cornerback Trae Waynes. That was really good for them to add those pieces. But obviously, the big piece-- quarterback Joe Burrow, the number one overall pick.
He's going to have a big impact on the Bengals and maybe get this offense going, which didn't happen in Zac Taylor's first season as head coach. Burrow's not going to have it easy early on, though, because the schedule is tough. From weeks two through six, the Bengals have a really, really tough stretch. They play the Browns, Eagles, Ravens, and Colts all on the road. That's a daunting task.
The over-under for the Bengals at BetMGM is 5.5, and I'm still going to take the under. This is a team that's not going to have a normal off season with its rookie quarterback, and I just am going to take the Bengals under. If they surprise me and go over, it'll be a great thing for Cincinnati in the future.
If you want to get in on the action, go to betmgm.com/yahoo and sign up today. New users get 100% match up to $1,000 on first-time deposits. To recap the AFC North, I think the Ravens are going to run away with the division again. I still think this is the best roster in the NFL, and they're in for another big year. I do think the Steelers finish in second place. I'm going to be skeptical about the Browns until I see it, so I have them in third, and then the Bengals in last place as Joe Burrow gets his feet wet in the NFL.
