2010 NFL Preview: AFC North

Standings
1. Baltimore Ravens (12-4)
2. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7)
3. Cincinnati Bengals (8-8)
4. Cleveland Browns (2-14)

Most Valuable Offensive Player: Ray Rice (RB, Baltimore)
Most Valuable Defensive Player: Troy Polamalu (SS, Pittsburgh)
Addition With Biggest Impact: Anquan Boldin (WR, Baltimore)
Mr. Irrelevant: Jake Delhomme (QB, Cleveland)

It hurts me to say that with Ben Roethlisberger sitting four to six games thanks to sexual assault charges filed against him, my Pittsburgh Steelers don't really stand a chance of winning the AFC North, let alone nabbing a playoff spot in an American Football Conference that, while even stronger, should continue to fall victim to parody. This year, and potentially for years to come, the AFC North title is for the Baltimore Ravens to lose. I wouldn't feel so strongly this way if it wasn't for the brilliant addition of maligned Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Anquan Boldin. Boldin probably is a little overrated, and even if he stays healthy for an entire season (which is unlikely), won't be as good as the top tier AFC receivers when he's the team's number one guy. But, he can only help a team that was already headed in the right direction. In his rookie year, quarterback Joe Flacco lead the team to the AFC championship, then last year showed gaudier statistics. He's got to be ecstatic to have the younger, more explosive Boldin to throw to, though journeyman Derrick Mason is the definition of consistency and performing above expectations year in and year out. What a mega-bonus that Ray Rice quite possibly is the most talented running back in the NFL. Not only is he amazing in the ground game, but he sure knows how to catch a shit-ton of footballs and make plays. Last year was no fluke, and his numbers should be absolutely ridiculous this time around. Future Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis and ball hawking free safety Ed Reed (who may or may not be on the verge of retiring) make the Ravens defense a little old, but you couldn't ask for better leaders on the field. That defense is still one of the best in the entire NFL, and not that the offensive pieces are really coming together, their first Super Bowl appearance since after the 2000 season when they annihilated the New York Giants shouldn't be too far off. Just not this year.

I don't think the Steelers will lose every game that Roethlisberger doesn't play, but it'll be tough. Hopefully backup Dennis Dixon can perform at least as well as he did in the one game he played last year, which was against Baltimore, so that Byron Leftwich doesn't come in and screw everything up. The infamous Pittsburgh running game was revived a bit last year thanks to the surprisingly outstanding performance of Rashard Mendenhall, but they have become a passing team now, and they really need Roethlisberger to be successful at it. The loss of Santonio Holmes hurts, but Mike Wallace could pick up where he left off, and Hines Ward almost seems to be getting better as he gets older. The Steelers always have one of the league's top defenses, but they took a step back last year. However, linebackers James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley and strong safety Troy Polamalu still make them tremendously dangerous.

There is no way the Cincinnati Bengals can repeat what they accomplished last year, which was a 10-6 record and the AFC North crown. Sure, they were embarrassed by the New York Jets in their final regular season game, and then again in the Wild Card round of the playoffs. It was still an impressive outing for a team that is usually pretty bad. I don't think they'll return to being bad again this year, but they won't be great. Quarterback Carson Palmer's arm continues to falter with each passing year, and Chad Ochocinco isn't getting any younger (IS getting more and more hilarious, though). Running back Cedric Benson came out of nowhere to have a career year. He could have rushed for 1,500 yards if a hip injury hadn't required him to miss two games. Their defense made some huge strides last year, and defensive end Antwan Odom (who led the league in sacks before suffering an Achilles tendon tear), linebackers Rey Maualuga and Dhani Jones and cornerback Leon Hall make them pretty formidable. However, I'm not convinced that they are good enough on either side of the ball to win quite like they did last year.

The Cleveland Browns are another team to add to the list of potentially worst teams in the NFL in 2010. Their quarterback situation is much better than it was last year, though the way Jake Delhomme played in the playoffs following the 2008 season and all of last year, I hope they're not expecting much. That could have been the stupidest move in the 2010 off-season. I have more faith in former Seattle Seahawks backup Seneca Wallace. Joe Thomas is one of the best offensive lineman in the league, but one awesome guy on the line isn't going to save this offense. Running back Jerome Harrison broke out at the end of last year, rushing for 550+ yards in his final three games, which is completely insane, but he is unproven. The defense could become solid as the squad learns to play together, but I'll be surprised if that actually happens. Joshua Cribbs is the best return man in the game right now. So, there actually are more positives for the Browns than I realized, but there are too many enormous questions that if they don't work out the right way, 2010 will most likely be a disaster for this team.