By: Luke DeSalvatore
Rewinding 2025
Last season, the AFC North was possibly the most disappointing division in the NFL and the usual competitiveness we see from this division vanished. The Steelers came out on top, only having to win 10 games to seal it after veteran QB Aaron Rodgers kept the team afloat. In second came the Ravens who were fully expected to be one of the elite teams in the league, but finished with 8 wins due to another year of injuries from Lamar Jackson. Next came the Bengals, following the trend of injuries after star Joe Burrow completed only half the season, which resulted in finishing with 6 victories. In the end, like most seasons, the Browns finished in last place as they used 3 different QBs throughout the season. Cleveland left fans disappointed once again, outscoring opponents in just five games throughout the year. As we look ahead to this upcoming season, the AFC North should be back in contention.
Cincinnati Bengals
Star Power in Cincinnati
Even when they disappoint, the Cincinnati Bengals never lack star power. For the past 5 seasons, QB Joe Burrow and WR Ja’Marr Chase have been arguably the best duo in the entire league and when healthy, put up stunning numbers. In 2025, Joe Burrow suffered a turf toe injury which only allowed him to complete 8 games which essentially gave the Bengals no chance. At this team's best, the offense has never been the issue. Every season the same story appears where it seems like the offense has to put up 30 points just to have a chance. Cincinnati’s defense has been a huge struggle in every way, and it was clear this offseason that would change at last. This front office went out and made two game-changing d-line moves which included trading the 10th pick for the two time all pro Dexter Lawrence, as well as signing the veteran star Jonathan Allen. As a bonus, they added Super Bowl champion Boye Mafe to solidify what was an impressive offseason to say the least.
Strengths & Weaknesses
After highlighting the strengths of the Bengals in their passing attack and now their defensive line, there are key weaknesses to look out for. The offensive line has been nearly as bad as possible as they ranked 30th in the NFL last year. For most of Burrow’s career, he has been seen constantly having to run for his life as the biggest priority. The other fault of this team lies in their secondary as they have lacked any standout players over the years. The defensive backs finished 25th in 2025 and look to turn the ship around after signing S Bryan Cook to a $40 million deal to hopefully aid the struggling group. The Bengals’ ceiling is through the roof and it isn’t out of the cards for them to go back to being one of the top teams in the NFL if healthy.
Prediction
Record: 13-4
Division Finish: 1st
Team X-Factor: Can the Defense Hold Up?
Baltimore Ravens
Still Chasing the Crown
The script for the Baltimore Ravens in 2025 was in ways, similar to the Bengals. Superstar QB Lamar Jackson was in and out the whole season as multiple injuries kept him sidelined. Without Lamar, this team has very little chance of coming out on top in their matchups and that showed in a prominent fashion. This off-season started with a massive change to the franchise. Long-time head coach John Harbaugh was fired which left fans with very mixed opinions as he now continues his great career with the New York Giants. To replace him, the Ravens decided to make Jesse Minter their new leader who previously worked in various roles for the team in the past. The biggest boost on the player side of things was quite a large one. In free agency, they signed their rival, the Bengals, former star edge rusher Trey Hendrickson to an enormous deal who will now become one of the faces of this Baltimore defense. This four year, $112 million contract includes over half of it in guaranteed money and secures a new leader of the defensive line for years to come.
Strengths & Weaknesses
The rushing attack of the Baltimore Ravens is among the best of the best. Their running back, Derrick Henry, is a future first-ballot Hall of Famer and has been a top-five threat in just about every season he’s played in. Not only is he elite, but QB Lamar Jackson is the No.1 dual threat by far as he is dominant on all levels. Per usual, it’s safe to say when a team game plans against the Ravens, stopping the run will be circled first. The most significant flaw of this squad lies in the offensive line. This past off-season they lost Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum and now the O-line situation looks complicated for this year. Besides veteran tackle Ronnie Stanley, the unit will have to rely on other guys to step up and protect their QB in 2026.
Prediction
Record: 12-5
Division Finish: 2nd
Team X-Factor: Can Minter Fill Harbaugh’s Shoes?
Pittsburgh Steelers
Caught in the Middle
In recent history, the Pittsburgh Steelers have been stuck in the same cycle almost every season. The script for former head coach Mike Tomlin had been simple: Be just good enough every season to sneak into the playoffs, only to be knocked out almost immediately. This process kept his job alive, but the fire eventually burned out as the Steelers made experienced head coach Mike McCarthy their new leader. Although this team came out on top in the division last year, they knew another 10-7 season would most likely result in others passing them. This off-season, minor improvements were made like the signing of WR Michael Pittman Jr., but regression is still possible. QB Aaron Rodgers is a sure-fire Hall of Famer but his career is coming to a close soon as this might be his last season. Although he still gets the job done, he might not be everything the Steelers need to make another playoff appearance in the tough AFC North.
Strengths & Weaknesses
As always, the best quality of the Pittsburgh Steelers is far and away their defensive line. The longtime duo of T.J. Watt and Cameron Heyward have been giving opposing QBs nightmares for years now and should continue to do so this upcoming season. The part of this squad lacking overall is the run game. Instead of a clear leader in the running back room, it should be more of a team effort this year as it was previously. Jaylen Warren has been solid over the years, but the rushing unit lacks star power as a whole. The rushing game also relies on the QB at times but Pittsburgh doesn’t have that luxury as Aaron Rodgers lacks any scrambling abilities.
Prediction
Record: 7-10
Division Finish: 3rd
Team X-Factor: Aaron Rodgers Turning Back the Clock
Cleveland Browns
Back to the Drawing Board
An absolutely stunning move was completed by the Cleveland Browns this offseason. In a trade with the Los Angeles Rams, Cleveland sent DPOY Myles Garrett in exchange for rising star Jared Verse along with an array of draft picks. This left most Browns fans in shock as the face of their franchise had vanished from them just like that. Now, with QB Deshaun Watson making his return, the Browns will be forced to search for a new identity in 2026. A couple young additions were made in the draft as OT Spencer Fano and WR KC Concepcion will provide a young spark alongside their veteran QB this upcoming season. Although expectations might not be high for the Browns, the potential is there to possibly succeed behind a mostly youthful core this year while giving fans hope for the future.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Trading DE Myles Garrett surprisingly shouldn’t alter the strongest position group of this team. Cleveland’s defensive line still looks like a force to be reckoned with led by who they received for their superstar, Jared Verse. Along with Verse, second year DT Mason Graham should provide a meaningful foundation for this defense, which will likely be the overall strength of this team. As for a weakness, the QB room stands out when looking at this roster. Deshaun Watson has had too many off-field complications to count over the years, Shedeur Sanders has shown flashes but isn’t there yet, and Dillon Gabriel has barely gotten any meaningful playing time. It wouldn’t be shocking to anyone if the Cleveland Browns have another year of using three QBs over the course of the season.
Prediction
Record: 4-13
Division Finish: 4th
Team X-Factor: Finding a Franchise QB
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