AFC North burning questions for 2024 NFL season: Is this Bengals’ year? Russell Wilson Steelers’ answer?

It’s hard to argue against the AFC North being the toughest division in professional football. Each of the four teams in the division has a winning record in 2023, with the Steelers, Browns and Ravens qualifying for the playoffs. The Bengals have gone 9-8 despite Joe Burrow missing the last seven games with a wrist injury.

The AFC North should be even better this year with the return of Burrow and Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson, the improved (?) play of the Steelers quarterback and the off-season acquisition of former NFL Offensive Player of the Year Derrick Henry , by the Ravens. There’s a good chance that the winner of this division threatens the Chiefs’ two-year reign as the conference leader. Super Bowl representative.

With training camp approaching, here’s a burning question facing every AFC North team currently facing, starting with the team that has won two of the last three division titles.

Bengals: Is this finally Cincinnati’s year?

There has been an undeniable pattern for Burrow and the Bengals. They went to a Super Bowl and consecutive AFC Championship games in the two seasons Burrow was healthy. On the other hand, they missed the playoffs both times Burrow suffered season-ending injuries.

If Burrow is healthy (he’s been firing on all cylinders in OTAs after undergoing wrist surgery in November), the Bengals should be back in the spotlight. To better protect Burrow, the Bengals selected tackle Amarius Mims in the first round, who joins a line that also includes multiple Pro Bowl tackles Orlando Brown Jr. Super Bowl winners Ted Karras and Alex Cappa.

Joe Mixon is gone, but the Bengals are planning to field a two-headed backfield consisting of speedy second-year wideout Chase Brown and former Colt Zack Moss. The Bengals also gave Burrow a new tight end, Mike Gesicki, who put up solid numbers in Miami while catching passes from Tua Tagovailoa.

Cincinnati replaced veteran Tyler Boyd with rookie Jermaine Burton, who developed a quick rapport with Burrow in OTAs. The Bengals are also expecting big things from second-year player Charlie Jones. Jones and Burton round out a receiving corps led by the arguably NFL the best duo of Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, who is still in Cincinnati despite their offseason trade requests.

The Bengals tried to bolster a pass defense that finished 28th in the league in yards allowed in 2023 by signing veteran safeties Vonn Bell and Geno Stone. The defense also features emerging cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt, middle linebackers Logan Wilson and Germaine Pratt and defensive backs Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard.

Yes, they have a lot of work to do, but if they stay healthy, the Bengals are talented enough to beat the North for the third time in four years while possibly destroying the AFC-like Chiefs. Super Bowl representative. Health is probably the biggest obstacle in Cincinnati’s path.

Steelers: Is Russell Wilson the answer at QB?

The short answer to this question is yes, Wilson is good enough to lead the Steelers in 2024. Wisely, the Steelers are building an offense that will complement the things Wilson does well without asking him to take on too much of the burden.

Wilson is four years removed from a 2020 season that saw him earn MVP consideration after throwing 40 touchdowns and completing nearly 69% of his passes. While Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf surpassed 1,000 yards that season, Wilson had a lot of success that season throwing to running back Chris Carson and his trio of tight ends. Carson, Jacob Hollister, Will Dissly and Greg Olsen caught a combined 110 passes for 986 yards and 10 touchdowns. Wilson’s success that season throwing the ball to Carson and his tight ends was especially beneficial in the red zone.

The Steelers and first-year offensive coordinator Arthur Smith are creating an offense that can emulate that and even more in 2024. The Steelers have several capable tight ends, led by Pat Freiermuth and Connor Heyward. Pittsburgh doesn’t have the offensive talent that Seattle did, but it makes up for it with a better, rushing attack with Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren, who will run behind a line that now includes rookies Troy Fautanu and Zach Frazier. Rest assured the Steelers’ offense will be run-based, as has been the case the past two years.

Pittsburgh’s offense is largely set up for Wilson to succeed, but it’s impossible to ignore the team’s lack of depth on the wing. The Steelers, right now, are banking on rookie Roman Wilson and third-year Calvin Austin III to be significant contributors while also giving George Pickens enough room to do what he wants. But until they prove they can do it, defenses playing and forcing Wilson to take deep shots is a significant fear if you’re a Steelers fan.

