AFC preview with Sports Illustrated's Conor Orr: Steelers 3rd in North; Browns legit Super Bowl contenders

Jun. 25—The latest BetOnLine.ag odds (21/20) have the Steelers most likely to finish third in the AFC North behind the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens.

That's a bet I'd make. And it sure sounds like Conor Orr of Sports Illustrated would as well.

Orr joins us for Friday's "Breakfast With Benz" podcast, and he says the Steelers are likely in a position where they are going to have to scratch their way into a wild-card spot if they are to make the playoffs.

"I have them third in the division right now," Orr said. "With a couple of big variables: How healthy Cleveland's offensive line can stay? What Lamar Jackson's new offense looks like in Baltimore."

And while Orr is bullish on new offensive coordinator Matt Canada's influence, he still has modest goals in mind for the Steelers.

"It's in that nine-, maybe 10-win range if things go incredibly well," Orr said.

One of the reasons Orr is leery of the Steelers' playoff chances is that he sees the Browns and Ravens as stiff competition in the North. And he is on board with All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce's recent statement that his Chiefs should view Cleveland as their toughest competition in the AFC.

"They are probably the third- or fourth-best team in the NFL right now, which gives them as good of a chance as any other team of reaching the Super Bowl," Orr insisted. "I think they are that good. This team is loaded on the offensive line, which is super important. They are deep at the right positions. They nailed the draft like few other teams did.

"They did a brilliant job this offseason. This team is going to be really, really good. If they don't contend for the Super Bowl, I think this season is a huge disappointment."

I'm not going to go quite that far on the Browns. I think the Buffalo Bills and Ravens are still nipping at the heels of the Chiefs more than Cleveland is. However, I do think the Browns will be the top wild-card team in the AFC.

In the South Division, Orr believes the Tennessee Titans and Indianapolis Colts are poised for a playoff return. And he is particularly high on the Colts because of the reunion between coach Frank Reich and quarterback Carson Wentz.

When they were together as members of the 2017 Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl team, Wentz was the regular-season starting quarterback and Reich was the offensive coordinator under coach Doug Pederson.

"I like Indianapolis this year," Orr said. "There is no fixing to be done with Carson Wentz. There is running an offense in the way Frank Reich knows how to run it. There is running an offense the way Doug Pederson likes to run it. And when Reich left, they couldn't put it together. I think that the real change is going to be providing Wentz a game plan he is comfortable with and giving him options for places to throw. I think he is going to be the vintage Wentz that we have seen."

If there is a threat from another team that didn't make the AFC postseason bracket a year ago, Orr warns that the Denver Broncos could be lurking.

And that's with or without a trade for Aaron Rodgers.

"This team is loaded defensively. They are getting their best players back," Orr said. "This is probably on paper the most talented defense Vic Fangio has had. And he is the best defensive coordinator in the league."

Also in our podcast, Orr talks about the Steelers being held back from Saint Vincent College in training camp this year, how he sees Mike Tomlin impacting the Steelers 2021 campaign and if there is any challenge to Buffalo looming in the AFC East.

Listen: Tim Benz and Conor Orr of Sports Illustrated preview what's ahead in the AFC this season.

Tim Benz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tim at tbenz@triblive.com or via Twitter. All tweets could be reposted. All emails are subject to publication unless specified otherwise.