The four AFC North squads — Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, and Pittsburgh Steelers — commenced training camps this week. The NFL’s most competitive division, one in which all four teams finished above .500 in 2023, will return for an encore performance in 2024.
Joe Burrow is back under center for the Bengals after missing the final month and a half of 2023. Meanwhile, Mike Tomlin will start his team’s campaign looking to preserve his long-running streak of seasons in which his teams finished with a winning record, and Deshaun Watson looks to shake off his 2023 injuries to lead Cleveland back to the postseason. But in the AFC North, it will once again be Baltimore’s division to lose.
Let’s get back to it.
2024 AFC North Champions: Baltimore Ravens
Predicted Record: 13-4
Baltimore put together the NFL’s best defense in the 2023 campaign. That defensive prowess wasn’t enough to overcome the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game. Baltimore did select DB Nate Wiggins with their top choice, the 30th overall pick, the front of a defensively-leaning draft class. Earlier in the offseason, the Ravens landed another big prize: Derrick Henry. Baltimore’s biggest failure in the AFC Title Game loss was not getting the running game going. Acquiring Henry, who finished 2023 with nearly 1,200 yards and 12 touchdowns for the 6-11 Titans, is a mistake that Baltimore is seeking to avoid occurring again.
The loss of Defensive Coordinator Mike Macdonald to the Seahawks places some shroud of question over how well Baltimore’s defense will perform in 2024, in spite of Baltimore going internal to bring Zach Orr into the position. Baltimore will open 2024 by having to travel to Kansas City, then also will have contests against the Bills and Cowboys in September, before their AFC North campaign opens on October 6th. The Ravens will also have to play twice in five days, as part of the arrangement to get the NFL back on Christmas Day in 2024.
Despite these questions, you can never count out Lamar Jackson and John Harbaugh to once again lead the AFC North.
Cincinnati Bengals
Predicted Record: 11-6
Joe Burrow missed the final month and a half of 2023, yet somehow, the Bengals still scrapped together a winning record, remaining perfectly alive for a Wild Card berth into Week 17. Protecting Burrow was an immediate priority for Zac Taylor, and thus, the team’s foremost draft choice became Georgia tackle Amarius Mims. Trent Brown was also brought in to help protect Burrow, who has admitted at times he might want to retire early due to injuries.
However, expect the Bengals to return to form amidst the other AFC North squads. Much like the Ravens, Cincinnati’s AFC North schedule will not commence until the teams meet for the first time in Week 5, and the rest of their first two months is as follows:
Vs. Patriots, At Chiefs, Vs. Commanders, At Panthers, At Giants, At Cleveland, Vs. Philadelphia
The Bengals can race out to a fast start in 2024, but with their two contests against Baltimore unlikely to go their way, the Bengals will settle for an 11-6 record and a Wild Card berth to return to the postseason.
Cleveland Browns
Predicted Record: 10-7
For all intents and purposes, the Browns and embattled star Deshaun Watson have one more chance to prove that their massive trade for him back in 2022 doesn’t end up a total flop. Watson’s 2023 started off decent, but then his campaign was brought to an end before November was out. With only Joe Flacco to turn to, Cleveland kept the AFC North race alive deep into December, to only then lose on Wild Card Weekend to the Texans in a beatdown.
The continued after-effects of the trade above left the Browns with no first-round choice in 2024, with their first selection being Ohio State alumnus Michael Hall Jr. Cleveland has to open 2024 with a game against the Cowboys, and also have to take on their AFC North rivals and the Eagles in a three-week stretch to end October. A game against the Chiefs also awaits in Week 15, followed by their final contest with the Bengals for the season four days later on Thursday Night.
If Watson can stay on the field, and finally put a full campaign together, the Browns should be able to cobble together another playoff run. But with no Joe Flacco to fall back on, the Browns’ season can fall on its side should Watson end up injured and with now Jameis Winston to turn to as backup.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Predicted Record: 7-10
Russell Wilson and Justin Fields have been the center of much discourse over the past few campaigns. They are now together on the same roster and in the same QB room. Mike Tomlin got Pittsburgh back to the postseason in 2023, despite the Steelers possessing one of the league’s worst offenses.
Like the Bengals, the Steelers drafted an offensive lineman of their own–Washington’s Troy Fautanu. The Steelers open their campaign first with a trip to Atlanta, then Russell Wilson’s Denver homecoming awaits in Week 2. However, in an unusual twist of the knife, the NFL schedule makers loaded the back end of their campaign almost exclusively with contests against their fellow AFC North squads, with only contests against the Chiefs–on Christmas–and a reunion with Kenny Pickett in Philadelphia in Week 15.
Let’s cut to the chase, the Steelers will not win the AFC North in 2024. They probably won’t even make the playoffs–and there could be a real chance Mike Tomlin’s first losing season as Steelers Head Coach finally occurs in 2024. Will Tomlin’s job survive such a possibility?
