2022 NFL PREDICTIONS - AFC NORTH

NFL / Football

Written by Joel Lefevre

A total of 35 wins came out of the AFC North in 2021, and there is good reason to think that this could be another competitive season for all four teams.

The Bengals will have the weight of expectations on their shoulders after an improbable run to the Super Bowl, but the Ravens should be healthier, the Browns look better offensively, and you can never count out the Pittsburgh Steelers, who always seem to find a way to stay competitive

Source (Edited Photo, Background Photo): Getty Images, CBS Sports

Here is a breakdown of all four teams in this division and my projections for where they will finish by the end of the 2022 regular season.

Cincinnati Bengals

Key Additions

Hayden Hurst (tight end), La’el Collins (offensive tackle).

Key Subtractions

C.J. Uzomah (tight end), Auden Tate (wide receiver).

Biggest strength

Joe Burrow proved that he is one tough cookie during the playoffs last season but make no mistake his receiving corps stepped up significantly throughout the campaign.

Ja’Marr Chase took the league by storm in his rookie year, while Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd are fantastic secondary options for Burrow.

All three receivers generated a passer rating of 100.0 when targeted last year, and that will be a massive asset for them coming into a season that will no doubt be littered with expectations.

Biggest Weakness

It is a no-brainer that there needs to be better pass protection for their QB, who was sacked 70 times in 2021, including the playoffs, but still managed to lead the NFL in completion percentage.

Projection- 2nd

Getting to the Super Bowl is hard enough but repeating the feat the following season is even more challenging.

Cincy should be a tough team to contend with through the air, and we expect them to put up numerous big plays, but this team is no longer under the radar, so it is natural to expect a slight drop in performance, though I do still see them in the hunt for the playoffs and if they get in, who knows what can happen.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Key Additions

Mitch Trubisky (quarterback), Kenny Pickett (quarterback), George Pickens (wide receiver).

Key Subtractions

Ben Roethlisberger (quarterback), Juju Smith-Schuster (wide receiver).

Biggest Strength

Not many teams in the league have achieved the kind of success in drafting receivers as Pittsburgh, who should possess some talented pass catchers across the board next year.

Pickens and Calvin Austin III could add plenty of depth to the position, and there is also Chase Claypool and Pat Freiermuth, who may not have the proven track record of past Steeler greats, but still should be reliable receivers.

Biggest Weakness

Big Ben leaves this team ranked fifth all-time in passing yards and completions and replacing that kind of production will not be easy.

Whether it is Trubisky or Pickett behind centre at the start of the season, they have big shoes to fill.

Roethlisberger had the fastest average time to throw in the NFL in 2021 at 2.26 seconds, which is a lot quicker than Pickett’s average in college at 3.2 seconds, while Trubisky has put up significant numbers in past seasons but also tends to force the ball and make poor decisions at times.

Projection-4th

While I don’t believe rebuilding this team into a contender will take long, there are too many unknown variables on offence to think they will be a playoff team next year, especially at quarterback.

Cleveland Browns

Key Additions

Deshaun Watson (quarterback), Amari Cooper (wide receiver).

Key Subtractions

Baker Mayfield (quarterback), Jarvis Landry (wide receiver).

Biggest Strength

Cleveland has arguably the best running back duo in the entire league in Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, who could both see significant touches in the early portion of the season, knowing Deshaun Watson will miss the early part of the year.

No one’s backfield probably comes close to the Browns’ when it comes to yards after contact.

Even with the injuries to Hunt and Chubb last year, the club stumbled across D’Ernest Johnson, who averaged 3.5 yards after contact on 100 attempts in 2021, so there is plenty of depth at that position.

Biggest Weakness

The interior defensive line could face some significant challenges again this season, as Jordan Elliott has yet to show the potential we saw from him in college.

Taven Bryan is a former first-rounder who never amounted to much in Jacksonville, with just 60 pressures in four seasons, while Perrion Winfrey could see a lot of playing time, though it’s a big question mark of what he can bring given that he wasn’t selected until the fourth round.

Projection- 3rd

This team could surprise many if they can play .500 ball or better without Watson, who will be suspended for the first 11 games of the season.

Watson has proven he can take teams who struggle in many areas and make them better, so they could be a more competitive team than we think.

Given how poor they are on the defensive line, it seems unlikely though that they will make it into the top two in this division.

Baltimore Ravens

Key Additions

Kyle Hamilton (safety), Morgan Moses (offensive tackle).

Key Subtractions

Marquise Brown (wide receiver), Sammy Watkins (wide receiver).

Biggest Strength

If he can stay healthy this season, Lamar Jackson should make a significant impact, as his unique skills allow this team to craft an offence unlike any other in the NFL.

His ability to make things happen with his legs and through the air makes him a challenging QB to defend, while he has some help on the offensive line, which should allow him more time to throw.

Biggest Weakness

Jackson might not have as talented a receiving corps to throw to this season, so it will be interesting to see how he manages.

Brown and Watkins have been critical to their success through the air so losing them could be big, while Rashod Bateman will look to improve his 1.26 yards per route average as a rookie to help take some pressure off Jackson.

Projection- 1st

Even if their receiving corps isn’t as strong in 2022, the Lamar Jackson factor will make this team a tough one to contend with this season.

Defensively they made significant improvements in the secondary, and I expect them to create plenty of turnovers and make life easy for Jackson with short fields to work with throughout the year.