Sport Card Collectors 2012 NFL Preview: AFC North

There is just something about the NFL that makes it my favorite sport. Don't get me wrong, I do watch baseball time to time. And a little basketball. I am not much of a hockey, racing, golf or bowling (other than playing it) person. The NFL is the only sport I can sit and watch an entire game of anymore.  I don't know if its because I played it or grew up watching it...but I love the game. And because of this with the NFL season upcoming and the start of the preseason is soon...I thought I would share my opinions of how I think the divisions will break down and who will win each.

I will be breaking down 2 divisions a week up until the start of the season. Today's is the AFC North and here is how I think it will go down: (note: these are in order of how we think they will finish and what their records will be)

1. PITTSBURGH STEELERS (11-5) 

Pittsburgh comes in with the same team but the biggest move they had was bringing in a new offensive coordinator in Todd Haley. It has also been kind of controversial knowing that him and star QB Ben Roethlisberger have not been hand in hand. Other than that, Pittsburgh has some young weapons on offense. Running back Rashard Mendenhall makes a return after an injury and looks to prove himself. WR's Mike Wallace (if he ever signs), Antonio Brown, Emmanuel Sanders gives Big Ben plenty of weapons along with TE Heath Miller. The biggest question still is Pittsburghs offensive line. How will they protect Ben? Luckily for them, Ben is a moving QB who can avoid sacks. But will still get hit a lot.

On defense, they are still very tough. SS Troy Polamalu is still the best safety in the game (he also has the best hair) and they have the best linebacker core in the league with Timmons, Woodley and Harrison. The defense may be aging, but they are still a top 10 group.

Overall, Pitt should win the division with the amount of talent on the team. They could be one of the better teams in the AFC. To me, that all falls on Big Ben and Todd Haley's shoulders. If they can get on the same page and that offense starts to roll along with a stout D, Big Ben could once again lead them to another Super Bowl.

2. BALTIMORE RAVENS (10-6) 

With RB Ray Rice signing, he gives them what they need on offense. TE Ed Dickson, Anquan Bolden, 2nd year guy Torrey Smith who made big plays last season, rookie Tommy Streeter, new acquistion WR Jacoby Jones are some of the weapons for QB Joe Flacco to throw to. However many ask, is Joe Flacco a Super Bowl caliber QB? I think he is. He has won multiple playoff games. Has led the team to the AFC Championship. And last season proved it. They should have been the team in the Super Bowl. They were one dropped ball away. That wasn't Flacco's fault. The offense overall should be able to move the ball.

On defense, well, Baltimore is hard hitting and talented. They always rank towards the top and have a ball hawk playmaker in Ed Reed. MLB Ray Lewis is still a tackling machine after all of these years and wants another ring badly. And knows this defense has enough talent to get him there. The biggest loss was losing OLB T. Suggs for possibly the season. He gave them a ton of versatility and could play all over the field as a pass rusher. There will be a lot of pressure on rookie OLB Courtney Upshaw to take his spot.

Overall, I think this team is the second best team in the division. Just like Pitt, They have an aging defense but they should still be good. Once again, their playoff run will fall on Flacco and the offense's shoulders to see if they can score in tight game situations.

 3. CINCINNATI BENGALS (9-7) 

Cincinnati surprised a lot of people last season. They made noise in their division and even made the playoffs before losing to the Houston Texans in the Wild Card round. QB Andy Dalton and A.J. Green jelled very well as rookies and they now picked up former Patriots RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis to help run the ball. The offense should still be able to move the ball with young talented WR's and TE Jermaine Gresham and a tough running game.

On defense, the Bengals were a surprise. They for the most part could play with any team. The lost OLB Keith Rivers in a trade with the Giants but that should not hurt them too much. In the draft the got CB Dre Kirkpatrick and picked up CB Terrence Newman from Free Agency to help with their weak secondary.  They may be young on defense, but they are hungry and can make a roar.

Overall, I think the Bengals will still play well and might sneak back into the playoffs, but other teams in the AFC drastically improved and their defense still may not be up to par in a division where its about good defense and running the ball.

4. CLEVELAND BROWNS (6-10)

Cleveland may have had the most exciting draft out of every team in the league. They traded up to the third spot to secure excellent RB Trent Richardson. They then later in the draft got QB Bradon Wheedon. They add them to a young core of wide outs including Mohamed Massaquoi and Greg Little. The QB battle just ended and the Browns went with Wheedon. Now there is an interesting battle for number 2 between McCoy and Seneca Wallace.

On defense, not many names here.  CB Joe Haden is a Pro Bowl caliber corner and D'Qwell Jackson is a good LB but outside of that, not much here to see. The defense did however improve last season and played well at times. If they can continued to get the young guys to play well together, in a few years this could be a top 10 defense and they could play like the other defenses in the division.

Overall, the Browns played well last season and they should play a little bit better this one. They still have a ways to go with such a young team. The talent though is growing and in a few years this proud franchise could be in the playoffs again.

What do you guys think of my predictions? Did I rank a team too high? Too low? Give me your thoughts!