The AFC North looks to be one of the stronger divisions in the NFL this year with all teams being in the top 17 of my power rankings. This division get lucky with their inter-divisional matchups as they face the AFC East (very weak except for the Patriots) and the NFC Central (Green Bay and Chicago both strong, but beatable). Look for the Bengals to win the division and the Ravens to take second due to tie-breaker rules with the Steelers.
1. Cincinnati Bengals Projected Record 12-4 NFL Rank: 6
Dalton's Favorite Target
Quarterback Andy Dalton is entering his third year in the NFL and while he may not be the most talented quarterback in the league, he is certainly capable of spreading the ball around to his talented receivers. His primary targets will be WRs AJ Green, Mohamed Sanu and Brandon Tate and tiget end Jermaine Gresham. Lining up in the backfield is BenJarvus Green-Ellis who is still a solid NFL running back even if he is not at his Patriots level anymore. On defense, they look to be one of the top 6 units in the league with the biggest names being James Harrison (from Pittsburgh) and his fellow linebacker Rey Maualuga.
2013 REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE WK DATE OPPONENT TIME (ET) Result 1 Sun, Sep 8 1:00 PM CBSLoss 2 Mon, Sep 16 8:30 PM Win 3 Sun, Sep 22 1:00 PM FOX Win 4 Sun, Sep 29 1:00 PM CBS Loss 5 Sun, Oct 6 1:00 PM CBS Win 6 Sun, Oct 13 1:00 PM CBS Win 7 Sun, Oct 20 1:00 PM CBS Win 8 Sun, Oct 27 4:05 PM CBS Win 9 Thu, Oct 31 8:25 PM NFL Win 10 Sun, Nov 10 1:00 PM CBS Loss 11 Sun, Nov 17 1:00 PM CBS Win 12 BYE WEEK 13 Sun, Dec 1 4:25 PM CBS Win 14 Sun, Dec 8 1:00 PM CBS Win 15 Sun, Dec 15 8:30 PM NBC Loss 16 Sun, Dec 22 1:00 PM FOX Win 17 Sun, Dec 29 1:00 PM CBS Win
Pos No Player 1 No Player 2 No Player 3 No Player 4 No Player 5 Offense LWR 18 Green, AJ 11/1 19 Tate, Brandon W/NE 11 Sanzenbacher, Dane W/Chi RWR 12 Sanu, Mohamed 12/3 82 Jones, Marvin 12/5 88 Whalen, Ryan 11/6 LT 77 WHITWORTH, ANDREW 06/2 73 Collins, Anthony 08/4 LG 65 Boling, Clint 11/4 67 Pollak, Mike U/Car C 64 COOK, KYLE SF07 66 Robinson, Trevor CF12 RG 68 Zeitler, Kevin 12/1 72 Hawkinson, Tanner 13/5 RT 71 Smith, Andre 09/1 74 ROLAND, DENNIS SF13 TE 84 Gresham, Jermaine 10/1 85 Eifert, Tyler 13/1 81 SMITH, ALEX U/Cle QB 14 Dalton, Andy 11/2 8 Johnson, Josh U/Cle FB 80 Charles, Orson 12/4 RB 42 Green-Ellis, BenJarvus U/NE 25 Bernard, Giovani 13/2 30 Peerman, Cedric W/Det 33 Burkhead, Rex 13/6 Defense LDE 96 Dunlap, Carlos 10/2 91 GEATHERS, ROBERT 09/4 99 Hunt, Margus 13/2 NT 94 Peko, Domata 06/4 98 Thompson, Brandon 12/3 RDT 97 Atkins, Geno 10/4 