Early AFC North Prediction - Ravens Surpass Bengals?
The Baltimore Ravens have been through an emotional rollercoaster this offseason. With Lamar Jackson's contract saga to now having what some call one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL with the additions of Zay Flowers and Odell Beckham Jr.
But ... despite all that weaponry, can the Ravens catch Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals to win the division? It seems odd that Baltimore hasn't won the AFC North since 2019, but that is precisely what has happened with the rise of Burrow.
So, can Baltimore dethrone the Bengals with Beckham Jr., Flowers, and new offensive coordinator Todd Monken? CBSSports.com's Will Brunson doesn't think so.
"The Bengals have never been AFC North champs for three straight seasons," Brunson writes. "Last year was just their 12th divisional title and just the second time they repeated as divisional champs. Joe Burrow is pretty good! This year would have been a cakewalk, too, barring something strange, if Baltimore hadn't gotten its act together and inked Lamar Jackson to a long-term deal.
"Jackson's presence definitely makes this divisional race much more interesting. I've still got the Bengals squeaking it out, although in very narrow fashion with the Ravens projecting as the top wild-card team in the AFC. I love Todd Monken's addition as offensive coordinator plus the weapons Baltimore grabbed for Lamar this offseason."
The Ravens, with their new additions on paper, look like a formidable unit, but the game isn't played on paper. Also, there is a small thing about learning Monken's new offensive scheme - it would help if Lamar was at the facility.
With both the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns going through a rebuild of sorts, it is clear that the AFC North will be between the Bengals and Ravens.
Brunson has Baltimore going 12-5 while the Bengals have a 13-4 record, so just one game separates them in his projection system. It would mark the first time since 2014 that the Ravens won more than 11 games, and most fans would take that right now.
With both set to feature heavily in Super Bowl calculations for the AFC, this one will go down to the wire.
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