AFC North Predictions 2007

Baltimore Ravens - 10-6

Schedule

1. W - at Cincinnati
2. W - NY Jets
3. W - Arizona
4. L - at Cleveland
5. W - at San Francisco
6. W - St. Louis
7. L - at Buffalo
8. bye
9. W - at Pittsburgh
10. L - Cincinnati
11. W - Cleveland
12. W - at San Diego
13. W - New England
14. L - Indianapolis
15. L - at Miami
16. L - at Seattle
17. W - Pittsburgh

I like Baltimore's defense this year, which of course is perhaps the most obvious observation ever. The question will be whether Steve McNair can have another generally injury free year and if he doesn't, can Kyle Boller win? The Ravens are leaving themselves open to trouble if McNair does go down and Boller does thrive, considering that this is he walk year. I think that Troy Smith can be a starting quarterback in the year, but not by 2008.

Back to this season... I question the Willis McGahee acquisition. Does he really add anything that Jamal Lewis didn't? He's more or less a Lewis clone. I'm referring to the 2005-2006 Lewis, not the 2000 yard Lewis of '04. He just shies away from contact too much for a back his size.

Cleveland Browns - 10-6 - Wild Card

Schedule

1. L - Pittsburgh
2. L - Cincinnati
3. W - at Oakland
4. W - Baltimore
5. L - at New England
6. W - Miami
7. bye
8. W - at St. Louis
9. W - Seattle
10. W - at Pittsburgh
11. L - at Baltimore
12. L - Houston
13. W - at Arizona
14. W - at NY Jets
15. W - Buffalo
16. W - at Cincinnati
17. L - San Francisco

My second sleeper for 2007. Brady Quinn is the real thing. The Brown's season is entirely dependent on how fast he can enter the lineup and be effective. Considering the competition of Charlie Frye and Derek Alexander, that should be sooner rather than later. It would nice to let Quinn skip the dominant defenses of Oakland, Baltimore and New England and start his first game after the bye week, but the Brown's will need him sooner and the fans will demand him. Luckily the Browns have the makings of a solid offensive line, perhaps the most important element for the success of a young quarterback. The more time he has to make decisions, the better they will be.

Quinn will also find himself with a few quality weapons in a finally healthy Kellen Winslow Jr. and a soon to be star receiver in Braylon Edwards.

The Browns have quite a few quality teams to beet out for the wild card and find themselves in one of the toughest divisions. Their defense will have to take a step or two forward to match the progress of the offense if the Browns are to have any chance.

Pittsburgh Steelers - 9-7

Schedule

1. W - at Cleveland
2. W - Buffalo
3. L - San Francisco
4. W - at Arizona
5. W - Seattle
6. bye
7. L - at Denver
8. L - at Cincinnati
9. L - Baltimore
10. L - Cleveland
11. W - at NY Jets
12. W - Miami
13. W - Cincinnati
14. W - at New England
15. W - Jacksonville
16. L - at St. Louis
17. L - at Baltimore

I think Ben Roethlisberger will go back to being the Big Ben of his first two seasons and leave the forgettable 2006 behind. He'll also make a star of emerging Santonio Holmes. Hines Ward and Heath Miller will be there as always to serve as his security blanket.

The Steeler's defense has the potential to be dominant again, but I wonder if Mike Tomlin will really feel comfortable leaving it completely in the hands of Dick Lebeau and his 3-4, or will he try to meddle by adding a bit too much of his cover two... If Tomlin wants to change defensive styles, it would be far better to take the hit and rebuild his first year, rather than following in Bill Parcells' footsteps and rebuilding the defense in his image a few years in.

Cincinnati Bengals - 8-8

Schedule

1. L - Baltimore
2. W - at Cleveland
3. L - at Seattle
4. L - New England
5. bye
6. L - at Kansas City
7. L - NY Jets
8. W - Pittsburgh
9. W - at Buffalo
10. W - at Baltimore
11. W - Arizona
12. L - Tennessee
13. L - at Pittsburgh
14. W - St. Louis
15. W - at San Francisco
16. L - Cleveland
17. W - at Miami

Lost amid the frenzy over Mike Vick and Pacman Jones, the legal of troubles of the Bengals are already being forgotten by the public. Don't expect the football gods to forget. The Bengals will struggle again despite an explosive offense.

There's just not much else to see about the Bengals, big offense, no defense, lots of arrests.

Read more of my picks by watching the NFL Predictions 2007 tag.

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	AFC East Predictions 2007	Adam Hobson	Thu Sep 6	0
	NFC West Predictions 2007	Adam Hobson	Sun Sep 9	13