75 Still, Devon 12/2 RDE 93 Johnson, Michael 09/3 95 Gilberry, Wallace SF12 SLB 92 HARRISON, JAMES CC/Pit MLB 58 Maualuga, Rey 09/2 57 Rey, Vincent CF10 WLB 55 Burfict, Vontaze CF12 54 DiManche, Jayson CF13 LCB 23 NEWMAN, TERENCE CC/Dal 21 Ghee, Brandon 10/3 27 Kirkpatrick, Dre 12/1 SS 43 Iloka, George 12/5 26 Mays, Taylor T/SF 40 Williams, Shawn 13/3 FS 20 Nelson, Reggie T/Jax 45 Miles, Jeromy CF10 RCB 29 Hall, Leon 07/1 24 Jones, Adam SF10 Special Teams P 10 Huber, Kevin 09/5 PK 2 NUGENT, MIKE SF10 LS 46 Harris, Clark SF09 H 10 Huber, Kevin 09/5 KO 2 NUGENT, MIKE SF10 PR 24 Jones, Adam SF10 19 Tate, Brandon W/NE 25 Bernard, Giovani 13/2 82 Jones, Marvin 12/5 11 Sanzenbacher, Dane W/Chi KR 19 Tate, Brandon W/NE 24 Jones, Adam SF10 25 Bernard, Giovani 13/2 82 Jones, Marvin 12/5 Practice Squad PS 79 Fragel, Reid OT 87 Hamilton, Cobi WR 34 Herron, Dan RB 60 Johnson, TJ C 50 Schaffer, JK LB PS 39 McCalebb, Onterio CB 37 Lewis-Harris, Chris CB 00 McElroy, Greg QB Reserves RES 63 Black, Larry IR 56 Porter, Sean IR 49 Joiner, Brandon IR 36 Pressley, Chris PUP 5 Robinson, Zac PUP RES 69 Evans, DeQuin SUS/8 59 Lamur, Emmanuel IR 28 Scott, Bernard PUP 16 Hawkins, Andrew IR-1 DFR
2. Baltimore Ravens Projected Record 11-5 NFL Rank: 7 The returning Super Bowl champs will most likely be unable to repeat due to heavy lossses on the defensive end. Even though Elvis Dumervil and Terrell Suggs return the retirement of Ray Lewis and the departure of Ed Reed will knock one of the best defense's last year into the second tier this season. On the offensive side of the ball Joe Flacco enters the season on a new contract. He may be an elite game manager but I don't think he has the skills to be in the upper echelon of the NFL. What really helps Flacco is his above average offensive line and one of the bests backfields in the NFL led by Ray Rice with Bernard Pierce backing him up.
2013 REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE WK DATE OPPONENT TIME (ET) Result 1 Thu, Sep 5 8:30 PM NBCL oss2 Sun, Sep 15 1:00 PM CBS Win 3 Sun, Sep 22 1:00 PM CBS Win 4 Sun, Sep 29 1:00 PM CBS Win 5 Sun, Oct 6 1:00 PM CBS Win 6 Sun, Oct 13 1:00 PM FOX Win 7 Sun, Oct 20 4:25 PM CBS Loss 8 BYE WEEK 9 Sun, Nov 3 4:25 PM CBS Loss 10 Sun, Nov 10 1:00 PM CBS Win 11 Sun, Nov 17 1:00 PM CBS Loss 12 Sun, Nov 24 1:00 PM CBS Win 13 Thu, Nov 28 8:30 PM NBC Win 14 Sun, Dec 8 1:00 PM FOX Win 15 Mon, Dec 16 8:30 PM Win 16 Sun, Dec 22 8:30 PM NBC Win 17 Sun, Dec 29 1:00 PM CBS Loss
