| As training camp has emerged creating a vast set of | | | | mention the potential impact of Ben Roethlisberger's |
| emotions of both hope for rookies and redundant | | | | injury. However, the team is still very strong |
| routines for veterans, it is never to early to began | | | | offensively and defensively feeding off the positive |
| the rampant speculations surrounding the issue of | | | | emotion from the Super Bowl. I do not expect a |
| how the teams will look in the standings come | | | | repeat of last season simply due to the incredible |
| season end. Through my knowledge of the sport and | | | | difficulty of such a task, but I do see another playoff |
| teams, as well as careful analysis of recent | | | | season for Bill Cower and his team. |
| off-season acquisitions and losses, I have come up | | | | The Baltimore Ravens seemed to have had an off |
| with a forecast of how I expect each team to finish | | | | year last season like so many other potentially good |
| in its respective division. Beginning with the AFC, this | | | | teams. The team was overcome by injuries, less |
| update will focus on the AFC West. | | | | than stellar seasons stats wise, and an incompetent |
| After notoriously being known as the "Bungles", the | | | | quarterback. This season I see an incredible |
| Cincinnati Bengals defied critics last year winning the | | | | turnaround for Brian Billick's team. The addition of |
| division. With a potent offense in Carlson Palmer, Rudi | | | | Steve McNair was huge, and I suspect this move will |
| Johnson, and Chad Johnson, the Bengals had one of | | | | be the mechanism which yields the Baltimore Ravens |
| the best all around offensive threats. Unfortunately, a | | | | as the 2007 Super Bowl Champions. The Ravens |
| chance of such a repetition may be hard to come by | | | | have all the weapons in defense with Ray Lewis and |
| this season, especially with Palmer's injury. While there | | | | Ed Reed who are both returning from injury, and |
| is a chance Palmer will come and play miraculously, | | | | Baltimore also has the artilleries in offense with |
| there are other areas which heed concern regarding | | | | Derrick Mason, Todd Heap, Jamal Lewis (who will |
| off field antics. Infamously becoming a team infested | | | | rebound this season), and now Steve McNair. If |
| with criminals, the chance for cohesion and chemistry, | | | | McNair does not get hurt for an extended period of |
| which I strongly advocate, is not likely especially with | | | | time and the offensive line plays at its maximum |
| the alleged report of Chad Johnson having a few | | | | potential, I believe the Baltimore Ravens are the |
| quarrels with head coach Marvin Lewis. The defense | | | | favorites to with Super Bowl XLI. |
| is still lacking, and since most of these alleged | | | | Last and least we have the Cleveland Browns. From |
| criminals are playing on that side of the ball, victories | | | | the team's off-season it seems like the front office |
| may be hard to come by. I'm expecting a less than | | | | wanted to add some extra mechanisms to at least |
| stellar season from Palmer's team, but I also would | | | | be competitive in some of the games played in. The |
| like to play a game regarding the team's win/loss | | | | additions of Willie Mcginest, Jurevicius, Joe, and Kellen |
| record. Which gets more in number? Chris Henry | | | | Winslow were decent, but with Charlie Frye as |
| arrests or Cincinnati victories? | | | | quarterback in an already tough division, I do not |
| Ah, the Pittsburgh Steelers encompassed the true | | | | think the Browns will even earn a respectable grade. |
| feel good story last season: coming in as an underdog | | | | Granted the Browns are better than San Francisco, |
| in the 6th seed position, having a quarterback make | | | | but only by a small margin. At least you have LeBron |
| a miraculous play to stop a season ending run, and | | | | James Cleveland fans. |
| having a running back retire after winning the | | | | Final AFC North Season Standings (*demonstrates |
| Lombardi Trophy in his birth town. Nothing could have | | | | making the playoffs) |
| been more exciting and pleasurable for Bill Cower's | | | | 1.*Baltimore Ravens: 11-5 |
| team during those few months. Coming into this | | | | 2. *Pittsburgh Steelers: 10-6 |
| season, the Steeler's have lost some key players | | | | 3. Cincinnati Bengals: 7-9 |
| such as Antwan Randle El and Jerome Bettis, not to | | | | 4. |