Who Will Win The AFC NORTH For 2018 Season?

[Mike75]

Who Will Win The AFC NORTH For 2018 Season?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Baltimore Ravens

 

 

Head coach John Harbaugh
General manager Ozzie Newsome
Owner Stephen Bisciotti
Home field M&T Bank Stadium
Record 9-7
Division place 2nd AFC North
Playoff finish Did not qualify

Offensive Scheme:West Coast

Offensive Coordinator:Marty Mornhinweg

Defensive Alignment:3-4

Defensive Coordinator:Don Martindale
Offense Rank-PTS24.7(9th);YDS305.4(27th);PASS YDS189.4(29th);RUSH YDS116.0(11th)
Defense Rank-PTS18.9(6th);YDS325.1(12th);PASS YDS213.8(10th);RUSH YDS111.2(15th)

 

 

 

2018 Offseason Moves:

Ravens sign WR Michael Crabtree,WR John Brown,QB Robert Griffin,WR Willie Snead

 

Ravens re-sign DE/DT Brent Urban,OT James Hurst,WR Quincy Adeboyejo, RB Alex Collins, DB Stanley Jean-Baptiste, WR Vince Mayle, LB Patrick Onwuasor, OG Maurquice Shakir and C Matt Skura

 

Ravens let go WR Mike Wallace,C Ryan Jensen,TE Ben Watson,OT Austin Howard,WR Michael Campanaro,C/G Luke Bowanko,WR Jeremy Maclin,DB Robert Nelson,S Lardarius Webb

 

Ravens RB Danny Woodhead announces retirement

 

 

 

 

Coaching Changes:

Hired –Defensive Coordinator,Don Martindale

Released- Defensive Coordinator,Dean Pees

 

 

 

 

Draft Picks:

1st Round: Hayden Hurst  TE  South Carolina

1st Round: Lamar Jackson  QB   Louisville

3rd Round: Orlando Brown  OT  Oklahoma

3rd Round: Mark Andrews  TE  Oklahoma

4th Round: Anthony Averett  CB  Alabama

4th Round: Kenny Young  LB  UCLA

4th Round: Jaleel Scott  WR  New Mexico State

5th Round: Jordan Lasley  WR  UCLA

6th Round: DeShon Elliott  S  Texas

6th Round: Greg Senat  OT  Wagner

6th Round: Bradley Bozeman  C  Alabama

7th Round: Zach Sieler  DE  Ferris State

 

 

 

 

2018 Starters:

 

OFFENSE

QB: Joe Flacco
RB: Alex Collins
WR: Michael Crabtree
WR: John Brown
WR: Willie Snead
TE: Hayden Hurst
LT: Ronnie Stanley
LG: Alex Lewis
C: Matt Skura
RG: Marshal Yanda
RT: Orlando Brown

 

DEFENSE

DE: Brandon Williams
DT: Michael Pierce
DE: Willie Henry
OLB: Terrell Suggs
ILB: C.J. Mosley
OLB: Za'Darius Smith
CB: Jimmy Smith
CB: Marlon Humphrey
CB: Tavon Young
S: Eric Weddle
S: Tony Jefferson

 

 

2018 SCHEDULE:

Sept. 9 vs. Buffalo Bills, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Sept. 13 at Cincinnati Bengals, 8:20 p.m. (NFLN)
Sept. 23 vs. Denver Broncos, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Sept. 30 at Pittsburgh Steelers, 8:20 p.m. (NBC)
Oct. 7 at Cleveland Browns, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Oct. 14 at Tennessee Titans, 4:25 p.m. (CBS)
Oct. 21 vs. New Orleans Saints, 4:05 p.m. (FOX)
Oct. 28 at Carolina Panthers, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Nov. 4 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Nov. 11 -- BYE
Nov. 18 vs. Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Nov. 25 vs. Oakland Raiders, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Dec. 2 at Atlanta Falcons, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Dec. 9 at Kansas City Chiefs, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Dec. 16 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Dec. 22 or 23 at Los Angeles Chargers, TBD (TBD)
Dec. 30 vs. Cleveland Browns, 1 p.m. (CBS)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cincinnati Bengals