Pos No Player 1 No Player 2 No Player 3 No Player 4 No Player 5 Offense LWR 82 Smith, Torrey 11/2 80 STOKLEY, BRANDON SF13 83 Thompson, Deonte CF12 13 Mellette, Aaron 13/7 RWR 12 Jones, Jacoby CC/Hou 14 Brown, Marlon CF13 LT 78 MCKINNIE, BRYANT CC/Min 71 Wagner, Ricky 13/5 LG 72 Osemele, Kelechi 12/2 76 Reid, Jah 11/3 C 66 Gradkowski, Gino 12/4 68 Shipley, AQ T/Ind 77 Jensen, Ryan 13/6 RG 73 Yanda, Marshal 07/3 76 Reid, Jah 11/3 RT 74 Oher, Michael 09/1 72 Osemele, Kelechi 12/2 TE 84 Dickson, Ed 10/3 87 CLARK, DALLAS SF13 86 BAJEMA, BILLY SF13 QB 5 Flacco, Joe 08/1 2 Taylor, Tyrod 11/6 FB 44 LEACH, VONTA SF13 40 Juszczyk, Kyle 13/4 RB 27 Rice, Ray 08/2 30 Pierce, Bernard 12/3 Defense DT 97 Jones, Arthur 10/5 98 Williams, Brandon 13/3 NT 92 Ngata, Haloti 06/1 62 Cody, Terrence 10/2 DE 99 CANTY, CHRIS CC/NYG 96 SPEARS, MARCUS CC/Dal 93 Tyson, DeAngelo 12/7 OLB 55 SUGGS, TERRELL 03/1 90 McPhee, Pernell 11/5 ILB 56 Bynes, Josh CF11 59 Brown, Arthur 13/2 ILB 51 SMITH, DARYL SF13 50 McClellan, Albert CF10 95 James, Robert W/Atl OLB 58 Dumervil, Elvis CC/Den 91 Upshaw, Courtney 12/2 47 Simon, John 13/4 LCB 21 Webb, Lardarius 09/3 22 Smith, Jimmy 11/1 SS 32 Ihedigbo, James SF12 26 Elam, Matt 13/1 41 Levine, Anthony CF10 FS 29 HUFF, MICHAEL CC/Oak 28 Trawick, Brynden CF13 RCB 24 Graham, Corey U/Chi 23 Brown, Chykie 11/5 Special Teams P 4 KOCH, SAM 06/6 PK 9 Tucker, Justin CF12 LS 46 Cox, Morgan CF10 H 4 KOCH, SAM 06/6 PR 12 Jones, Jacoby CC/Hou KR 12 Jones, Jacoby CC/Hou 83 Thompson, Deonte CF12 Practice Squad PS 31 Brown, Omar FS 48 Copeland, Brandon LB 7 Sheppard, Gerrard WR 85 Furstenburg, Matt TE 69 Larsen, Cody DT PS 63 Unga, Joe OT 65 Stephens, Reggie C 35 Gray, Jonas RB Reserves RES 88 Pitta, Dennis IR-1 DFR 54 Hamilton, Adrian IR 67 Lewis-Moore, Kapron NFI 53 McClain, Jameel PUP 49 Bryant, DJ IR RES 67 Lewis-Moore, Kapron NFI 25 Jackson, Asa SUS/8 33 Thompson, Christian SUS/4 15 Williams, LaQuan IR
3. Pittsburgh Steelers Projected Record: 11-5 NFL Rank 16 Thanks to an easy out of conference schedule (and overall weakness of AFC, teams 8-14 are all NFC) the Steelers are likely to outperform their skill level. Ben Roethlisberger returns at quarterback and will be throwing to an average receiving group (Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders). He will not receive much help up front as his line is very inexperienced. Issac Redman and Le'veon Bell are their top two running backs in what appears to be rather weak backfield. Lining up at tight end will be Matt Spaeth and David Johnson, one of the best tight end tandems in the NFL. What is really going to carry the Steelers however is there defense led by veterans Ike Taylor, Troy Polamalu, and Lawrence Timmons.
