AFC North: the Bengals beat you, and the Ravens, Steelers, Browns still want to pound you

AFC NORTH

BALTIMORE RAVENS

Coach: John Harbaugh (16th season in Baltimore, 147-95 regular season, 11-9 playoffs).

Last season: 10-8 (second in the division), lost in AFC Wild Card Round at Cincinnati.

Key additions: WR Odell Beckham, Jr., WR Zay Flowers, WR Nelson Agholor.

Key subtractions: DE Calais Campbell, CB Marcus Peters, LB Jason Pierre-Paul, G Ben Powers, WR Demarcus Robinson, S Chuck Clark.

Looking ahead: This offense still runs on re-signed (and healthy?) quarterback Lamar Jackson’s arms and legs, but more of J.K. Dobbins legs (5.7 yards per carry) could make the offense gallop. A revived Beckham and rookie Flowers could make it fly. Defense starts all discussions of this franchise’s Baltimore history, but several solid veterans left a unit that finished third in sacks, points allowed and tied for fifth in sacks.

CINCINNATI BENGALS

Coach: Zac Taylor (fourth season, 28-36-1 in regular season, 5-2 in playoffs).

Last season: 14-5 (first in the division), lost the AFC Championship Game to Kansas City.

Key additions: OT Orlando Brown Jr., TE Irv Smith Jr., S Nick Scott, DE Myles Murphy, CB DJ Turner II.

Key subtractions: S Jessie Bates III, S Vonn Bell, CB Eli Apple, TE Hayden Hurt, RB Samaje Perine.

Looking ahead: They improved Joe Burrow’s protection and got rewarded with a 35/12 TD/INT ratio and being the NFL’s third-best team on third down. But watch Joe Mixon. He ran for only 3.9 yards per carry, five of his seven touchdowns came in one game and the Striped Ones don’t have good backups. Burrow and the Bengals overall are the truth. Also, true: they rushed no passers and their secondary replaces three starters. That won’t do, even in the AFC North Fight Club, so the Bengals spent their first three picks on Murphy, Turner and safety Jordan Battle.

CLEVELAND BROWNS

Coach: Kevin Stefanski (third season, 26-24 in the regular season, 1-1 in the playoffs).

Last season: 7-10 (fourth in the division).

Key additions: WR Elijah Moore, TE Jordan Akins, DE Ogbo Okoronkwo, DT Dalvin Tomlinson, S Juan Thornhill, K Dustin Hopkins.

Key subtractions: DE Jadeveon Clowney, DT Taven Bryan, S John Johnson III, RB Kareem Hunt, QB Jacoby Brissett.

Looking ahead: If the defense remains what it was, kicker Cade York and returns improve (and they should), this comes down to “Can quarterback Deshaun Watson find his 2020 play again?” If yes, the Browns could sneak into the playoffs. If Watson can’t shed the rust off the time missed by his suspension, the Browns’ trade for him goes bust and so does the franchise for a few years. Nick Chubb’s career yards per carry average: 5.2, same as the late, great Jim Brown. Chubb’s rushing TDs in Watson’s six starts: 0. That can’t happen.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Coach: Mike Tomlin (17th season with the Steelers, 163-93-2 regular season, 8-9 playoffs).

Last season: 9-8 (third in the division).

Key additions: OT Broderick Jones, CB Patrick Peterson, DT Keeanu Benton, CB Joey Porter, Jr., CB Desmond King, G Isaac Seumalo, WR Allen Robinson II, LB Elandon Roberts, LB Cole Holcomb, S Keanu Neal.

Key subtractions: CB Sam Sutton, LB Myles Jack, LB Devin Bush, S Terrell Edmunds.

Looking ahead: The Steelers gave the offense to a rookie quarterback for the first time since AOL Instant Messaging days, got only 10 games from 2021 NFL Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt and still came a December loss in Baltimore from the playoffs. For second-year thrower Kenny Pickett and running back Najee Harris, the Steelers upgraded the left side. Watt’s injury ended the Steelers’ five-season run as the NFL’s sack champs, but they tied for first in interceptions. Turnover fortune rarely repeats these days, however.