 

 

Head coach Marvin Lewis
Owner Mike Brown
Home field Paul Brown Stadium
Record 7-9
Division place 3rd AFC North
Playoff finish did not qualify

Offensive Scheme:West Coast

Offensive Coordinator:Bill Lazor

Defensive Alignment:4-3

Defensive Coordinator:Teryl Austin

Offense Rank-PTS18.1(26th);YDS280.5(32nd);PASS YDS195.1(27th);RUSH YDS85.4(31st)
Defense Rank-PTS21.8(16th);YDS339.1(18th);PASS YDS211.2(8th);RUSH YDS127.9(30th)

 

 

 

 

2018 Offseason Moves:

Bengals sign DT  Chris Baker,LB  Preston Brown,QB  Matt Barkley,TE  Moritz Böhringer

 

Bengals re-sign TE  Tyler Eifert,P  Kevin Huber

 

Bengals let go DT  Chris Smith,QB  A.J. McCarron,G  Andre Smith,C  Russell Bodine,RB  Jeremy Hill,LB  Kevin Minter,CB Adam “Pacman” Jones,T  Eric Winston,DT  Pat Sims

 

Bengals Traded For OT Cordy Glenn

 

 

 

 

Coaching Changes:

Hired –Offensive Coordinator,Bill Lazor-----Defensive Coordinator,Teryl Austin

Released- Offensive Coordinator, Ken Zampese----Defensive Coordinator,Paul Guenther

 

 

 

 

Draft Picks:

1st Round: Billy Price   C   Ohio State

2nd Round: Jessie Bates III  S   Wake Forest

3rd Round: Sam Hubbard  DE   Ohio State

3rd Round: Malik Jefferson  LB   Texas

4th Round: Mark Walton  RB   Miami

5th Round: Davontae Harris  CB   Illinois State

5th Round: Andrew Brown  DE   Virginia

5th Round: Darius Phillips  CB   Western Michigan

7th Round: Logan Woodside  QB  Toledo

7th Round: Rod Taylor   OG   Mississippi

7th Round: Auden Tate  WR   Florida State

 

 

 

 

 

2018 Starters:

 

OFFENSE

QB: Andy Dalton
RB: Joe Mixon
WR: A.J. Green
WR: Tyler Boyd
WR: John Ross
TE: Tyler Eifert
LT: Cordy Glenn
LG: Clint Boling
C: Billy Price
RG: Christian Westerman
RT: Jake Fisher

 

DEFENSE

DE: Carlos Dunlap
DT: Geno Atkins
DT: Andrew Billings
DE: Jordan Willis
OLB: Vincent Rey
MLB: Preston Brown
OLB: Carl Lawson
CB: Dre Kirkpatrick
CB: William Jackson III
S: George Iloka
S: Shawn Williams

 

 

 

 

 

2018 SCHEDULE:

Sept. 9 at Indianapolis Colts, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Sept. 13 vs. Baltimore Ravens, 8:20 p.m. (NFLN)
Sept. 23 at Carolina Panthers, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Sept. 30 at Atlanta Falcons, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Oct. 7 vs. Miami Dolphins, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Oct. 14 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Oct. 21 at Kansas City Chiefs, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Oct. 28 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Nov. 4 -- BYE
Nov. 11 vs. New Orleans Saints, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Nov. 18 at Baltimore Ravens, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Nov. 25 vs. Cleveland Browns, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Dec. 2 vs. Denver Broncos, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Dec. 9 at Los Angeles Chargers, 4:05 p.m. (CBS)
Dec. 16 vs. Oakland Raiders, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Dec. 23 at Cleveland Browns, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Dec. 30 at Pittsburgh Steelers, 1 p.m. (CBS)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cleveland Browns

 

 

Head coach Hue Jackson
General manager John Dorsey
Owner Jimmy Haslam
Home field FirstEnergy Stadium
Record 0-16
Division place 4th AFC North
Playoff finish did not qualify

