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The Steelers reign as the AFC North title winners, but two teams are emerging as stronger candidates to win one of the most competitive divisions in football this season, at least according to “First Things First.”
From the questions surrounding the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Aaron Rodgers and the Cleveland Browns’ Deshaun Watson, and the healthy talent returning on both the Baltimore Ravens’ and Cincinnati Bengals’ rosters, the AFC North seems to be unpredictable this season. However, Nick Wright, Chris Broussard and Danny Parkins were in unison on who the top two teams in the division will be.
Here are their picks for the AFC North.
Nick Wright’s AFC North Prediction
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Nick Wright put the Cleveland Browns at the bottom and the Ravens at the top, leaving last year’s AFC North winners at third.
Wright did not hold back when it came to the Browns, emphasizing that its quarterback situation does not benefit them or its record.
“I think they’re going to be 4-13. I think it’s the worst quarterback situation in the NFL. … I’d be very surprised if they win six games,” Wright said on Wednesday’s edition of First Things First.
In terms of the Steelers, the return of Rodgers could go South for new head coach Mike McCarthy, especially with Rodgers turning 43 years old this year.
“I think they finish 6-11, but what is Aaron Rodgers going to look like once the weather turns cold? … He turns 43 this year,” Wright said. “I would be surprised if, during that stretch that Drew Allar doesn’t start a game or two … I do not think Aaron Rodgers will be the starting quarterback all year.”
Wright believes that Cincinnati will fall into the same cycle as last year: win nine games and miss the playoffs. Even with quarterback Joe Burrow back in full force with wide receivers Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase, Wright is not buying any of the hype surrounding its offense.
“Winning only nine games and missing the playoffs. It’s basically what they do every year… I think they will have the ninth-best offense in the NFL.”
For Wright’s No. 1 team, the Ravens, he sets the bar high for quarterback Lamar Jackson and new head coach Jesse Minter. Wright predicts that Baltimore will also land the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
“I would be shocked if they don’t start 6-0. If they don’t just sweep this conference. I am predicting that the Baltimore Ravens will be the No. 1 seed in the AFC,” Wright continued. “I think Minter is a breath of fresh air this year. I think Lamar might win his third NFL MVP. They might be a regular season juggernaut.”
Chris Broussard’s AFC North Prediction
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Chris Broussard and Wright shared the same predictions from top to bottom. However, there’s a twist that came with the Bengals.
For Broussard, the Browns were the clear choice for fourth place, especially with their offseason decision on starting quarterback Deshaun Watson.
“I’m stunned that Deshaun Watson has won the job. He hasn’t played well… He better go out and win those first two road games,” Broussard said.
Broussard also turned heads when he made his prediction about the Steelers season, noting it could be their first losing season in over two decades.
“This will be the first losing season for the Steelers since 2003. We’re going to find out that Mike Tomlin was really holding that thing together…I think Mike McCarthy is a good coach, but the last two years he was with Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay…they went 8-10-1…with a team that had the potential to win 13 games,” Broussard said.
Rodgers left every NFL fan waiting for his offseason decision to return to Pittsburgh, retire or sign with someone new. However, joining forces with McCarthy adds a new element to the Steelers’ success this season.
Broussard’s prediction for the Bengals is that they do make the playoffs, but won’t win the division.
“They get to the playoffs. I’m expecting a nice year from them, I’m expecting Burrow to be healthy,” Broussard said. “The defense is just going to be solid… I think the offense is going to be one of the best in the league.”
And none other than Broussard’s favorite NFL team, the Ravens, took place as the AFC North winners.
“I am EXCITED about this season,” Broussard said.
Danny Parkins’ AFC North Prediction
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Parkins followed suit with the Browns in last place, thanks to their lack of talent at quarterback.
“Very obvious. They’re going to play three quarterbacks this season… They’re going to move to Shedeur Sanders early, and then they’re going to have no other move, and they’ll be in trouble,” Parkins said. “I think that they’re one quarterback away from making things interesting.”
The Steelers placed third, noting that their regular season ended with eight wins and Rodgers will be ‘fine’ this season.
“I think they’re going to be fine. I think Aaron Rodgers is going to go out with a whimper, they’ll be an eight-win team,” Parkins said.
However, Parkins split off from Broussard and Wright’s predictions and placed the Ravens second, but still making the playoffs. Parkins detailed that Minter could be a good hire on paper, but won’t know much until the season rolls around.
“I think it’s going to take 12 wins to win this division. … My thing with Baltimore is, I think Jesse Minter is a good hire, but we don’t know,” Parkins said. “We have a head coach who’s never been a head coach, you have an offensive coordinator who’s never been a playcaller.”
Parkins labeled the Bengals as his team to win the division. However, even with the talented offense Cincinnati has, the Bengals top the Ravens by a very small amount.
“As for Cincinnati, when Joe Burrow, Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase play, they’re 12-6 over the last two seasons and averaging 29 points per game, and they added a ton to their defense. So, on the thinnest of margins, I have the Bengals over the Ravens,” Parkins said.