2013 REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE WK DATE OPPONENT TIME (ET) Result 1 Sun, Sep 8 1:00 PM CBSWin 2 Mon, Sep 16 8:30 PM Loss 3 Sun, Sep 22 8:30 PM NBC Win 4 Sun, Sep 29 1:00 PM CBS Win 5 BYE WEEK 6 Sun, Oct 13 1:00 PM CBS Win 7 Sun, Oct 20 4:25 PM CBS Win 8 Sun, Oct 27 4:05 PM CBS Win 9 Sun, Nov 3 4:25 PM CBS Loss 10 Sun, Nov 10 1:00 PM CBS Win 11 Sun, Nov 17 1:00 PM FOX Win 12 Sun, Nov 24 1:00 PM CBS Loss 13 Thu, Nov 28 8:30 PM NBC Loss 14 Sun, Dec 8 1:00 PM CBS Win 15 Sun, Dec 15 8:30 PM NBC Win 16 Sun, Dec 22 4:25 PM CBS Loss 17 Sun, Dec 29 1:00 PM CBS Win
Pos No Player 1 No Player 2 No Player 3 No Player 4 No Player 5 Offense LWR 88 Sanders, Emmanuel 10/3 11 Wheaton, Markus 13/3 RWR 84 Brown, Antonio 10/6 89 COTCHERY, JERRICHO CC/NYJ 14 Moye, Derek SF12 LT 76 Adams, Mike 12/2 LG 73 Foster, Ramon CF09 61 WHIMPER, GUY CC/Jax C 53 Pouncey, Maurkice 10/1 72 Wallace, Cody SF13 RG 66 DeCastro, David 12/1 RT 77 Gilbert, Marcus 11/2 68 Beachum, Kelvin 12/7 TE 87 Spaeth, Matt 07/3 85 Johnson, David 09/7 81 Paulson, David 12/7 49 Palmer, Michael W/Sea 83 MILLER, HEATH 05/1 QB 7 ROETHLISBERGER, BEN 04/1 5 GRADKOWSKI, BRUCE U/Cin 3 Jones, Landry 13/4 FB 46 Johnson, Will CF12 85 Johnson, David 09/7 RB 33 Redman, Isaac CF09 26 Bell, Le'Veon 13/2 34 Stephens-Howling, LaRod U/Arz 23 Jones, Felix T/Phi Defense LDE 96 Hood, Ziggy 09/1 65 Woods, Al SF10 NT 90 McLendon, Steve CF09 92 Fangupo, Loni W/Sea RDE 99 KEISEL, BRETT 02/7 97 Heyward, Cameron 11/1 LOLB 56 Woodley, Lamarr 07/2 54 Carter, Chris 11/5 LILB 50 FOOTE, LARRY 02/4 44 Williams, Vince 13/6 RILB 94 Timmons, Lawrence 07/1 48 Wilson, Kion SF13 ROLB 93 Worilds, Jason 10/2 95 Jones, Jarvis 13/1 LCB 28 Allen, Cortez 11/4 31 Brown, Curtis 11/3 SS 43 POLAMALU, TROY 03/1 42 Cromartie-Smith, Damon CF10 29 Thomas, Shamarko 13/4 FS 25 CLARK, RYAN U/Was 21 Golden, Robert CF12 30 Blake, Antwon W/Jax RCB 24 TAYLOR, IKE 03/4 22 Gay, William 07/5 Special Teams P 14 Mesko, Zoltan SF13 PK 6 SUISHAM, SHAUN CF05 LS 60 WARREN, GREG CF05 H 14 Mesko, Zoltan SF13 PR 84 Brown, Antonio 10/6 11 Wheaton, Markus 13/3 KR 34 Stephens-Howling, LaRod U/Arz 23 Jones, Felix T/Phi Practice Squad PS 39 Alexander, Alvester RB 69 Arnfelt, Brian DE 45 Baxter, Alan ILB 15 Brown, Justin WR 49 Garvin, Terence OLB PS 74 Hubbard, Chris OG 79 Long, Joe OT 39 Green, Isaiah FS Reserves RES 61 Embernate, Nik IR 80 BURRESS, PLAXICO IR 51 Spence, Sean PUP 91 Williams, Nicholas IR 72 Cheadle, Justin IR
4. Cleveland Browns Projected Record: 10-6 NFL Rank 17
Thomas: One of the best
Brandon Weeden enters his second year as a a starter and it looks as if his job will safe since the Browns have not signed a competitive back up. In the backfield the Browns hope that Trent Richardson can avoid injury and perform as he did at Alabama. He will likely see a heavy workload as his backups are no namers Bobby Rainey and Dennis Johnson. Lining up out wide are Greg Little and Davone Bess. The Browns strength is their offensive line, former first rounder pick LT Joe Thomas, LG John Greco, C Alex Mack, RG Shawn Lauvao, and RT Mitchell Schwartz. Lastly, their defense is about average.
