We will be covering the entire off season for each team and giving you a preview of the upcoming 2009 season with updates from now through kickoff of Week 1 of the NFL 2009\/10 Season.<\/p>\n
Are you ready for some football?<\/strong><\/p>\n You’re not seriously researching Wimbledon finals odds, are you? Wake me when it’s over. Let’s talk about the gridiron instead. This week, we shift to the AFC North, home of smashmouth football and, of course, the defending Super Bowl Champions.<\/p>\n Can anyone challenge the Steelers this season?<\/p>\n PITTSBURGH STEELERS<\/strong><\/p>\n Odds to win the AFC North: -200<\/strong><\/p>\n Let the good times roll in Steeltown. After Pittsburgh’s 2005 Super Bowl came a 2006 hangover; don’t expect the same after the 2008 Super Bowl win. Not only is virtually all important personnel back, the Steelers may get even better in 2009. Behind center, we know what Ben Roethlisberger can do; he makes mistakes, but he’s a gifted athlete and a pure winner. Target Santonio Holmes still has room to improve and, while Hines Ward is entering the twilight of his career, Limas Swede could step up. The Steelers rushing attack ranked just 23rd<\/sup> in the league but could spike significantly with Rashard Mendenhall, forgotten last season after breaking his shoulder in Week 4, hopefully playing a full year. He still has the chance to become an elite back and will push Fast Willie Parker for carries.<\/p>\n The “D” needs no introduction; it was simply phenomenal last season – fewest points allowed, second against the pass, second against the run. Defensive Player of the Year James Harrison leads a dominant front seven and Troy Polamalu will keep making plays in the secondary.<\/p>\n You get the picture. The Steelers are a force and their NFL betting odds of winning both the North and the Super Bowl are great.<\/p>\n BALTIMORE RAVENS<\/strong><\/p>\n Odds to win the AFC North: +225<\/strong><\/p>\n The Ravens are Pittsburgh’s only real competition in the North and there’s plenty to like about them. Thanks to big-armed Joe Flacco’s strong rookie campaign, the Ravens finally have a viable passing attack. It makes their running game that much better – and the Willis McGahee\/Le’Ron McClain-led unit pounded defenses for an AFC-best 148.5 yards per game in 2008.<\/p>\n Baltimore’s defense is a bit long in the tooth but still effective, as Ray Lewis covers a lot of ground at linebacker and Ed Reed isn’t slowing down his ballhawking ways – he led the NFL with nine picks in ’08.<\/p>\n CINCINNATI BENGALS<\/strong><\/p>\n Odds to win the AFC North: +900<\/strong><\/p>\n Being a Bengals fan the last few years has to be hard. With the great passing attack build around Carson Palmer, NFL predictions had them contending year after year, but they kept falling flat, mainly because of injuries. Now Palmer looks healthy but T.J. Houshmandzadeh left town.<\/p>\n Still, there’s some reason for optimism in Cincy. Palmer should finally get some protection after the Bengals spent a first-round pick on offensive tackle Andre Smith. Also, their defense is underrated. It was quietly 12th<\/sup>-best in the NFL last season, good for the franchise’s best ranking in nine years. Vets Roy Williams and Tank Johnson should only help it get better.<\/p>\n CLEVELAND BROWNS<\/strong><\/p>\n Odds to win the AFC North: +1100<\/strong><\/p>\n What…happened? The Browns must feel like the guys in the movie The Hangover, <\/em>waking up after a nightmare 2008 to see that Eric Mangini is coaching, Braylon Edwards’ hands have turned to stone and Kellen Winslow Jr. is gone. They’ll try to pick up the pieces despite little faith from sports predictions experts. Brady Quinn should get his chance to start and lead the team, though he’ll have to battle Derek Anderson again. The Browns’ “D” gets lit up like a Christmas Tree every year but Mangini should remedy the situation. He ushered in a pile of his Jets pupils — Kenyon Coleman, Eric Barton, David Bowens and Abram Elam – who should get the defense closer to respectability.<\/p>\nThe Ravens look like a playoff team again and could make things interesting in the North if Flacco continues to grow – though he’ll need a wideout other than Derrick Mason to step up.<\/p>\n