Playing from behind is also a legitimate concern. The Steelers were built to be a cutting edge team, which works if you get an early lead and build on it by playing complementary football. This is where Pittsburgh’s ability to run the ball and force turnovers on defense will matter greatly.

Ravens: Will Lamar Jackson exercise his playoff demons?

I’ve always been a fan of Jackson, who in my opinion is carving out a Hall of Fame career. But I don’t feel good about their chances of beating the Ravens this year.

Once again, the Ravens have provided him with a receiving corps that lacks top-tier talent. Zay Flowers showed promise as a rookie, and fourth-round pick Devontez Walker will bring something to the table this year. But the group as a whole is still missing.

Baltimore is slated to have three new starters on its offensive line, adding to my lack of faith in the Ravens. Super Bowl hopes. The Ravens still have Mark Andrews and made an impact this offseason with the addition of Henry. Andrews should be back to full strength after suffering a serious ankle injury, and Henry is fresh off his second consecutive Pro Bowl nod and fourth in the last five years. Baltimore is certainly hoping that Henry, now 30, can continue to play at a high level while also taking some of the pressure off Jackson. That’s quite a question for a running back who led the NFL in carries each of the last two years and four of the previous five.

The Ravens were a pedestrian 14th against the run last year and didn’t do much to inspire drastic improvement in 2024. Losing Pro Bowl middle linebacker Patrick Queen to rival Pittsburgh didn’t help Baltimore’s defense either.

Let’s quickly return to Jackson, who enters the 2024 season with a 2-4 record in the playoffs. Jackson recently made headlines for all the wrong reasons; he supposedly lost almost $750,000 in training bonuses as a result of ignoring most of Baltimore’s OTAs. Yes, OTAs are voluntary. But tell that to the other starting quarterbacks in the division who were present at their respective teams’ OTAs. Jackson’s no-show is yet another reason I’m not excited about the 2024 Ravens, who own the NFL second most difficult strength of the schedule.

Browns: Will Deshaun Watson return to Pro Bowl form?

Watson likely won’t receive his fourth Pro Bowl nod (and first as a Brown) in 2024, but I believe he will play at a relatively high level and consistently for the first time since arriving in Cleveland.

Watson’s play during his most recent game gives me confidence. Despite playing through a serious shoulder injury (which led to season-ending surgery), Watson completed each of his 14 pass attempts in the second half while leading the Browns to a comeback win over the Ravens in Week 10. .

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski recently praised the progress Watson has made in his recovery. Watson has been a regular in OTAs and appears motivated to return to the form that made him a perennial Pro Bowler in Houston.

The Browns also did their part to help Watson. They gave up little to acquire receiver and former first-round pick Jerry Jeudy, who should do well to complement fellow starters Amari Cooper and Elijah Moore. The Browns added even more depth to their receiving corps with the fifth-round selection of former Louisville player Jamari Thrash. Cleveland’s passing attack still features tight end David Njoku, who is coming off the best season of his career to date.

Watson is also bringing Nick Chubb back after the perennial Pro Bowl running back missed most of the 2023 season with a knee injury. Cleveland’s rushing attack will also continue with Jerome Ford, who proved to be a capable replacement when Chubb went down in Week 2.

How well the Browns can protect Watson (who was sacked 17 times in six games last year) could ultimately determine how successful he is in 2024. That will likely depend on the health of an offensive line that has been decimated. due to injuries last season, especially in attack. Cleveland added some youth to its line with the second-round selection of former Michigan guard Zak Zinter, who has already made a positive impression on veteran starter Wyatt Teller.

As noted above, there’s enough to convince me that Watson will be a solid quarterback in 2024, although I think his best days are probably behind him. If healthy, Watson should play well enough to keep the Browns in the playoff conversation, but if Cleveland wants to be more than that, it will require Watson to play at the level he did during his time with the Texans.