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AFC
NORTH |
| Jim's
Outlook |
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Cyd's
Outlook |
PITTSBURGH
STEELERS
Outlook: Quarterback Kordell Stewart
says he's not gay and to prove it, stood up before his teammates
three years ago and described graphic sex acts he likes to do with
women. Well, I'm convinced! Whatever his orientation, the Steelers
will need Stewart to perform like he did the first 12 weeks of the
season (flawlessly) and not the final six (more interceptions than
touchdowns). The rest is set: Pittsburgh returns 20 of 22 starters,
boasts the game's best defense and will have the league's breakout
rookie in QB-turned-receiver Antwaan Randle El.
Forecast: The Steelers are Super Bowl-bound. |
1 |
CLEVELAND
BROWNS
Outlook: Last year, I heartily ignored the injury
to Jamal Lewis and put the Ravens right back in the Super
Bowl. This year, I'm heartily ignoring the injury of Jamir
Miller and putting the Browns - well, atop their division,
anyway. This team is the Ravens of two years ago: a
team that isn't afraid of anyone. I've been waiting for
Tim Couch to have a breakout season, and this is it. If
they can find their running game in either Jamel White or rookie
William green, the Browns just might find themselves in the
Super Bowl.
Forecast: 11-5. They will just go out
and beat up on people, taking aim at the Super Bowl. |
CLEVELAND
BROWNS
Outlook: The Browns are No. 1 in at
least one category: Training camp food. Sports Illustrated's Peter
King gave an A+ to his meal: "Grilled salmon. Moist, pure,
perfectly grilled fish, much better than what I slave over on my
back-deck Weber grill. Unmatched, by a long shot, on this tour."
For some reason I don't think of Cleveland and salmon going
together. Whatever ... the Browns were one of my preseason dark
horses until linebacker Jamir Miller went down with a
season-ending injury. He's the heart and soul of the defense and
his absence will be noticed every week.
Forecast: The Browns continue to improve but the corner
is not yet turned. |
2 |
PITTSBURGH
STEELERS
Outlook: This team smells like the Rams after their
Super Bowl win: they struggled through the season to keep
everyone healthy and ended up losing the division to the upstart
Saints. In preseason, Kordell has already suffered a mild
concussion, and Kendrell Bell and Hines Ward were both knocked
out for the rest of the preseason. Bettis looked tired at
the end of last season, and hasn't looked any better this
preseason. Has Kordell Stewart found his stride? I
seriously doubt it. The Steelers have two
potentially great weapons in RB Amos Zereoue and WR Antwaan
Randle El; the Steelers' success will depend, in part, on how
they use them.
Forecast: 9-7. The Steelers are still wondering what happened against New
England. |
CINCINNATI
BENGALS
Outlook: The Bengals play in a
3-year-old stadium with a playing field that looks like something
out of "Green Acres.'' Can you say cowpatch? The crappy field
matches the generally crappy team playing on it, but this year
looks different. The Bengals have a stud running back in Corey
Dillon, a superb offensive line and a Top 10 defense (though
weaker with the season-ending loss of linebacker Steve Foley). Ah, but who
will throw the ball? Gus Frerotte, Jon Kitna and Akili Smith are
average at best. If one of them can improve to above-average,
Cincinnati will have its first winning season since 1991.
Forecast: These cats show some teeth and go 8-8. |
3 |
CINCINNATI
BENGALS
Outlook: I started thinking last spring that the
Bengals could be a surprise team this year. Then they
settled on Gus Frerotte as their starting quarterback and I
thought, "wait a second - they're the Bengals."
There is just no reason to think this team is going to make any
great strides this year. And, they're just not as good on
paper, or in their own heads, as the Steelers or Browns.
Forecast: 8-8. Corey Dillon goes off
and they still only manage .500. |
BALTIMORE
RAVENS
Outlook: It's going to be hard to
hate the Ravens any more. This team lost 22 starters or key subs
from a squad that won the Super Bowl in 2000. They will struggle
big time this year. Not much to get excited by on either side of
the ball.
Forecast: Six wins would be an accomplishment. |
4 |
BALTIMORE
RAVENS
Outlook: How can one team lose so many key players
in one year? Look at this list: QB Elvis Grbac, WR
Qadry Ismail, TE Shannon Sharpe, LB Jamie Sharper, LB Leon
Searcy, DT Tony Siragusa, FS Rod Woodson - and that's only half
the list! This team could easily go
3-13.
Forecast: 4-12. Not even "the
genius" of 2000 can save this team. |
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