NFL Week 18 Bold Predictions: AFC North

The Bengals have been a lot better as a whole team since they were eliminated from the playoffs, and Joe Burrow has returned. Their offense and defense have both taken big steps up and have been generally consistent across the board. I expect the Bengals to go into the offseason with a solid win against a divisional opponent.

Chase Brown scores 2+ TDs

Chase Brown has taken a huge leap from his lows early in the season. As the Bengals offense has improved, so has he. He is significantly better when Joe Burrow plays and can get him the ball at opportunistic times. With that and the fact that the Browns got their good win against the Steelers, I expect the run game to excel for Cincinnati.

Cleveland Browns

Myles Garrett does not break the sack record

Myles Garrett has fallen off during the later stages of the season every year of his career. The last thing the Bengals want is for him to break the record against them. I am expecting him to be double and triple-teamed all game long, so he does not even have a chance to break the record.

Shedeur Sanders throws for 250+ and 2 touchdowns

The contest will most likely be a high-scoring game. Shedeur Sanders needs to prove he can actually be the guy in Cleveland, and they don’t have to go get another quarterback in the offseason. He has one final chance to prove that in Week 18 against the Bengals. I am expecting him to prove himself as someone who can really play against an underwhelming Bengals defense.

Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens lose in dramatic fashion in Pittsburgh

The Ravens have a lot of odds stacked against them, and they have had odds stacked against them all season long. They started out the season horribly, but have climbed their way back to a chance at the division. They have to meet the Steelers in Pittsburgh to do so. The Steelers have Lamar Jackson’s number, and he is currently questionable. It will be a close game no matter who is playing, but I have the Steelers narrowly coming out on top.

Derrick Henry runs for 100+ yards

The Ravens finally remembered that Derrick Henry is still one of the best running backs in the league and that they can rely on him in every game. The Ravens are going to feed him this game and try to get him going before the rest of their offense starts to hop on the train. Whether or not Lamar Jackson plays, Derrick Henry is their best chance at winning the game.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Aaron Rodgers throws for 2 TDs and no turnovers

Aaron Rodgers is going to will the Steelers to the playoffs with or without weapons. He has something to prove, and he has a great chance to do that this week against the Ravens. The Steelers will be limited from a weapons standpoint with DK Metcalf and Darnell Washington being out for the week. Aaron Rodgers will have to be excellent for the Steelers to win, and I expect him to be excellent.

The Steelers win the AFC North

The Steelers will ultimately beat the Ravens; they have home-field advantage, and the Ravens may even be without Lamar Jackson. Whoever plays in this game, it will be a close contest; it will be fun to see who comes out on top and how it all goes down. The Steelers and Ravens ending the season on Sunday Night Football to see who wins the AFC North is a storybook ending to the season.