The Browns enjoyment of by no means won the AFC North. Heck, it’s now been 36 years since they won any department. Don’t save a question to that to exchange this yr.
Interior: Our AFC North preview for the Steelers, Ravens, Bengals and Browns. Let’s roam.
This newsletter is from The Athletic’s NFL publication. Sign in right here to fetch it directly for your inbox. It’s loose to subscribe.
AFC North Preview
The vibe of this department regularly felt acquainted. Mike Tomlin and John Harbaugh led gritty, defensive-minded groups. Myles Garrett anchored an impressive protection, opposite an offense that couldn’t care for up. Joe Burrow had the inverse box in Cincinnati.
Then the entire items changed. Pittsburgh and Baltimore now enjoyment of very varied leaders. The Browns enjoyment of a brand new No. 1 move rusher. The Bengals would possibly per chance actually enjoyment of a protection.
The AFC North is the save we begin our 2026 department previews, starting up with the reigning department champs:
Pittsburgh Steelers
(10-7, wild-card loss in 2025)
Large exchange: Mike McCarthy as HC. McCarthy isn’t essentially the most enjoyable rent, however presents what the Steelers want: offense. McCarthy’s offenses ranked above reasonable in yards and sides scored in 14 of his 18 NFL seasons as a head trainer. Pittsburgh hasn’t had a top-16 offense since 2018. Proper right here’s what McCarthy’s offense would possibly per chance be informed esteem.
Refined exchange: Patrick Graham as DC. Graham spent when it comes to a decade beneath Bill Belichick and has labored with Steve Spagnuolo, Brian Flores and Pete Carroll. Graham is aware of his stuff. He’s joined via additional than one additions inside the Pittsburgh secondary, which should delicate make stronger the league’s perfect-paid protection; it ranked Twenty 6th in yards towards in 2025, its worst reach since 1988. The association got former. It won’t be this yr.
Lingering search data from: Who’s the quarterback of the long run?
Projection: 9-8. I most popular the educating hires. I doubt they’re enough for a dramatic construction. A vital schedule and stepped forward department download for a fancy farewell season for Aaron Rodgers, who gave The Athletic an unusual interview.
Baltimore Ravens
(8-9 in 2025)
Large exchange: Jesse Minter as HC. The general Chargers protection stepped forward beneath Minter, who established himself as one in all the league’s height defensive minds in most effective two seasons as defensive coordinator. He changed into once hired to make stronger a Ravens unit that allowed the third-most sides in franchise history ultimate season.
Refined exchange: A move stroll. Baltimore did not tension opposing quarterbacks in 2025, score twenty 8th in each and every and each and every tension rate and sacks. Trey Hendrickson by myself would possibly per chance clear up that, as he ranks inside the encourage of best Myles Garrett on a sacks-per-game foundation since 2023. However the Ravens moreover would possibly per chance acquire encourage elite defensive care for Nnamdi Madubuike, who neglected all however two video games in 2025.
Lingering search data from: Can they adequately alternate Knowledgeable Bowl heart Tyler Linderbaum?
Projection: 12-5. On account of a seriously stepped forward move stroll, assuming Lamar Jackson remains healthy for what needs to be a soar-motivate yr, Baltimore has the talents and educating to obtain an AFC Championship Recreation look.
Cincinnati Bengals
(6-11 in 2025)
Large exchange: Dexter Lawrence. In 2025, the Bengals protection did what I assumed to be now not possible: got worse. Weakest towards the stroll, Cincinnati’s protection allowed warring parties to drain the clock and care for Joe Burrow sidelined. That had to exchange. Input Lawrence, a 6-foot-5, 350-pound defensive care for who headlines a changed identification that’s obvious in camp.
Refined exchange: Safety Bryan Prepare dinner dinner. Prepare dinner dinner would possibly per chance very effectively be essentially the most underrated acquisition of an expensive offseason that moreover built-in Seahawks edge Boye Mafe. Paul Dehner Jr. reported Prepare dinner dinner will likely be a number captain and has “changed the entire tenor of the secondary in those practices.”
Lingering search data from: After a difficult rookie season, are sophomore linebackers Demetrius Knight Jr. and Barrett Carter enough?
Projection: 10-7. It’s simple to be constructive: Cincinnati has an elite offense, stepped forward protection and the league’s third-best apparently schedule. They should delicate go back to the playoffs for the principle time in 3 seasons. The rest much less would possibly per chance probably per chance spell misfortune for head trainer Zac Taylor.
Cleveland Browns
(5-12 in 2025)
Large exchange: Garrett change. Cleveland’s lone colourful house changed into once changed via 25-year-extinct defensive finish Jared Verse, who had the sixth-most pressures in 2025. He pairs with linebacker Carson Schwesinger to provide Cleveland a forged younger core on protection. The search data from becomes whether or not or now not rookie defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg can acquire as a lot out of this protection as Jim Schwartz did.
Refined exchange: Rookie large receivers. First-rounder KC Concepcion and Second-rounder Denzel Boston are immediate upgrades to one in all the league’s worst receiver rooms, with Boston heralded as “essentially the most spectacular participant at the box in lots of spring practices.”
Lingering search data from: Beginning quarterback? It’ll be both Deshaun Watson or Shedeur Sanders, who are splitting reps in training camp. “No solution is coming anytime unexpectedly,” explains Zac Jackson.
Projection: 5-12. Proprietor Jimmy Haslam is constructive. I’m now not. However with a number of younger talents and two first-spherical alternatives in subsequent yr’s draft, 2027 needs to be enjoyable!
Additional Components
🚑 Ricky Pearsall carried out. The 49ers third-year receiver will move over the entire 2026 season as a result of a PCL risk. It’s a brutal replace for the chance-plagued 2024 first-rounder.
📓 An individual obsessed. Rookie tight finish Kenyon Sadiq is varied, having posted combine numbers that rival Vernon Davis’. His psychological sport is proper as queer.
🎤 Aaron Rodgers unusual. Linking Michael Silver’s interview with Rodgers once more right here, as it’s a unusual be informed into the quarterback’s brooding about and personal life.
👀 Matt Ryan’s imaginative and prescient. The Falcons’ longtime quarterback has a imaginative and prescient for his team, and Jeff Howe explores how that idea changed into once built.
▶️ Maximum-clicked: Our pre-practising camp Power Scores.
📫 Beloved this be informed? Sign in right here to fetch The Athletic’s loose NFL publication for your inbox.
Moreover, check out our varied newsletters.
Connections: Sports activities Fashion
Bother the trend. Attach the phrases
Procure the hidden hyperlink between sports activities phrases
Leave a comment