2018 AFC North Preview: Steelers on Top; Browns Poised to Win?

• What are the odds for each team to win the AFC North division in 2018?
• Can Pittsburgh repeat as division champs?
• Will multiple additions in Cleveland see Hue Jackson save his job?
  

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The Pittsburgh Steelers were last year’s AFC North winners and will be hoping to progress further than the Divisional Round of the playoffs this time around. On the other end, the Cleveland Browns are hoping they’ve made enough changes to improve upon last year’s 0-16 season.

Join us as we take a look at the odds in sportsbooks to win the AFC North in 2018 and preview each of the four teams.

AFC North Odds to Win Division

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers may not have filled their backers’ pockets with winnings in going 7-9 ATS, however they tied with three other teams for the best record in the league at 13-3. The Steelers were a balanced unit ranking third in yards/game on offense and fifth on defense. For all their regular season success Pittsburgh made a quick exit from the playoffs in the Divisional Round losing a shootout with Jacksonville 45-42.

The Steelers have been the class of the division for the past few seasons. In the last four years they have posted double-digit wins and made the playoffs in all four, while also winning the division title three times. They are the clear favorites to win the AFC North again and are second-favorites behind New England to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl according to futures odds.

The Steelers scored the eighth-most points in the league with 406 but enter 2018 with several questions on offense. Offensive Coordinator Todd Haley now has the same role in Cleveland, troubled WR Martavis Bryant was traded and star RB Le’Veon Bell has not shown up to training camp after being slapped with the franchise tag for the second straight year.

Steelers’ QB Coach Randy Fichtner is the new OC, so Ben Roethlisberger will have some continuity. Pittsburgh has been the poster child for pass-heavy attacks, especially on first down and it will be interesting to see how, or if, that changes in 2018.

Here are the tendencies of all teams in 2017 on first-and-10 in the first half. Source: https://t.co/xeTdzoY6hu pic.twitter.com/L5gpe6hh6e

— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) July 25, 2018

The Steelers will need to adjust to being without their leader on defense, Ryan Shazier, for a full season after he suffered a likely career-ending spinal injury last year. New signing Jon Bostic from the Colts should be the replacement for Shazier at linebacker.

Steelers’ Key 2018 Additions/Departures

Baltimore Ravens

At 9-7 overall and 8-7-1 ATS the Baltimore Ravens actually posted their best record last season since 2014. Unfortunately it was not enough to get them to the playoffs and they missed out for the third straight year.

The Ravens relied heavily on the defense in 2017 which ranked 12th in yards per game and lead the league in turnover-differential at plus-17.

QB Joe Flacco found himself on his back often, being sacked 41 times, and the offense sputtered along at 27th in yards per game. The Ravens relied heavily on the defense in 2017 which ranked 12th in yards per game and led the league in turnover-differential at plus-17.

The defense will have a new face running it, with Linebackers Coach Don Martinale being promoted to Defensive Coordinator to replace Dean Pees. From a personnel standpoint they will return a similar unit and will be hoping CB Jimmy Smith recovers in time from a December Achilles surgery.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9F1hWK1x6e0

Since signing his big contract extension after winning the Super Bowl, starting QB Joe Flacco has seen a precipitous decline in his production. Since 2012, Flacco is last in the NFL in touchdown to interception rate as well as in yards per attempt.

The Ravens hope they’ve found his successor in 32nd overall draft pick Lamar Jackson from Louisville. Jackson boasts a strong arm and fantastic mobility which could bring a new dimension to the Ravens’ offense.

Several receiving options were jettisoned and WRs Michael Crabtree (Oakland), John Brown (Arizona) and Willie Snead (New Orleans) were signed. Crabtree, with eight TDs last year is the highlight of those signings. They also used their first round draft pick on TE Hayden Hurst from South Carolina.

Ravens’ Key 2018 Additions/Departures

Cincinnati Bengals

Cincinnati opened 2017 with a humiliating 20-0 home loss. While they were a respectable 9-7 ATS on the year, that loss was a precursor to an 0-3 start which they never recovered from. The Bengals finished with a 7-9 record and fell out of the playoffs for the second straight year. Much of Cincy’s problems came on the offensive side as they finished dead last in total yards/game. Their defense was respectable ranking 18th overall.

