Dawgs By Nature
The Browns and Steelers seem set to compete for the basement but only the Ravens seem to be ready for season
The AFC North is one of, if not the, hardest divisions in the NFL. It is not an excuse for the Cleveland Browns struggles to actually get over the hump to becoming a consistently good team but it doesn't make it any easier.
Browns fans, in general, understand their team pretty well. For many, expectations are very low for the 2025 season, matching how the NFL schedule makers set up Cleveland’s contests. There is a little bit of excitement about the two rookie quarterbacks and pending excitement about how the Browns could use their two first-round picks in 2026, but other than a big surprise, many Cleveland fans will be betting the under on their team’s already low win total.
They aren’t the only AFC North team with concerns, however.
The Cincinnati Bengals have a pending holdout, which could impact their Week 1 matchup and betting line with the Browns. DE Trey Hendrickson made it clear he is not playing under his current contract. Speaking during a Bengals offseason practice, Hendrickson revealed some concerns about how the organization has treated the contract negotiations.
Cincinnati’s defense was bad last year despite Henderickson leading the league with 17.5 sacks. Imagine how bad that unit could be if the veteran sticks to his guns early in the season.
The Pittsburgh Steelers, the model of a good team that has struggled to be great recently, could be teetering on the edge of Mike Tomlin’s first losing season. Their savior? Seems to be QB Aaron Rodgers.
The same Rodgers who seemed to want to sign with the Minnesota Vikings, has talked about retirement and is still unsigned in the middle of May. Oh yeah, and Rodgers will turn 42 during the season, had a major injury two years ago during his age-40 season, hasn’t always gotten along great with teammates and would be entering the Steelers offseason late to very late if he does sign.
Then again, Pittsburgh could rely on QBs Mason Rudolph and sixth-rounder Will Howard to keep them afloat.
Not exactly building confidence in the Steel City that they are upgrading from last year’s Russell Wilson and Justin Fields experience.
Then you have the Baltimore Ravens, who have none of the drama of the Bengals and all of the certainty that the Steelers are lacking. Comparing the former Browns (Ravens) to the current Browns would be beyond silly at this point in the offseason.
With just under four months to go until the 2025 regular season starts, Baltimore seems to have everything ready to go, while Cleveland looks for an identity and signs of hope, Cincinnati tries to find the money for their best (only above average?) defender and Pittsburgh hopes an aging Rodgers can help them out whenever he decides to (come out of his hobbit hole again?).
***Are you surprised that the Ravens are the only AFC North...
