2009 NFL Season Preview: AFC North

Continuing today, The American Sports Blog will preview the 2009 NFL season. Going division-by-division, we'll look at each team and predict a winner for each division. At the conclusion, we'll predict the Super Bowl matchup and champion. Today, we look at the AFC North:Featuring the two teams in last year's AFC Championship Game (Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens) the AFC North was top-heavy in 2008. Pittsburgh and Baltimore had similar records the whole season, but the Steelers finished a game ahead of the Ravens and also defeated them twice in the regular season. Cleveland and Cincinnati were equally awful, as both won just four games each. Once again, this division race figures to come down to the wire between the Steelers and Ravens. ( ) indicate last year's W-L record. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4): Behind the remarkable play-making skills of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, the Steelers made quite a run last season. With the help of a ferocious defense, Pittsburgh hoisted the Lombardi Trophy for the sixth time in franchise history, defeating the Arizona Cardinals. It wasn't the easiest run to a championship, though. The Steelers offensive line was one of the worst in the NFL, allowing Roethlisberger to be sacked 46 times -- second-worst in the league behind the New England Patriots. Roethlisberger was forced to come up with big play after big play all season long, and he did. It's hard to imagine Roethlisberger will be able to continue to save the team this year, so the line will have to step up in 2009. Continuity is a big part of an offensive line's success, and the Steelers will have that going for them this year. Marvel Smith is the only notable lineman no longer with the team. Protecting Big Ben will be as big a key as any for the Steelers. This offseason was a quiet one in Pittsburgh. Smith and Nate Washington, the team's third wide receiver, left the Steel City. Defensively, linebacker Larry Foote and cornerback Fernando Bryant were the biggest defections. As a result, the Steelers have the bulk of their Super Bowl-winning roster back this season. No single group is more beloved in Pittsburgh than the Steelers defense, and it once again should be dominant. Defensive player of the year, James Harrison received a new contract in the offseason and will have all the incentive to put up even bigger numbers than he did last season. With Foote gone, Lawrence Timmons will step into a much bigger role with the team. The defense ranked first in yards (237.2), pass (156.9) and points (223) last season. Those numbers can't be expected to be duplicated this year, but the group will be looked upon to do something similar. Defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau is one of the greatest assistant coaches in football history, and he surely will have new wrinkles in store for 2009. On offense, second-year wide receiver Limas Sweed will be counted on to fill Washington's role. Sweed struggled last season, but he has the talent to produce in 2009. Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes will have a bigger role this year as well. The running game, however, is what will be most closely monitored by fans and pundits. For years, the Steelers have been known for their smashmouth style of football, which entails running the football. Last year, the Steelers veered away from that, thanks to the offensive line. If the offense is going to experience more success this year, the running game must be re-established. As long as the Steelers stay motivated, there is no reason they shouldn't compete for the division and another Super Bowl. Baltimore Ravens (11-5): Talk about a surprise team. With a rookie head coach (John Harbaugh) and a rookie quarterback in Joe Flacco, the Ravens were able to reach the AFC Championship Game in 2008. Though they lost to the Steelers, it was an improbable and historic run. Like the Steelers, this is a defense-first team. Linebacker Ray Lewis continues to be the heart and soul of the team, and he and the defense carried the Ravens last year. Defensive coordinator Rex Ryan left for the head coaching job with the New York Jets, and he took linebacker Bart Scott and safety Jim Leonhard with him. The loss of Ryan -- the mastermind of the defense -- will be big, but Lewis has is too much of a leader to let the defense's production slip. Greg Mattison is the the new defensive coordinator, but he won't change much from Ryan's scheme and philosophy. The Ravens had the second-best defense in the league last season, and while they should end up somewhere around second again this season. Flacco's poise and confidence as a starting rookie quarterback last season was truly remarkable. His numbers weren't great, but he did exactly what he needed to do: manage the game. He threw just 12 interceptions last season, and rarely made huge mistakes when the game was on the line. Flacco was able to lean on his running game, which was one of the best in the NFL, thanks to Le'Ron McClain and Willis McGahee. Things will look a little different this year, as McClain is now a full-time fullback and second-year back Ray Rice is now the starter. Offensive coordinator Cam Cameron will be expecting Flacco to have more of a role in the offense, and that certainly can happen. Derrick