Best in the NFL? The Case for the AFC North

It has now come to that point in the season where people start making declarations of which team is the best in the NFL. Some are already picking Super Bowl matchups. Steelers-Vikings, Bengals-Saints, New England-Dallas, take your pick, these are all possible matchups. But it begs the question, which team currently is the best in the NFL?

The Saints and Colts are running hot right now and either team could make a good case. Patriots are always a tough team to beat, and though they have had some issues, they are still worthy opponents. The Broncos had the number one defense until recently, but they lost two straight to AFC North teams. The Vikings are highly touted as a favorite for the Super Bowl, but they themselves are subject to question because with the exception of the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, the Vikings have not come across anyone with a winning record. They narrowly beat the Ravens, and they lost to the Steelers. Are they truly Super Bowl material? What about the dark horses out there lying in wait for the playoffs?

I want to make the case for the AFC North though, not particularly because I have a bias towards the Steelers but certainly because of the level of playing three out of the four teams are playing at. AFC North represents smash mouth football—period. You would be hard pressed to find another division that plays as brutal as these teams do. The Steelers and Ravens have been known for this style of playing, and last year more than proved how brutal a game can get when these two teams meet. Personally, I have not seen a series of games as hard hitting as I have seen when the Steelers and Ravens matched up those three times last year.

What about the Bengals? I am impressed with the Bengals, truly I am. They are definite contenders this year, and they proved that when they swept the Ravens and beat the Steelers. I have no doubt in my mind that if the Bengals keep playing at this high level of roughness that is so customary in this division, they will go far in the playoffs or get to the Super Bowl. They have a decent running game, a good passing game, and defensively have really stepped up their game. They have a lot of weapons to work with and they will be a tough team to beat both in and outside of the AFC North division.

Also, it should be mentioned that if the Steelers lose to the Bengals, I believe the Bengals will win the AFC North. If the Steelers win, it will make things here on out very interesting.

What about the Steelers? There is a lot to talk about with the Steelers. They have turned their style of defense into both an art and a science, and though they have taken some hits with some key injuries like Aaron Smith and Lawrence Timmons, the return of Troy Polamalu and the adjustments made to the defensive line have made this defense as strong as it has ever been. Offensively, they look like a very balanced team. The combination of running backs in Mendenhall, Moore, and Parker (currently injured) make this team dangerous. They tore up the number one defense on the ground last night in Denver if that is any indication. The receivers are very high quality, and Roethlisberger has not only individuals like Ward, Holmes, and Wallace to throw to, but also has Heath Miller at tight end, who is money in the bank.

I am not sure how you beat the Steelers at this point, but if there is anyone out there who can do it, it has to be the Cincinnati Bengals or the Baltimore Ravens.

What about the Ravens? I still believe the Ravens have a good team. Granted they have had a rough year so far, but fundamentally I believe they are still a tough team to beat. The Steelers are going to have their hands full, and Cincinnati’s efforts were no walk in the park either. Playoff potential for the Ravens? They can still make it supposing the Steelers and Bengals take some key losses over the remainder of the season, and if the Ravens significantly step up their playing and work on fixing some of their defensive problems. While this is not the Ravens of the 2008 season, they still are no slouch on the field.

What about the Browns? To put it as short as I can, there is always next season. That does not mean the Browns fan should not be completely outraged, because they should be. They got a bad deal this year in Mangini, and though I have tried to play up Mangini as best I could, I simply cannot justify this poor season. The management is terrible, the team does not have a goal or identity, and frankly it is time to start over. It is not entirely the players fault, as most of this is a management problem. I want to see a strong Browns team, because it makes the division that much stronger. But I do believe Cleveland is being cheated big time.

Regardless, the AFC North is going to have some kind of representation in the playoffs this year from one or more of these teams, and they will make a devastating impact on whomever they end up facing off against.

My prediction: Someone from the AFC North is making the Super Bowl this year. In the meantime, enjoy the picture of this Bengals cheerleader. If the Bengals play as perfect as she looks, they go to the Super Bowl.

The Mang
Conservative Capo of Youngstown