Cincinnati Bengals

2021 Record 10-7

Odds to win division +170

The defending AFC champs loaded up this offseason to try and get back to the Super Bowl in 2022. If they want to get back to the top, they will have to run the gauntlet in the AFC with a target on their back. 

Joe Burrow and the Bengals were two minutes away from winning a Super Bowl if the offensive line could have held up. Aaron Donald ran through it on a fourth down and killed the Bengals hopes of hoisting the Lombardi trophy. This offseason, they made sure to protect their quarterback. They signed La’el Collins, Alex Cappa, and Ted Karras to fix those issues along the offensive line. This won’t end up a top five unit but it will definitely not be the 32nd ranked line like it was last season. The best wide receiver group in football returns as Ja’Marr Chase look to improve on his huge rookie campaign. CJ Uzomah left but Cincy signed Hayden Hurst, who could be a bit of an upgrade, to fill the roll. An already explosive offense last year looks to get even more explosive in 2022.

The defense for Cincinnati really carried this team through the postseason last year. The second half shut down of Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense in the AFC Championship shows the ceiling for this squad. Led by defensive linemen Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard, the defense added rookies Dax Hill and Cam Taylor Britt to help solidify the cornerback position. Vonn Bell and Jessie Bates come back as one of the better safety duos in the league.

Overall, this Bengals team should improve from 2021. Whether people think their playoff run is a fluke is one thing but to pretend the Bengals aren’t for real is a bit asinine. With a much improved offensive line and most of their starters returning, there is no reason to think they can’t make another run in the postseason. They will be in the hunt to repeat as division champs and should be a playoff contender once again. 

Pittsburgh Steelers 

2021 Record 9-7

Odds to win division +1000

A new era begins in Pittsburgh. Not only did they rename Heinz Field, Ben Roethlisberger finally retired. Even if it was two years too late. 

Mitchell Trubisky will be the one who starts as quarterback for Pittsburgh but first round rookie Kenny Pickett could be the one who dethrones him down the road. The Pitt graduate, who has played well in preseason, will be the hometown kid for fans. It remains a mystery if the new QB’s will be an upgrade or downgrade from Big Ben but those fans will be loud after the first Trubisky screw up for Pickett to get in. The weapons in Pittsburgh are top notch like always. Chase Claypool and Diontae Johnson are a great one-two tandem and rookie George Pickens looks like the steal of the draft. Najee Harris had an insane amount of volume last year due to Big Ben’s lack of mobility and arm strength. The only downfall for the Steelers is they have one of the worst offensive lines in the league. The new quarterbacks should handle the pressure better than Roethlisberger did last year but that could still be an issue.

TJ Watt, the reigning defensive player of the year, is the alpha on the Steelers defense. Cam Heyward is another year older but still has not shown regression on the defensive line. Larry Ogunjobi is a new face who could pop off after being injured last year for Cincinnati. The secondary outside of Minkah Fitzpatrick could cause some issues like last year but overall, the defense is a good one. 

My prediction for 2022 is that Kenny Pickett overtakes Trubisky sooner rather than later. Whether that is the right move or not behind the bad offensive line remains to be seen but a first round quarterback always sees the field sooner rather than later. The Steelers haven’t had a losing season under Mike Tomlin. I doubt the Steelers can keep up with the Ravens or Bengals in the north but should still be an overall good squad that could hover around .500 for the year. 

Cleveland Browns

2021 Record 8-9

Odds to win division +380

It hasn’t been pretty for Cleveland this offseason. The Browns move on from Baker Mayfield and throw everything at getting Deshaun Watson this season, only for him to be suspended for the first eleven games. A team that finally turned around and looked to be a great underdog story after years of misery have now turned into the enemy in the NFL. 

Jacoby Brissett will take over at quarterback until Watson comes back. He wasn’t very good in Indy and didn’t get any better when he was at Miami. A very limited quarterback who doesn’t do a whole lot well, it will be rough sledding for this offense. Amari Cooper looks to help at receiver along with David Njoku, Donovan Peoples-Jones and rookie David Bell from Purdue. Nick Chubb is still one of the best running backs in football and I expect the Browns to run the hell out of the rock until Watson comes back.

If the Browns want to have any shot at the postseason, they will have to have the defense step up to make up for the lack of offense. Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney look to rush the passer but the Browns are very thin at the defensive tackle position. Greg Newsome and Denzel Ward should hold up the back end of the defense.

Overall, this season already feels like a wash with the suspension of Deshaun Watson. The division is tough enough as it is, I doubt that they will be able to hang around until Watson returns and even then, how well will he do two years removed from football? Unless they overachieve and he comes back and sets the league on fire, I’ve got the Browns finishing last in the AFC North.

Baltimore Ravens

2021 Record 8-9

Odds to win division +140

Things were going great for Baltimore until week 14 when Lamar Jackson injured his ankle and never returned. The Ravens didn’t win a game the rest of the year and ended up missing the postseason. The most injured team in the league looks to rebound in 2022.

The Ravens look to go back to the run heavy approach this year after trying to get more pass happy didn’t go as planned. A healthy Lamar Jackson will be the main weapon on the ground, especially since running backs JK Dobbins and Gus Edwards are coming off injury. Hollywood Brown got sent to Arizona during the NFL draft, leaving Mark Andrews and Rashad Bateman the top two receiving options for Baltimore. Having Lamar is always a weapon but outside of Andrews, the rest of the offense honestly isn’t that scary.

The Ravens have a new defensive coordinator at the helm in Mike Macdonald. The secondary of Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters, who they get back this year from injury, should be one of the best duos in football. They got safety Kyle Hamilton in the first round of the NFL draft and should make an impact right away. Calais Campbell returns this year with Justin Houston and Michael Pierce. The defensive line isn’t top tier but does have talent. The Ravens defense is a top ten defense when healthy and with guys returning from injury, I expect them to return close to that this season.

If the players who return from injury this year come back and play like they did before, this is a Super Bowl contender in the AFC. They shouldn’t have the bad injury luck like they did last season. The offense could take a step back but Lamar Jackson is still one of the most electrifying quarterbacks in football and could carry the offense. The defense should be much improved as well with starters returning. They are they current favorite to win the AFC North. I think it is close with Cincinnati but I give the Bengals the edge there. It could go either way but the Ravens should be back in the postseason here in 2022. 

Division Winner: Cincinnati Bengals

Baltimore Ravens

Pittsburgh Steelers

Cleveland Browns