AFC North

2009 Regular Season Standings:

Cincinnati Bengals: 10-6
Baltimore Ravens: 9-7
Pittsburgh Steelers: 9-7
Cleveland Browns: 5-11

Cincinnati Bengals: Marvin Lewis has finally given Carson Palmer everything he should need. Terrell Owens, Antonio Bryant, Jermaine Gresham (1st Round Pick, TE), Jordan Shipley, and Dezmon Briscoe all to compliment Chad Ochocinco and Cedric Benson. Sounds like Cincinnati is out to have back to back winning seasons. That is if they can all find their roles, gel, and Benson isn’t suspended. Defense will be stout again. Keith Rivers and Rey Maualuga need help from the D-Line to be more effective linebackers. Leon Hall and Johnathan Joseph lead the excellent Secondary, but the middle of their schedule kills their chances, 8-8.

Baltimore Ravens: In this year’s draft the Ravens filled needs at Linebacker with Sergio Kindle. Terrence Cody to sure up the Defensive front, Ed Dickson to upgrade Todd Heap. They nabbed Anquan Boldin formerly of the Arizona Cardinals, giving Joe Flacco another proven play-maker. Problem with Baltimore now is their Secondary. Ed Reed, Lardarius Webb, and Fabian Washington are all coming back from injures, and the Ravens depth is just not their. Terrell Suggs promises to be better than his off year last year, so we’ll see. Even with Ray Rice improving, Baltimore can only claw it’s way to 8-8.

Pittsburgh Steelers: What do Antwaan Randle El, James Farrior, and Bryant McFadden have in common? They are all back in Pittsburgh for another go round. The Steelers drafted Ben Roethlisberger his Center of the future, Maurkice Pouncey, but Big Ben won’t be there for his first four games at least. Mike Wallace has to now take over a primary role at receiver for the jettisoned Santonio Holmes. Rashard Mendenhall will have to carry the Steelers often throughout this season, and that might be to much. The addition of Jason Worilds to the Defensive front could be a plus, and the Linebacking core are better than solid. Pittsburgh’s biggest problem will be their Secondary with their best addition being McFadden. Troy Polamalu could return as healthy as ever yet the Steelers will be over matched in a pass happy league. They take their bumps at 7-9.

Cleveland Browns: The Cleveland Browns enter this year under the new watchful eye of Mike Holmgren. Holmgren decided to keep Eric Mangini but overhauled the quarterback position adding Jake Delhomme, Seneca Wallace, and Colt McCoy(3rd Round Pick). Holmgren stressed that the Quarterback was the most important part, so Mangini heard: Stop the Quarterback. The Browns traded for Sheldon Brown, to help under-rated Eric Wright. They also drafted three more improvements for the Secondary including #7 pick Joe Haden. Defensively the Browns are deepest at Linebacker, grabbing Free Agent Scott Fujita from the Champion, Saints. Cleveland has a solid Offensive Line anchored by Joe Thomas. Jerome Harrison was a beast at the end of last year, but the Browns got him help in Montario Hardesty. That will be the biggest battle in camp with six backs all looking for touches. Jake Delhomme will rebound from last year and improves Cleveland’s Air Assault. Unknown, under estimated, and fueled off the high of winning the last four last year, the Browns surprise finishing 9-7.

2010 Regular Season Standings:

Cleveland Browns: 9-7
Baltimore Ravens: 8-8
Cincinnati Bengals: 8-8
Pittsburgh Steelers: 7-9

2009 NFL Regular Season Standings:

Arizona Cardinals: 10-6
San Francisco 49ers: 8-8
Seattle Seahawks: 5-11
St. Louis Rams: 1-15

St. Louis Rams: Using the first overall pick this year on, Sam Bradford, their quarterback of the future was another huge step in the rebuilding process of the Rams. Starting from a 1-15 team, the Rams will show definite improvement, especially with a healthier Steven Jackson and some kind of growth in the young receiving corps. The Defense should grow as well, retaining Oshiomogho Atogwe was a huge plus, and a few of the 2nd/3rd players should start to shine a little more. A 3-5 record heading into their late bye week could be a fantastic start. Bradford time, at this point it would make sense to get the kid an extended look, giving him a road game to start would eliminate some of the pressure. Sam Bradford will take his bumps but the Rams become the most improved in the West and finsh at 6-10.

Seattle Seahawks: In Seattle, the Pete Carroll Era has begun. Carroll surprised many by giving so much for Charlie Whitehurst, who is truly untested at this level. Matt Hasselbeck is still the man, but at 34, time’s a ticking. The addition of Russell Okung, should help the ailing Offensive line, but they missed on a true running back. Julius Jones and Justin Forsett are both undersized for the role. The Seahawks receiving corps’ age might hurt the progression of Golden Tate by asking to much from the young receiver. Experience and acquisitions should help Aaron Curry and the Hawks Defense. Their biggest nemesis will be their Offense’s ability to stay on the field. The new regime and in a building conference, the Seahawks stay level at 5-11. Years 2 & 3 will be much better for Pete and his Hawks.

San Francisco 49ers: Mike Singletary has turned the corner with his organization. The 49ers seemed to fill their needs almost best through the draft. The nucleus in place, with average quarterback production out of Alex Smith, and the play makers on Offense (Frank Gore, Michael Crabtree, Vernon Davis), the Niner’s could be sick. The 49ers key falls on their Defense. Production from the D-Line is a must. Hitting on Taylor Mays could be an added bonus, but we’ll see. Mike’s Offense gets the Niner’s to 11-5. Who would’ve thought that?

Arizona Cardinals: The NFC defending champions are about to be awoken in a different way. It is not the loss of Karlos Dansby, Joey Porter will give them that early; it’s the age of the key Defensive players. The secondary took a hit in shipping Bryant McFadden back to Pittsburgh, although the Card’s feel confident in Greg Toler’s abilities to be there #2 CB. If at 1-4 heading into the Bye, Arizona might start looking the way of Derek Anderson, which would be poison to the Cardinals. The Cardinals will be lucky if it’s just an invert, 6-10.

2010 Regular Season Standings:

San Francisco 49er’s: 11-5
St. Louis Rams: 6-10
Arizona Cardinals: 6-10
Seattle Seahawks: 5-11