No division in the Super Bowl Era, since 1966, was more competitive than the 2023 AFC North.
The Baltimore Ravens (13-4), Cleveland Browns (11-6), Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7) and Cincinnati Bengals (9-8) became the first group of four teams from the same division to all have winning records in the same season. Baltimore finished with the NFL’s best record while both Cleveland and Pittsburgh earned AFC playoff spots. Cincy was just on the outside looking in after quarterback Joe Burrow suffered a season-ending wrist injury in Week 11 against the Ravens.
Despite some defensive attrition from the league’s top unit — the 2023 Ravens were the first team ever to lead or co-lead the NFL in scoring defense (16.5), sacks (60) and takeaways (31, tied with the Giants) — on that side of the ball, most notably with the loss of defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald who was hired to be the Seattle Seahawks new head coach, Baltimore will be well-positioned to defend its division title with an even more potent offense. NFL MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson and the Ravens’ passing game could be even better in 2024 in Year 2 under offensive coordinator Todd Monken thanks to more comfort, development from receiver Zay Flowers and tight end Isaiah Likely and a return to health for Pro Bowl tight end Mark Andrews. Adding one of the NFL’s best running backs in Derrick Henry will most certainly help their offense as well.
Cleveland will aim to be a similarly stingy defense — they led the NFL in total defense (270.2 total yards allowed per game) — powered by 2023 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett while both quarterback Deshaun Watson (shoulder) and running back Nick Chubb (knee) make their returns from season-ending surgeries. The Browns did sign the first overall pick of the 2015 NFL Draft, quarterback Jameis Winston, to a one-year, $4 million deal as an insurance policy on Watson.
Watson…
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2024-afc-north-race-can-anyone-prevent-a-ravens-repeat-how-bengals-and-steelers-could-push-baltimore/
Author : Garrett Podell
Publish date : 2024-07-10 14:44:30
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