2020 NFL Preview & Predictions – AFC North
The AFC North had a rough 2019. Aside from the 14-2 Ravens, they had no Playoff teams, or any teams over .500. But with the Bengals landing Joe Burrow as the #1 pick, the talented Browns offense, and Big Ben back in Pittsburgh…things could be different in 2020. Let’s take a look.
Cincinnati Bengals
2019 Record - 2-14
2019 Scoring Offense - 30th
2019 Rushing Offense - 25th
2019 Passing Offense - 18th
2019 Scoring Defense - 25th
2019 Rushing Defense - 32nd
2019 Passing Defense - 21st
Key Losses - TE Tyler Eifert, G John Miller, DT Andrew Billings, QB Andy Dalton, S Clayton Fejedelem, CB Dre Kirkpatrick
Key Additions - DT D.J. Reader, CB Trae Waynes, SS Vonn Bell, G Xavier Su'a-Filo, CB Mackensie Alexander, QB Brandon Allen
Draft Picks - QB Joe Burrow, WR Tee Higgins, LB Logan Wilson, LB Akeem Davis-Gaither, DE Khalid Kareem, OT Hakeem Adeniji, LB Markus Bailey
Biggest Strength - A.J. Green
Biggest Weakness - The rest of the roster
Biggest Question - Outside of A.J. Green, will Joe Burrow have the weapons to win?
Notes - Bright future, but bleak 2020
COVID – DT Josh Tupou, OT Isaiah Prince opting out of season
2020 Prediction - 1-15
Cleveland Browns
2019 Record - 6-10
2019 Scoring Offense - 22nd
2019 Rushing Offense - 12th
2019 Passing Offense - 22nd
2019 Scoring Defense - 20th
2019 Rushing Defense - 30th
2019 Passing Defense - 7th
Key Losses - ILB Joe Schobert, ILB Christian Kirksey, FS Eric Murray, S Juston Burris, FS Damarious Randall, TE Ricky Seals-Jones, SS Morgan Burnett
Key Additions - TE Austin Hooper, RT Jack Conklin, DE Adrian Clayborn, CB Kevin Johnson, DT Andrew Billings, ILB B.J. Goodson, SS Andrew Sendejo
Draft Picks - OT Jedrick Wills Jr., S Grant Delpit, DT Jordan Elliott, LB Jacob Phillips, TE Harrison Bryant, C Nick Harris, WR Donovan Peoples-Jones
Biggest Strength - Loaded with offensive weapons (Nick Chubb, Odell Beckham, Jr., Jarvis Landry, Austin Hooper)
Biggest Weakness - Defensive backfield
Biggest Question - Will Baker Mayfield become the next Brett Favre…or the next Johnny Manziel?
Notes - New Head Coach (Kevin Stefanski); Aren’t we all a little excited for the implosion?
COVID – DT Andrew Billings, OT Drake Dorbeck, G Drew Forbes, G Colby Gossett, G Malcolm Pridgeon opting out of season
2020 Prediction - 7-9
Pittsburgh Steelers
2019 Record - 8-8
2019 Scoring Offense - 27th
2019 Rushing Offense - 29th
2019 Passing Offense - 31st
2019 Scoring Defense - 5th
2019 Rushing Defense - 14th
2019 Passing Defense - 3rd
Key Losses - DT Javon Hargrave, C B.J. Finney, FS Sean Davis, ILB Tyler Matakevich, TE Nick Vannett
Key Additions - TE Eric Ebron, DL Chris Wormley, FB Derek Watt
Draft Picks - WR Chase Claypool, LB Alex Highsmith, RB Anthony McFarland Jr., G Kevin Dotson, S Antoine Brooks Jr., DT Carlos Davis
Biggest Strength - Defensive front seven (Stephon Tuitt, Cameron Heyward, T.J. Watt, Devin Bush)
Biggest Weakness - Backup Quarterback for when Big Ben inevitably gets hurt
Biggest Question - See Biggest Weakness above
Notes - Great defense, and great offense IF Roethlisberger is healthy
2020 Prediction - 11-5
Baltimore Ravens
2019 Record - 14-2
2019 Scoring Offense - 1st
2019 Rushing Offense - 1st
2019 Passing Offense - 27th
2019 Scoring Defense - 3rd
2019 Rushing Defense - 5th
2019 Passing Defense - 6th
Key Losses - G Marshal Yanda, DL Chris Wormley, TE Hayden Hurst, DT Michael Pierce, WR Seth Roberts, SS Tony Jefferson, ILB Jake Ryan
Key Additions - DL Calais Campbell, DE Derek Wolfe
Draft Picks - LB Patrick Queen, RB J.K. Dobbins, DT Justin Madubuike, WR Devin Duvernay, LB Malik Harrison, OT Tyre Phillips, G Ben Bredeson, DT Broderick Washington Jr., WR James Proche, S Geno Stone
Biggest Strength - Running game
Biggest Weakness - Wide Receiving Corps
Biggest Question - How will Lamar Jackson respond when teams (inevitably) learn how to defend him?
Notes - Kicker Justin Tucker is one of the bigger difference-makers in the NFL
COVID – OT Andre Smith, WR De’Anthony Thomas opting out of season
2020 Prediction - 14-2 DIVISION WINNER
Now, tell me what you think!!!
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