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NFL Predictions: 2014 Winners and losers

By Bryan Gibberman

Aug 28, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman (25) reacts against the Oakland Raiders at O.co Colisuem. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 28, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman (25) reacts against the Oakland Raiders at O.co Colisuem. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Aug 16, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) throws a pass in the first quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 16, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) throws a pass in the first quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /

AFC North

1st Place- Cincinnati Bengals

2nd Place- Pittsburgh Steelers

3rd Place- Baltimore Ravens

4th Place- Cleveland Browns 

I know I don’t have a clue on any of this stuff, but I really have no clue with this division.

Even though I don’t like backing a quarterback/head coach combination of Andy Dalton/Marvin Lewis, the Bengals are the most talented team in the division. If rookie cornerback Darqueze Dennard is half as good as Lewis talks up it would be a nice boost to their secondary. The defense could use some health luck with Leon Hall, Dre Kirkpatrick and Geno Atkins. Quarterback Andy Dalton will be under the microscope with his new contract. He needs to improve in under pressure situations to help the offense become more consistent.

The next two are interchangeable. I’ll put the Steelers second because they have Ben Roethlisberger at quarterback. Pittsburgh has missed the playoffs for consecutive years for the first time since 1999 and 2000. The Steelers defense has been trending in the wrong direction falling all the way to 20th in DVOA last season. They ranked first as recently as 2010. Drafting linebacker Ryan Shazier in the first round should help along with the continued development of outside linebackers Jason Worlids and Jarvis Jones. Cornerback Ike Taylor rebounding to average would really help too.

The Ravens have been consistently good under John Harbaugh. 2013 was the first time they missed the playoffs in his six years as head coach. Baltimore’s defense was strong last year and that should continue to be the case. The offense on the other hand has question marks, the biggest being quarterback Joe Flacco. For the first time in Flacco’s career he threw more interceptions than touchdowns last season. That should not be the case again, but will returning to his slightly above average play be enough to pick up a mediocre support group?

I sold myself on the Browns last year, picking them to win the division, and if receiver Josh Gordon was around I probably would have again. Despite not performing well on defense in the first season under defensive coordinator Ray Horton there’s room for improvement. Karlos Dansby playing a 3/4 as good as he did in 2013 would immensely help the linebackers. It’s going to be a rough year at quarterback for Brian Hoyer or Johnny Manziel because of the reshuffling due to the absence or Gordon. Andrew Hawkins and Miles Austin have to expand themselves into ill-fitting roles.

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