AFC North 2022 NFL Preview: Will Ravens re-emerge as powerhouse?

The NFL is again, and Sportsnet is breaking down every thing it’s worthwhile to know concerning the 32 groups seeking to e book a visit to Super Bowl LVII.

Kickoff for the 2022 common season is ready for Thursday, Sept. 8 and immediately we have a look at the AFC North.

BALTIMORE RAVENS

2021 document: 8-9, fourth in AFC North, missed playoffs

Notable roster additions: RB Mike Davis, DT Michael Pierce, S Marcus Williams , CB Kyle Fuller, OT Morgan Moses, DE Brent Urban

Notable roster subtractions: WR Marquise Brown, RB Devonta Freeman, RB Latavius Murray, C Bradley Bozeman, CB Anthony Averett, OLB Pernell McPhee

The excellent news: The Ravens handled quite a lot of accidents through the 2021 season with the likes of Gus Edwards, Ronnie Stanley and J.Ok. Dobbins sitting out for the whole season. Dobbins will return to begin the season whereas Edwards stays on the PUP, however when wholesome the trio of Dobbins, Edwards and quarterback Lamar Jackson amassed 3,071 speeding yards in 2020, the third-highest complete in NFL historical past, which combats any considerations about Jackson’s skill within the air.

Baltimore additionally returns tight finish Mark Andrews who had a stellar season in 2021 together with setting the franchise document for many single-season receiving yards, snapping a 25-year-old document of 1,201 receiving yards as he amassed 1,361 yards to finish the season. One of Jackson’s favorite targets because the two arrived in Baltimore in 2018, Andrews might be one other high receiving risk together with 2021 draft choose Rashod Bateman.

The dangerous information: The 2019 NFL MVP Jackson misplaced his high receiver in Hollywood Brown after already struggling through the 2021 season – rating twenty third in passer score at 87.0 and twenty second in completion proportion at .644. He additionally threw a career-high 13 interceptions regardless of lacking the ultimate 4 video games of the season with a foot damage. Ronnie Stanley’s standing remains to be a query mark on the season, and after the workforce allowed a franchise-record 57 sacks final season, they may want higher safety of Jackson if they need his passing recreation to enhance.

Super Bowl Odds: +2000
Division Title Odds: +140
Wins Total: 10.5 (Over +100/Under -120)

CINCINNATI BENGALS

2021 document: 10-7, first in AFC North, beat Raiders, Titans and Chiefs earlier than dropping to Los Angeles Rams at Super Bowl LVI

Notable roster additions: T La’el Collins, G Alex Cappa, C Ted Karras, TE Hayden Hurst, S Daxton Hill

Notable roster subtractions: TE C.J. Uzomah, C Trey Hopkins, WR Auden Tate, DT Larry Ogunjobi

The excellent news: Joe Burrow was arguably the most effective quarterback to shut out the 2021 season, and he might be underneath heart for the Bengals as soon as once more. In the ultimate 5 recreation stretch of 2021, Burrow averaged 355 yards per recreation, threw 12 touchdowns and simply two interceptions, and accomplished 72.3 p.c of his passes. He tallied 34 touchdowns and 14 interceptions final 12 months, good for 4,611 yards, and whereas the INT quantity was among the many highest within the league, Burrow remains to be solely going into his third 12 months within the league.

Add onto Burrow’s already astounding skill by way of the air the actual fact his receiving corps that is among the finest within the league. Ja’Marr Chase racked up up 1,455 yards and 13 touchdowns whereas Tee Higgins tallied one other 1,091 yards and 6 touchdowns and Tyler Boyd added 838 yards for 5 touchdowns for the Bengals final season. They even have a stable floor recreation in Joe Mixon, who ran for 1,205 yards and a career-high 13 touchdowns final season because the Bengals had among the best offences within the league.

The dangerous information: The Bengals offensive line was considered one of their largest considerations final season as they allowed Burrow to take 51 sacks through the common season, and one other 19 in 4 playoff video games. Burrow already tore his ACL in 2020 and the Bengals want to guard him higher, although the additions of inside lineman in guard Alex Cappa and heart Ted Karras must be a part of fixing the issue. They additionally had questions of their secondary with gamers like Eli Apple and Jessie Bates in a position to play at Pro-Bowl ranges one week and quit yards to the Jets’ passing offence the subsequent. They have once more made upgrades including Hill in addition to returning their starters, however need to be extra constant this season.

