Much has happened in the AFC North this past off-season. Terrell Owens signed with the Cincinnati Bengals, teaming up with fellow drama-prone receiver Chad Ochocinco. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger got in trouble once again and got slapped with a four-game suspension. Also, the Ravens will have to do without All-Pro safety Ed Reed for the first six games of the season due to off-season hip surgery, and the Cleveland Browns–well you get the point.
So let us just get down to it and see what each team has to offer this 2010 season.
Cleveland Browns – This year will be no different from the last with newly added quarterback Jack Delhomme. The 12-year veteran has been going downhill the past few years. I doubt he will surpass his last season total of eight touchdown passes and a little over 2,000 yards through the air. Let us hope for Cleveland’s sake that the University of Texas star Colt McCoy finds his rhythm before the season starts. Playoff hopes are not likely this year.
Pittsburgh Steelers – The Steelers are not going far this season, that is for sure. The 2008 Super Bowl champs will not have a legitimate quarterback and to add to the destruction the team lost arguably its best receiver, Santonio Holmes, to a trade with the Jets. The team, which has been the talk of the division for so many seasons, will be at the bottom (I doubt rapper Snoop Dogg will be pleased).
Baltimore Ravens – The offense has improved drastically with the acquisitions of receivers Anquan Boldin and T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Quarterback Joe Flacco should have no problem picking up touchdowns this season.
With all the offensive weapons, we can’t forget about the star of the team, linebacker Ray Lewis, and the excitement he brings to the defense. Be on the lookout for the Ravens to make a strong push in the division.
Cincinnati Bengals – Finally, we have the Bengals, the team in my opinion that is going to take the whole enchilada: the division and the Super Bowl. I said it, the Bengals are going to win Super Bowl XLV. Here’s why.
The acquisition of Terrell Owens may have been the best off-season move any team in the NFL has made. Owens and Ochocinco, proclaimed “Batman and Robin” by the media, will be an unstoppable wide receiver duo and will give some of the top corners in the game trouble.
The two may have the biggest egos in the NFL but I am sure both will put their personas behind themselves and get down to business on the field and leave their antics in their VH1 time slots.
So make sure to check out the Bengals this season and hopefully “Ochocinco: The Ultimate Catch” and “The T.O. Show” will be the only distractions we see from the two.
