2026 is year of change for the AFC North with 2 Hall of Fame level coaches moving on in Pittsburgh and Baltimore. Kevin Stefanski was fired which leaves the Bengals as the only AFC North team returning a Head Coach this season.
Here are my predictions for each team:
First Place: Cincinnati Bengals 11-6
- Everything still depends on Joe Burrow staying healthy. If he does, the Bengals are Super Bowl contenders
Second Place: Cleveland Browns 9-8
- OK before you tell me I am crazy, I would like to point out that last year I nailed 5-12 for our Browns, most pundits had them doing much better. And I have been a Browns pessimist for years now. In 2024 most everyone had the Browns as a 10 win+ team. I had 7-10. They finished 3-14 of course.
So why the sudden optimism??? Because I believe Deshaun Watson is healthy and because I believe Todd Monken actually knows what to do with Deshaun Watson and has the talent at receiver to make a real go of it. Layer in a weak schedule and I see a surprise in store this season in Cleveland.
I believe Deshaun Watson will be Comeback Player of the Year this season and the Browns will be entertaining and competitive.
Third Place: Baltimore Ravens 7-10
Something feels wrong in Baltimore with Lamar Jackson's contract extension not done.
Is Lamar unhappy? I think that is likely.
Is he 100% healthy? He wasn't last year. Maybe years of risky running have him worn down.
Is Jesse Minter the next John Harbaugh? I don't think so, he is definitely not the next Mike Macdonald either.
I see a tough year ahead for the Ravens. I still think they are a smart and well run org but maybe this year they won't be as lucky as they need to be.
Last Place: Pittsburgh Steelers 6-11
Mike Tomlin had 19 consecutive non losing seasons. Look for that streak to come to an end this year. A QB who is too old with plainly diminished skills and a Head Coach who won't be able to shape a game plan that wins more than half the games like Tomlin did every year.
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