Offensive Scheme:West Coast/RPO

Offensive Coordinator: Todd Haley

Defensive Alignment: 4-3

Defensive Coordinator: Gregg Williams
Offense Rank-PTS14.6(32nd);YDS308.9(24th);PASS YDS201.8(22nd);RUSH YDS107.1(18th)
Defense Rank-PTS25.6(31st);YDS328.1(14th);PASS YDS230.2(19th);RUSH YDS97.9(7th)

 

 

 

2018 Offseason Moves:

Browns sign QB Tyrod Taylor,WR Jarvis Landry,CB Damarius Randall,QB Drew Stanton,RB Carlos Hyde,WR Jeff Janis,CB E.J. Gaines,CB T.J. Carrie,CB Terrance Mitchell,TE Darren Fells,OT Chris Hubbard,DE Chris Smith,LB Mychal Kendricks.

 

Browns re-sign WR Josh Gordon

 

Browns let go OG Zach Banner,WR Sammie Coates,TE Gavin Escobar,DB B.W. Webb,DL Ricky Ali'ifua,DL Collin Bevins,etc.

 

Browns traded CB Jason McCourty,DT Danny Shelton,QB DeShone Kizer,QB Cody Kessler,CB C.J. Smith.

 

Browns traded for QB Tyrod Taylor,WR Jarvis Landry,CB Damarius Randall.

 

 

 

Coaching Changes:

Hired: Todd Haley/ offensive coordinator

 

 

 

 

 

Draft Picks:

1st Round: Baker Mayfield   QB   Oklahoma

1st Round: Denzel Ward   CB   Ohio State

2nd Round: Austin Corbett   OT   Nevada

2nd Round: Nick Chubb   RB   Georgia

3rd Round: Chad Thomas   DE   Miami

4th Round: Antonio Callaway   WR   Florida

5th Round: Genard Avery   LB   Memphis

6th Round: Damion Ratley   WR   Texas A&M

6th Round: Simeon Thomas   S   Louisiana-Lafayette

 

 

 

 

2018 Starters:

 

OFFENSE

QB: Tyrod Taylor
RB: Nick Chubb
WR: Jarvis Landry
WR: Josh Gordon
WR: Corey Coleman
TE: David Njoku
LT: Austin Corbett
LG: Joel Bitonio
C: JC Tretter
RG: Kevin Zeitler
RT: Chris Hubbard

 

DEFENSE

DE: Myles Garrett
DT: Larry Ogunjobi
DT: Trevon Coley
DE: Emmanuel Ogbah
OLB: Christian Kirksey
MLB: Joe Schobert
OLB: Jamie Collins
CB: Denzel Ward
CB: T.J. Carrie
S: Jabrill Peppers
S: Damarious Randall

 

 

 

 

2018 SCHEDULE:

Sept. 9 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Sept. 16 at New Orleans Saints, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Sept. 20 vs. New York Jets, 8:20 p.m. (NFLN)
Sept. 30 at Oakland Raiders, 4:05 p.m. FOX
Oct. 7 vs. Baltimore Ravens, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Oct. 14 vs. Los Angeles Chargers, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Oct. 21 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Oct. 28 at Pittsburgh Steelers, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Nov. 4 vs. Kansas City Chiefs, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Nov. 11 vs. Atlanta Falcons, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Nov. 18 -- BYE
Nov. 25 at Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Dec. 2 at Houston Texans, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Dec. 9 vs. Carolina Panthers, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Dec. 15 at Denver Broncos, TBD (NFLN)
Dec. 23 vs. Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Dec. 30 at Baltimore Ravens, 1 p.m. (CBS)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pittsburgh Steelers

 

 

Head coach Mike Tomlin
General manager Kevin Colbert
Owner The Rooney Family
Home field Heinz Field
Record 13-3
Division place 1st AFC North
Playoff finish Lost Divisional Playoffs (Jaguars) 45–42

