AFC North Primer: Bengals take aim at Ravens

Two-time MVP Lamar Jackson and the Ravens have been to the playoffs six times in the past seven seasons and have won the AFC North the last two seasons.

To change that, the rest of the division must do more than slow down Jackson.

Baltimore had the No. 1 offense in the NFL last season and no defense was better than the Ravens stopping the run, a combination John Harbaugh is counting on to extend the franchise's run of success.

Harbaugh, in his 18th season, and the Ravens share the division with All-Pro-caliber quarterback Joe Burrow and two 40-something starters: Aaron Rodgers with the Steelers and Joe Flacco, a first-rounder coached by Harbaugh in Baltimore, who is now starting for the Browns.

Here are our predictions for the AFC North this season:

1. Baltimore Ravens (13-4)

Schedule

W1 Sun Sep 7 at Buffalo Bills

W2 Sun Sep 14 vs Cleveland Browns

W3 Mon Sep 22 vs Detroit Lions

W4 Sun Sep 28 at Kansas City Chiefs

W5 Sun Oct 5 vs Houston Texans

W6 Sun Oct 12 vs Los Angeles Rams

W7 Bye

W8 Sun Oct 26 vs Chicago Bears

W9 Mon Nov 3 at Miami Dolphins

W10 Sun Nov 9 at Minnesota Vikings

W11 Sun Nov 16 at Cleveland Browns

W12 Sun Nov 23 vs New York Jets

W13 Thu Nov 27 vs Cincinnati Bengals

W14 Sun Dec 7 vs Pittsburgh Steelers

W15 Sun Dec 14 at Cincinnati Bengals

W16 Sun Dec 21 vs New England Patriots

W17 Sun Dec 28 at Green Bay Packers

W18 Sun Jan 4 at Pittsburgh Steelers

Starks contrast: Kyle Hamilton is one of the best safeties in the business but he's brimming about a new teammate after spending more time alongside first-round pick Malaki Starks. Hamilton said Starks has "star potential" and ability that can't be taught. Defensive lineman Nnamdi Madubuike agreed. "He's a beast, man. That rookie, man, he's really going to know where the ball's at at all times. He's a ballhawk."

2. Cincinnati Bengals (10-7)

W1 Sun Sep 7 at Cleveland Browns

W2 Sun Sep 14 vs Jacksonville Jaguars

W3 Sun Sep 21 at Minnesota Vikings

W4 Mon Sep 29 at Denver Broncos

W5 Sun Oct 5 vs Detroit Lions

W6 Sun Oct 12 at Green Bay Packers

W7 Thu Oct 16 vs Pittsburgh Steelers

W8 Sun Oct 26 vs New York Jets

W9 Sun Nov 2 vs Chicago Bears

W10 Bye

W11 Sun Nov 16 at Pittsburgh Steelers

W12 Sun Nov 23 vs New England Patriots

W13 Thu Nov 27 at Baltimore Ravens

W14 Sun Dec 7 at Buffalo Bills

W15 Sun Dec 14 vs Baltimore Ravens

W16 Sun Dec 21 at Miami Dolphins

W17 Sun Dec 28 vs Arizona Cardinals

W18 Sun Jan 4 vs Cleveland Browns

Golden rule: Al Golden takes over the Bengals' defense and wants a fast and physical brand of ball. Health in the front seven multiplied problems in recent seasons. The Golden Rule for defensive players begins with the acronym BEST, which stands for Ball disruption Energy Situational. Golden said tacklers who get to the ball and finish the job will be on the field. Neither characteristic was common in 2024, when the Bengals allowed 25.5 points per game.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7)

Schedule

W1 Sun Sep 7 at New York Jets

W2 Sun Sep 14 vs Seattle Seahawks

W3 Sun Sep 21 at New England Patriots

W4 Sun Sep 28 vs Minnesota Vikings (Dublin)

W5 Bye

W6 Sun Oct 12 vs Cleveland Browns

W7 Thu Oct 16 at Cincinnati Bengals

W8 Sun Oct 26 vs Green Bay Packers

W9 Sun Nov 2 vs Indianapolis Colts

W10 Sun Nov 9 at Los Angeles Chargers

W11 Sun Nov 16 vs Cincinnati Bengals

W12 Sun Nov 23 at Chicago Bears

W13 Sun Nov 30 vs Buffalo Bills

W14 Sun Dec 7 at Baltimore Ravens

W15 TBD vs Miami Dolphins

W16 Sun Dec 21 at Detroit Lions

W17 Sun Dec 28 at Cleveland Browns

W18 Sun Jan 4 vs Baltimore Ravens

Second chance: Roman Wilson got off on the wrong foot as a rookie and never made an impact. The Michigan product is in the mix this season and has the speed and hands to become a reliable read for Aaron Rodgers when DK Metcalf draws a crowd. Wilson has 4.3 speed and was praised by Rodgers in camp for being where he's supposed to be consistently.

4. Cleveland Browns (5-12)

Schedule

W1 Sun Sep 7 vs Cincinnati Bengals

W2 Sun Sep 14 at Baltimore Ravens

W3 Sun Sep 21 vs Green Bay Packers

W4 Sun Sep 28 at Detroit Lions

W5 Sun Oct 5 vs Minnesota Vikings (London)

W6 Sun Oct 12 at Pittsburgh Steelers

W7 Sun Oct 19 vs Miami Dolphins

W8 Sun Oct 26 at New England Patriots

W9 Bye

W10 Sun Nov 9 at New York Jets

W11 Sun Nov 16 vs Baltimore Ravens

W12 Sun Nov 23 at Las Vegas Raiders

W13 Sun Nov 30 vs San Francisco 49ers

W14 Sun Dec 7 vs Tennessee Titans

W15 Sun Dec 14 at Chicago Bears

W16 Sun Dec 21 vs Buffalo Bills

W17 Sun Dec 28 vs Pittsburgh Steelers

W18 Sun Jan 4 at Cincinnati Bengals

No Ordinary Joe: He's 40 and made his first NFL start in 2008, and Joe Flacco is the QB1 in Cleveland. On his second tour with the Browns and a household name around the AFC North, Flacco preceded Lamar Jackson as the Ravens' starting quarterback and won a Super Bowl in Baltimore in 2012. He went 2-4 as a starter in relief of Anthony Ricahrdson with the Colts last season and was more than willing when the Browns knocked offering another shot at the job this spring. Flacco will become the ninth quarterback over 40 to start a season opener.