Mason, the team's No.1 wide receiver, is still with the Ravens after contemplating retirement for two weeks during the offseason. Without Mason, the Ravens receiving corp would have been in big trouble. For the Ravens to have a better season that last year, they will have to get over one hump: defeating the Steelers. Pittsburgh was able to defeat the Ravens three times last year, and that cost the Ravens a chance at winning the Super Bowl. With Flacco now having more seasoning, it should be expected that the Ravens take one game from Pittsburgh this season. Much like last season, the Ravens should compete for the division title. Whether they can finally defeat the Steelers is the million dollar question. Cincinnati Bengals (4-11-1): Thanks to injuries at key positions, the Bengals struggled mightily in 2008. Franchise quarterback Carson Palmer played in just four games due to a shoulder injury, and rookie linebacker Keith Rivers played in seven because of a broken jaw. The loss of Palmer effectively ended the Bengals season, because without him the team didn't have a viable option at quarterback. Despite the struggles, there were some bright spots last season, most notably the fact that the defense finished the season ranked 12th overall. Luckily for the Bengals, the offseason went well. Receiver Chad Ochocinco, who was a major distraction last offseason, has stricken a much different tone this year. He no longer is complaining about a new contract, and seems to be re-dedicated to putting up big numbers for the Bengals. Also, Palmer appears to be feeling no ill-effects from the injury. Though he has played in just one preseason game, Palmer has looked good throwing the football. Cedric Benson, ran well in 12 games last year and will be a big contributor in 2009. What needs to greatly improve is the mentality of the football team. With the exception of the 2005 season in which the Bengals made the playoffs, Cincinnati has not seen a winning season in quite a while. The Bengals have gotten used to losing, and they must gain a burning desire to win if they are going to succeed this year. The Bengals took a big hit during training camp, as the team lost its two top tight ends to injuries. Reggie Kelly (ruptured Achilles tendon) and Ben Utecht (concussion) have been put on injured reserve and are out for the year. Kelly was the leader of the offense outside of Palmer, and his loss will be felt all season long. Rookie tight end Chase Coffman will now be the starter at that position. Despite all that has gone wrong over the past few season in Cincy, the Bengals actually have a chance to surprise in 2009. The offense will once again be explosive, and the defense should improve on an impressive 2008 season. Good things are on the way in Cincinnati. Cleveland Browns (4-12): Disaster would probably be the best way to describe the Browns 2008 season. Coming off a surprisingly good 2007, Cleveland was almost unanimously expected to reach the playoffs last season. Unfortunately, it didn't even come close to happening. Everything that went right in 2007 seemed to go wrong in 2008. Quarterback Derek Anderson, who had a Pro Bowl year in '07, was mostly awful last season. Wide receiver Braylon Edwards, who also had a Pro Bowl year in '07, failed to live up to the hype in '08. The terribly dissapointing season resulted in the firing of coach Romeo Crennel, and the hiring of Eric Mangini. Mangini comes over from the New York Jets. He was fired after a disappointing season in which the Jets failed to make the playoffs despite starting the season 8-3. He is sure to bring an entirely new mentality to the Browns, who got used to the laid-back approach of Crennel. Mangini is hard-nosed, tough and somewhat introverted, but he will gain respect from his players. Mangini's coaching skills will be tested right away, as he has a tough decision to make on who should be the starting quarterback. Anderson and Brady Quinn have spent all offseason battling for the job, but neither himself from the other. Anderson has the much bigger arm, but is prone to more turnovers. Quinn, on the other hand, is more of a game manager. It will all come down to what Mangini wants the offense to look like, but he has yet to give any indication as to who will be the starter when the Vikings come to the Dog Pound on September 13. If the offense is going to have a good season, Edwards must return to his Pro Bowl form. Last season he had just 873 yards receiving, far below what he is capable of. Moreover, the Browns will need a threat at the tight end position. The team traded away Kellen Winslow in the offseason, and the job will now be left up to Robert Royal and Steve Heiden. It's going to take some time for Mangini to turn this team around. Crennel did not leave the team in good shape, and Mangini will be forced with trying to rebuild. Don't expect 2009 to be a great season, especially since the team hasn't even decided on a quarterback. The Browns don't have a great defense by any stretch of the imagination, and though Mangini is a defensive coach, they are still going to struggle. Division winner: Pittsburgh. The Ravens will undoubtedly be the Steelers toughest competition, but the Steelers have what it takes to win this division. As long as Roethlisberger has solid protection from his offensive line, look for the Steelers to win the AFC North yet again.