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2009 AFC North Preview
Published by JM Van Horn on August 13, 2009
Numerous questions come to mind when you begin discussing the AFC North for the upcoming 2009 NFL season.
Can the Pittsburgh Steelers repeat as Super Bowl champions?
Will the Baltimore Ravens’ defense continue to dominate as key players get a year older?
Can Carson Palmer return to his Pro Bowl form?
Will head coach Eric Mangini make a difference to the Cleveland Browns who always seem to be in rebuilding mode?
Here is how the AFC North will play out when the regular season ends, teams are listed from first to last.
Pittsburgh Steelers 
The reigning Super Bowl champions, Pittsburgh Steelers, will have a target on their back for the upcoming 2009 season.
The Steelers offense is predicated on a strong running game that helps take the pressure of their passing game. Led by Willie Parker and Mewelde Moore, the Steelers averaged 105.6 yards per game on the ground, which was ranked 23rd in the league. Expect the unit’s performance to increase in 2009 with the return of second year player, Rashard Mendenhall.
The clutch plays Ben Roethlisberger made in 2008 helped fuel the passing game and an outburst of production from wide receiver Santonio Holmes. One of the leaders of the unit, wide receiver Hines Ward, had one of his best seasons since he entered the league and is ready to contribute in 2009.
In 2008, the Steelers were led by their dominating defense and there is no reason to expect any less in the upcoming season. This unit was ranked first when it came to against the pass, total yards allowed, and fewest points allowed.
To ensure there would not miss a beat, the Steelers signed the 2008 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, linebacker James Harrison to a long term deal. Safety Troy Polamalu helps bring the intensity of this swarming defense to the next level.
Do not expect the Steelers to have a Super Bowl hangover like they did a few years back. Head coach Mike Tomlin has the team focused and prepared to contend for the title in 2009 and it will start with another AFC North division championship.
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens were the talk of the NFL in 2008, but not for the reason many would expect. The Ravens surprising playoff run was a result of rookie quarterback Joe Flacco.
Flacco’s big arm and leadership on the field gave the Ravens something they have been lacking for several years. The running game, led by Le’Ron McClain, returned to their dominating form, ranked 4th in the NFL with 148.5 yards per game.
The Ravens dodged a bullet with wide receiver Derrick Mason opting not to retire prior to the start of the 2009 NFL season. If Flacco can continue to develop as a quarterback, the offense will be able to allow the defense to rest.
The first thing that comes to mind with the Ravens is their dominating defenses. We should expect more of the same in 2009 even with the loss of linebacker Bart Scott and coordinator Rex Ryan.
The front line, anchored by Trevor Pryce and Haloti Ngata, help stuff the run and free up their big hitters, Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs to wreck havoc for the opposition. If you have the chance to watch the Ravens, keep an eye on safety Ed Reed who is the best at the position in the NFL.
The Ravens will be in a dog fight with the Steelers for the AFC North crown, but will come up short thanks to the two road games they have to close out the season.
Cincinnati Bengals
To say the 2008 season for the Bengals was disastrous would be an understatement. There 4-11-1 record kept the Bengals home from the playoffs while quarterback Carson Palmer missed most of the season due to an injury.
Though the Bengals offense will be rebound some in 2009 with the return of Palmer, they lost a main weapon in their arsenal, T.J. Houshmandzadeh to free agency. To help replace him, the Bengals brought in possession receiver Laveranues Coles to help keep the pressure off of wide receiver Chad Johnson.
The real surprise of the Bengals offense is running back Cedric Benson, who ended up the season with 747 yards on 214 carries. If Benson can continue his production with the ball, the Bengals offense should be able to bounce back.
The Bengals defense is the main reason they were able to win four games in 2008. The unit, led by linebacker Dhani Jones was ranked 12th in the NFL, giving up a total of 325.5 yards per game.
To help improve upon the middle of their unit, the Bengals picked up troubled tackle, Tank Johnson, and drafted linebacker Rey Maualuga. Despite the fact several teams opted to pass on Maualuga in the 2009 NFL draft, he should pay dividends on the Bengals.
Though the Bengals are not on the same level as the Steelers and Ravens, this team will cause some problems for their division opponents in 2009. This team will rebound in 2009 and finish with a winning record.
Cleveland Browns
After their successful 2007 season, many NFL pundits were picking the Cleveland Browns to continue their development in 2008. Instead the team took five steps back and finished dead last in the AFC North.
On the offensive side of the ball, the Browns are no closer to having a franchise quarterback than they were two years ago. Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn will be battling it out in preseason to see who will be the starting quarterback in 2009.
The problem here is neither one seems willing to step up and be the starter.
The rung game was led by Jamal Lewis, who rushed for 1,000 yards for the seventh time in his career. Questions remain if Lewis has anything left in the tank for the 2009 season.
The Browns made the right decision to ship out tight end Kellen Winslow while fans should expect wide receiver Braylon Edwards to bounce back from a season where his numbers plummeted.
When it comes to the Browns defensive unit, they gave up 151.9 yards on the ground, which was ranked 28th in the ground. Mangini brought in several former Jets payers to try and shore up this unit that will need to drastically improve if they are going to be competitive in 2009.
The best thing the Browns can expect out of the upcoming 2009 NFL season is to earn a top five pick in the 2010 NFL draft. And maybe they will have the quarterback position figured out.
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