Pittsburgh Steelers 10-6
The reigning Super Bowl Champions lost no players of consequence this summer. In fact, the progressions of their 2008 rookies and the return of every single starter sans Bryant McFadden should have them right back in the mix for the AFC Championship and the Super Bowl. Limas Sweed and Rashard Mendenhall (hurt in 08) should help improve an offense that showed a new flair last season. The Steelers weren’t just the smash mouthed running team that everybody thought they were, they showed consistency throwing the ball downfield. The defense should be as ferocious as ever and Lawrence Timmons will be an upgrade over Larry Foote at middle linebacker. A real threat to repeat as champs.
Baltimore Ravens 10-6
The Ravens once again trot out a team that should be a smashed mouth, hard-nosed football team in 2009. Even with the loss of Rex Ryan on defense, the players and the leadership are in place to maintain a dominant physical style of play. Tavares Gooden should step right into Bart Scotts place on the defense and fair quite well. Haloti Ngata might be the best unknown defensive player in the entire league. Even without real threats at WR I happen to think the offense will improve with the progressions of Joe Flacco and especially Ray Rice. Rice will be a league leader in all purpose yards from scrimmage in 2009.
Cincinnati Bengals 6-10
The Bengals actually have big bounce back potential in 2009 if the arm of Carson Palmer is healthy. I am a big Palmer fan, and think that when healthy, he is right with the upper echelon of QB’s in the NFL. Cedric Benson was a nice addition to the team last year and should be a consistent force out of the backfield. The receiving corps, although losing TJ Houshmanzadeh, picked up Laveranues Coles and with the supposed maturation of Chris Henry off the field and the return to form of Chad Ochocinco (definitely a comeback POY candidate) the offense has a chance to be dynamic. The defense on the other hand just leaves a lot to be desired. This should be the final year for Marvin Lewis as the supposed defensive mastermind just won’t get past another horrendous year from a defense devoid of many playmakers.
Cleveland Browns 2-14
The hiring of Eric Mangina was just something that kind of perplexed me. There were a bevy of good coaches whom were let go by their teams, but the Browns saw none of them, because they rushed to hire Mangini. My big question is why, he wasn’t that successful in NY. Their offense is atrocious in my opinion. Maybe my own Bucs might be the only team hurting as much offensively as this team. Brady Quinn nor Derick Anderson have proved to be quality NFL players to this point. Braylan Edwards is a headcase and Jamal Lewis is old. I do happen to like the left side of their offensive line, with Alex Mack, Eric Steinbach and stud Joe Thomas. Their defense lacks star power just as much as their offense does. I’d take D’Qwell Jackson, Shaun Rogers and Eric Wright and start over. I just don’t see any way, especially in this division, that this team is even remotely good.