Offensive Scheme:Erhardt-Perkins

Offensive Coordinator:Randy Fichtner

Defensive Alignment:3-4

Defensive Coordinator:Keith Butler

Offense Rank-PTS25.4 (8th);YDS377.9 (3rd);PASS YDS273.8 (3rd);RUSH YDS104.2 (20th)
Defense Rank-PTS19.2 (7th);YDS306.9 (5th);PASS YDS201.1 (5th);RUSH YDS105.8 (10th)

 

 

 

 

2018 Offseason Moves:

Steelers sign S Morgan Burnett,ILB Jon Bostic,S Nat Berhe

 

Steelers re-sign RB Le'Veon Bell,K Chris Boswell,FB Roosevelt Nix,WR Justin Hunter,NT Daniel McCullers,DE Anthony Chickillo,RB Stevan Ridley,RB Fitzgerald Toussaint

 

Steelers let go OT Chris Hubbard,S Mike Mitchell,S Will Gay,S Robert Golden,DB J.J. Wilcox

 

Steelers traded WR Martavis Bryant

 

 

 

 

Coaching Changes:

Hired- Offensive Coordinator,Randy Fichtner

Released- Offensive Coordinator,Todd Haley

 

 

 

 

 

Draft Picks:

1st Round: Terrell Edmunds  S  Virginia Tech

2nd Round: James Washington  WR  Oklahoma State

3rd Round: Mason Rudolph  QB  Oklahoma State

3rd Round: Chukwuma Okorafor  OT  Western Michigan

5th Round: Marcus Allen  S  Penn State

5th Round: Jaylen Samuels  RB  NC State

7th Round: Joshua Frazier  DT  Alabama

 

 

 

 

 

2018 Starters:

 

OFFENSE

QB: Ben Roethlisberger
RB: Le'Veon Bell
WR: Antonio Brown
WR: JuJu Smith-Schuster
WR: James Washington
TE: Vance McDonald
LT: Alejandro Villanueva
LG: Ramon Foster
C: Maurkice Pouncey
RG: David DeCastro
RT: Marcus Gilbert

 

DEFENSE

DE: Cameron Heyward
DT: Javon Hargrave
DE: Stephon Tuitt
OLB: T.J. Watt
ILB: Vince Williams
OLB: Bud Dupree
CB: Joe Haden
CB: Artie Burns
CB: Mike Hilton
S: Morgan Burnett
S: Sean Davis

 

 

 

 

 

2018 SCHEDULE:

Sept. 9 at Cleveland Browns, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Sept. 16 vs. Kansas City Chiefs, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Sept. 24 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 8:15 p.m. (ESPN)
Sept. 30 vs. Baltimore Ravens, 8:20 p.m. (NBC)
Oct. 7 vs. Atlanta Falcons, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Oct. 14 at Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Oct. 21 -- BYE
Oct. 28 vs. Cleveland Browns, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Nov. 4 at Baltimore Ravens, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Nov. 8 vs. Carolina Panthers, 8:20 p.m. (FOX/NFLN)
Nov. 18 at Jacksonville Jaguars, 8:20 p.m. (NBC)
Nov. 25 at Denver Broncos, 4:25 p.m. (CBS)
Dec. 2 vs. Los Angeles Chargers, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Dec. 9 at Oakland Raiders, 8:20 p.m. (NBC)
Dec. 16 vs. New England Patriots, 4:25 p.m. (CBS)
Dec. 23 at New Orleans Saints, 4:25 p.m. (CBS)
Dec. 30 vs. Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m. (CBS)

[Sharp Square]

Def seems like its Pitts division to lose. 

[easy does it]

Steelers miss the playoffs, there due for a bad season and it feels like there always in turmoil. That turmoil is bound to backfire if they don't start well

[Machiavelli]

LBJ decides that hoops isn't where it's at and decides to go lead the Browns this year and plays RB/FB/TE and Middle linebacker. 

[JAKEPEAVY21]

Pitt is the clear favorite.

 

I'll be interested to watch the Browns.  Within a couple of years they will be competitive in this aging division.