Super Bowl Odds: +2200
Division Title Odds: +175
Wins Total: 9.5 (Over -130/Under +110)

CLEVELAND BROWNS

2021 document: 8-9, third in AFC North, missed playoffs

Notable roster additions: QB Jacoby Brissett, QB Deshaun Watson, WR Amari Cooper, WR David Bell, Ok Cade York

Notable roster subtractions: QB Baker Mayfield, QB Case Keenum, WR Jarvis Landry, TE Austin Hooper

The excellent news: After months of drama surrounding Baker Mayfield, who underwhelmed in Cleveland in 2021 regardless of taking part in by way of an injured shoulder, the Browns have lastly found out their quarterback scenario with Deshaun Watson primed to take the beginning function after serving his suspension. General supervisor Andrew Berry additionally managed to interchange the hole of what might have been with Odell Beckham Jr. by buying Amari Cooper as a deep risk after amassing 865 yards and eight touchdowns final season for the Cowboys.

Cleveland’s defence additionally confirmed that whereas they had been sluggish to construct their chemistry, they had been electrical to shut out the season, holding 4 of their ultimate seven opponents to 16 or fewer factors, and didn’t permit greater than 26 factors in any of these ultimate seven video games. All-Pro defensive finish Myles Garrett, linebacker Anthony Walker, cornerback Denzel Ward, defensive finish Jadeveon Clowney cornerback Greg Newsome II and linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah all return to the defence that may be one of many top-ranked items within the league this 12 months.

The dangerous information: Regardless of ideas on the morality of the Watson commerce, the Browns now need to depend on a backup quarterback for 11 video games to begin the season, and are counting on a backup who’s new to the workforce. Brissett threw for 1,283 yards for 5 touchdowns and 4 interceptions with the Dolphins in 2021, and in pre-season has proven limitations in his recreation which can be far beneath what the Browns would need in a beginning quarterback. They even have many new additions at extensive receiver that may take time to type chemistry with, and because the quarterback scenario is for certain to alter mid-season, they must modify as soon as once more when Watson returns.

Super Bowl Odds: +3000
Division Title Odds: +450
Wins Total: 8.5 (Over +135/Under -160)

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

2021 document: 9-7-1, second in AFC North, misplaced in Wild Card spherical to Kansas City

Notable roster additions: QB Kenny Pickett, QB Mitch Trubisky, WR George Pickens, G James Daniels, OLB Myles Jack, CB Levi Wallace

Notable roster subtractions: WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, CB Joe Haden, QB Ben Roethlisberger, WR James Washington, ILB Joe Schobert

The excellent news: The Steelers personal the most effective edge rusher within the league in T.J. Watt, who tallied 22.5 sacks final season, tying a league document and incomes Defensive Player of the Year honours. Pittsburgh rides a streak of 5 straight seasons of main the NFL in sacks, and defensive finish Cam Heyward, a possible Hall of Famer, added ten of these final season. Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick secured highest-paid security standing after recording a career-high 129 tackles final season.

They additionally added Myles Jack and Larry Ogunjobi to interchange holes left by Stephon Tuitt and Joe Schobert, which might be wanted after ending final season useless final in speeding yards allowed per recreation with 146.1 and common yards per carry with 5. The largest shiny spot is having Najee Harris, who rushed for 1,200 yards and 7 touchdowns in his rookie 12 months regardless of taking part in behind a subpar offensive line. Only Jonathan Taylor carried the ball greater than Harris in 2021.

The dangerous information: With query marks on each side of the ball, the largest comes from the workforce is dropping a franchise icon in Ben Roethlisberger. While this provides an opportunity for a youthful, extra cellular quarterback to take the reign underneath heart with Mitch Trubisky seemingly getting first crack at it, there may be uncertainty of their offence at a number of positions. Wide receiver Juju Smith-Schuster departed for Kansas City, and whereas including second-round choose George Pickens permits the Steelers to present complement to Diontae Johnson, Schuster recorded 831 yards for a career-high 9 touchdowns in 2021.

Super Bowl Odds: +8000
Division Title Odds: +1000
Wins Total: 7.5 (Over -105/Under -115)