2013 REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE WK DATE OPPONENT TIME (ET) Result 1 Sun, Sep 8 1:00 PM CBSWin 2 Sun, Sep 15 1:00 PM CBS Loss 3 Sun, Sep 22 1:00 PM CBS Loss 4 Sun, Sep 29 1:00 PM CBS Win 5 Thu, Oct 3 8:25 PM NFL Win 6 Sun, Oct 13 1:00 PM FOX Win 7 Sun, Oct 20 4:25 PM CBS Loss 8 Sun, Oct 27 1:00 PM CBS Loss 9 Sun, Nov 3 4:25 PM CBS Win 10 BYE WEEK 11 Sun, Nov 17 1:00 PM CBS Loss 12 Sun, Nov 24 1:00 PM CBS Win 13 Sun, Dec 1 1:00 PM CBS Win 14 Sun, Dec 8 1:00 PM CBS Loss 15 Sun, Dec 15 1:00 PM FOX Win 16 Sun, Dec 22 1:00 PM CBS Win 17 Sun, Dec 29 1:00 PM CBS Loss
Pos No Player 1 No Player 2 No Player 3 No Player 4 No Player 5 Offense LWR 15 Bess, Davone T/Mia 80 Benjamin, Travis 12/4 RWR 18 Little, Greg 11/2 88 Cooper, Josh CF12 LT 73 Thomas, Joe 07/1 79 BUTLER, RASHAD U/Hou LG 77 Greco, John T/SL 65 Gilkey, Garrett 13/7 C 55 Mack, Alex 09/1 60 Lewis, Patrick W/GB RG 66 Lauvao, Shawn 10/3 62 Pinkston, Jason 11/5 75 Cousins, Oniel W/Bal 65 Gilkey, Garrett 13/7 RT 72 Schwartz, Mitchell 12/2 75 Cousins, Oniel W/Bal TE 84 Cameron, Jordan 11/4 82 Barnidge, Gary U/Car 47 Gray, MarQueis W/SF 83 Milton, Keavon W/NO QB 3 Weeden, Brandon 12/1 17 CAMPBELL, JASON U/Chi 6 Hoyer, Brian CC/Arz FB 25 Ogbonnaya, Chris P/Hou RB 33 Richardson, Trent 12/1 34 Rainey, Bobby W/Bal 26 Johnson, Dennis W/Hou Defense LDE 71 Rubin, Ahtyba 08/6 93 Hughes, John 12/3 NT 98 Taylor, Phil 11/1 67 Kitchen, Ishmaa'ily W/Bal RDE 92 Bryant, Desmond U/Oak 90 Winn, Billy 12/6 95 Bryant, Armonty 13/7 LOLB 99 Kruger, Paul U/Bal 54 Groves, Quentin U/Arz 56 Martin, Eric W/NO LILB 53 Robertson, Craig CF11 59 Carder, Tank W/Buf RILB 52 Jackson, D'Qwell 06/2 58 Magee, Brandon W/Dal ROLB 97 Sheard, Jabaal 11/2 51 Mingo, Barkevious 13/1 96 Hazel, Paul W/JAX LCB 23 Haden, Joe 10/1 29 McFadden, Leon 13/3 SS 43 Ward, TJ 10/2 37 Aubrey, Josh CF13 FS 39 Gipson, Tashaun CF12 24 Bademosi, Johnson CF12 RCB 22 Skrine, Buster 11/5 21 Owens, Chris U/Atl Special Teams P 5 Lanning, Spencer W/Jax PK 00 CUNDIFF, BILLY SF13 LS 57 Yount, Christian SF11 90 Winn, Billy 12/6 82 Barnidge, Gary U/Car H 5 Lanning, Spencer W/Jax PR 80 Benjamin, Travis 12/4 15 Bess, Davone T/Mia 88 Cooper, Josh CF12 KR 24 Bademosi, Johnson CF12 34 Rainey, Bobby W/Bal 26 Johnson, Dennis W/Hou Practice Squad PS 85 Collins, Jasper WR 31 Edwards, Kip CB 49 Eubanks, Darius SS 36 Frederick, Terrence CB 9 Gurley, Tori WR PS 38 Posey, Julian CB 30 Slaughter, Jamoris SS 61 Hauptmann, Caylin OG Reserves RES 28 Lewis, Dion IR 70 Faulk, Chris NFI 20 Hardesty, Montario IR 8 Bogotay, Brandon IR 12 Gordon, Josh SUS/2
NFL Standings - Updated: Jan 1, AFC NORTH W L T Cincinnati Bengals 12 4 0 Baltimore Ravens 11 5 0 Pittsburgh Steelers (Lose on Tiebreaker) 11 5 0 Cleveland Browns 10 6 0
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