[KingRevolver]

http://i66.tinypic.com/9iacgl.png

[JAKEPEAVY21]

call me crazy but I'd put a little on the browns at that price

[Mike75]

call me crazy but I'd put a little on the browns at that price

 

I have been thinking about this a lot actually.

 

Here is the way i think things could work out in 2018....

 

 

1. Pitt

2. Cleve

3. Balt

4. Cincy

[Machiavelli]

Mike, since the 2001 Pats, what team has been the most "Out of Nowhere" that you can think of?

[Mike75]

Pitt is the clear favorite.

 

I'll be interested to watch the Browns.  Within a couple of years they will be competitive in this aging division.

 

If the Browns can get near .500 this year i think next year they'll catch Pitt as the Browns are up and coming and all the rest are aging. Also Bell will leave Steelers in '19 for the highest bidder more than likely. Ben is getting up there and this Rudolph they drafted as Bens successor is unknown at this point as he has had no NFL action yet but will this season as much as Ben is injured.

[Mike75]

Mike, since the 2001 Pats, what team has been the most "Out of Nowhere" that you can think of?

 

Jaguars came out of nowhere last year winning 10 games after having a decade straight losing seasons.

 

The Rams came out of left field as well last season with their first winning season/playoffs since 2004 fourteen years prior

 

Buffalo also last year made first playoff game in 18 years.

 

 

Last year was out of nowhere honestly as all 3 of the teams above after losing for 10 years(Jags), 14 years(Rams) and no playoffs for 18 years )Bills  i would say last year was wild.

 

 

 

Been a fan of the Titans since their inaugural year in 1999 and the longest they went without a winning season was 4 years from 2012 thru 2015.  Last year the Titans had a winning season and won a playoff game.

 

Could not imagine going 10 or 15 years with no winning football.

 

 

This year is the Titans 20th anniversary

 

 

 

 

 

 

And the AFC NORTH....Pittsburgh Steelers have had some great rivalries outside their division too.....

 

Speaking of rivalries back in the early 2000's Pittsburgh and Tennessee had some really good games that were like dogfights they were so good.

 

2002 AFC Divisional Playoffs....NFL Films Game of the Week   Steelers at Titans

Bill Cowher of Pittsburgh and Jeff Fisher of Tennessee had the longest tenures of any NFL head coach going into the 2002 playoffs. As former divisional rivals, the two teams knew each other all too well. The Titans, who had started the 2002 season 1-4 only to win 11 straight and the AFC South, were the hotter team. But after getting pushed around for the first quarter, the Steelers pounded back. A physical game wound down in overtime and a bunch of kicks. The last one counted, giving Tennessee the 34-31 win and a trip to the AFC Championship for the second time in four years.

 

[Machiavelli]

So then CLE winning 10 would be "crazy, out of nowhere" to ya?

[Mike75]

Cincinnati last playoff win was in 1990.......

 

 

Where Were You For Bengals Last Playoff Win?

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfzBHGdsb2U

[Mike75]

So then CLE winning 10 would be "crazy, out of nowhere" to ya?

 

Yeah it would.  I am expecting them to win 7 or 8 games honestly.

 

The Browns winning 10 games would send Browns fans into uncontrollable shock. I think some diehards would literally kill over from the excitement.

 

The Browns rebooted in 1999 since then they have 2 winning seasons 2002/2007 and one playff berth in 2002 so its been 16 or 17 years since the postseason there.

 

We saw 3 long streaks broken last year......could it happen again this year?   hmmmm

[Mike75]

Steelers will win it.

 

I do think Cleveland will be better though this season.

[easy does it]

Steelers miss the playoffs, there due for a bad season and it feels like there always in turmoil. That turmoil is bound to backfire if they don't start well

 

Tomlin should've been fired 3 seasons ago.

[KingRevolver]

Who are they going to hire?  Some bum from College like the Cards?

[Machiavelli]

Browns will win the division next season.

[theguesser]

Browns will win the division next season.

They should.   Will be interesting to see the opening division odds.  Cleve, Balt, Pitt should be very close in the odds.