While many may have expected a change in the head coaching department, Marvin Lewis returns for a 16th season. Lewis’ Bengals have regressed the past two seasons with 7-9 and 6-9-1 records. Prior to this they had posted four straight double-digit winning years and made it to the Wild Card Round of the playoffs five years in a row.

Bengals’ fans will see more of RBs Joe Mixon and Giovanni Bernard with the departure of Jeremy Hill. The biggest change offensively though will be the look of the playbook which Offensive Coordinator Bill Lazor has completely revamped. The Bengals’ offensive line struggled allowing 41 sacks and will welcome Cordy Glenn at left tackle and first round pick Billy Price at centre.

Rookie @lil_t8te made a big impression at the #Bengals mid-June minicamp.

Emphasis on 𝑩𝑰𝑮.
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The 6’5”, 228 lb wide receiver out of @FSUFootball made several jaw-dropping touchdown catches that made A.J. Green call him “a young Brandon Marshall”.

📰: https://t.co/EKYmgrWcck pic.twitter.com/aCccy0FWVz

— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) July 15, 2018

Cincinnati will be without a key piece to their defense with Vontaze Burfict serving a four-game suspension for violating the league’s policy on performance enhancing drugs.

Defensive Coordinator Paul Guenther has left for Oakland, so Teryl Austin from Detroit will now step into the role. The Bengals’ defense shouldn’t change much, as Austin’s defensive beliefs are very similar to that of Guenther’s. All told, Cincinnati is hoping that consistency with their roster will lead to better results in 2018.

Bengals’ Key 2018 Additions/Departures

Cleveland Browns

It’s tough to point to positives from 2017 when you go 0-16. The Browns weren’t much better ATS going 4-12. With a 1-15 record in 2016, Head Coach Hue Jackson is now the owner of a 1-31 coaching record with Cleveland. Browns’ owner Jimmy Haslam is trusting the process and has shown faith in bringing back Jackson for another year. However, bookies have pegged Jackson as the favorite to be the first NFL Head Coach fired. 

With a 1-15 record in 2016 as well, head coach Hue Jackson is now the owner of a 1-31 coaching record with the Browns.

The Browns’ defense wasn’t the problem in ranking seventh against the rush in yards per game, 19th against the pass, and 14th overall.

As poor as Cleveland was in 2017 (and they were bad), they were often at least competitive. Unfortunately, bad decisions and a league-worst 41 giveaways and minus-28 turnover-differential were far more than they could overcome. An offense lead by the turnover prone DeShone Kizer at QB ranked 24th in yards per game.

The Browns are hoping to have rectified that situation with the addition of ex-Bills’ QB Tyrod Taylor. Taylor  had just 14 passing TDs last year but he also only had four INTs. His sound decision-making behind centre ranks him behind only Tom Brady in interception rate the past three years. Pushing Taylor for snaps could also be first overall draft pick Baker Mayfield from Oklahoma.

The offense also sees the addition of new Offensive Coordinator Todd Haley, who comes over from Pittsburgh. Carlos Hyde and his eight TDs take over at running back, while slot receiver Jarvis Landry is an impact signing at receiver. Landry had 112 receptions and nine TDs for Miami last year. Those 112 catches were the most in the league and since 2014 he ranks third overall in catches.

Landry could be counted on even more going into the season with fellow receiver Josh Gordon on the “did not report” list for training camp. Gordon is pursuing further rehab and treatment to deal with his mental health and anxiety as related to past substance abuse issues.

Below Taylor discusses his excitement for 2018, Gordon, the potential of signing free agent WR Dez Bryant, and more.

#Browns starting QB Tyrod Taylor on:
– a new year
– Josh Gordon reaction
– possibly adding Dez Bryant
– Corey Coleman’s talent pic.twitter.com/fYgfHOZBy0

— Daryl Ruiter (@RuiterWrongFAN) July 26, 2018

Browns’ Key 2018 Additions/Departures