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AFC North power rankings: Browns, Steelers to push Ravens?

By William Schneiderhan

Nick Chubb, Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images)
Nick Chubb, Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LA – JANUARY 13: Quarterbacks Joe Burrow #9 and Myles Brennan #15 of the LSU Tigers take to the field before the start of the College Football Playoff National Championship game against the Clemson Tigers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 13, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. LSU defeated Clemson 42 to 25. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JANUARY 13: Quarterbacks Joe Burrow #9 and Myles Brennan #15 of the LSU Tigers take to the field before the start of the College Football Playoff National Championship game against the Clemson Tigers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 13, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. LSU defeated Clemson 42 to 25. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /

4. Cincinnati Bengals

2019: 2-14 (4th)

With nearly zero competition, the Bengals rank fourth in this division. Zac Taylor had to slog through his first season as the team’s head coach, but they did obtain the first pick in the NFL Draft after capturing the league’s worst record.

For Taylor, his job truly begins now. 2019 was one of those “set it on fire” seasons. Now, the future has arrived in the form of Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow.

Usually, we see these highly drafted quarterbacks walk into unfavorable situations when they first enter the NFL. Since the teams are so bad, rosters are inadequate. For Burrow, this may not be the case.

Veteran receiver A.J. Green is still around after he signed the franchise tag tender this offseason, and Tyler Boyd is an underrated player who has posted back-to-back 1,000+ yard campaigns. Last year, Boyd hauled in 90 grabs for 1,046 yards and five touchdowns.

Joe Mixon and Giovani Bernard round out a talented backfield, and receiver Tee Higgins was drafted in the second round of this past draft.

Burrow will have no shortage of playmakers in 2020, and the team heavily addressed the defense in free agency.

Taylor is lined up to fair much better in his second season as a head coach. Will the Bengals jump from two to eight wins? No, not likely. However, even a lesser leap such as two to five wins would be a massive improvement. But, as we have seen before, sometimes a rookie sensation can come in and expedite things for a franchise.

Though, for now, the Bengals are slated to finish last again in 2020, leaving them fourth in the power rankings.

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