The AFC North looks set to be another fearsome contest this season, with three franchises looking more than capable of finishing top of the pile.
The Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns are all looking for top spot in what could replicate last season in being one of the most competitive divisions in the NFL.
Baker Mayfield on whether he cares if extension negotiations linger into the season: “I’m not doing the negotiations so quite frankly I don’t give a damn. I’m worried about winning…” pic.twitter.com/OynrmhzCcz
— Jake Trotter (@Jake_Trotter) August 8, 2021
Ravens Seemingly the Team to Beat
There appears to be plenty of optimism about what this Baltimore team can achieve this year, as they are 23/20 to win the AFC North this season.
The Ravens were the only side to put together a winning streak towards the end of the last regular season, before they eventually went on to suffer a 17-3 defeat at the hands of the Buffalo Bills in the playoffs.
If Baltimore can gain some of that winning momentum once again, with the impressive quarterback Lamar Jackson in the pocket, the Ravens look to be capable of driving even further into the playoffs this term.
Browns With Foundations to Build on
Having ended a 17-season playoff drought last season, Cleveland will be determined to prove their last campaign was no fluke and that they are ready to compete in the postseason again.
It was a tremendous first season at the helm for head coach Kevin Stefanski and his coaching team, who have seemingly transformed the mood in the Browns’ camp.
The coaches brought out the best in QB Baker Mayfield, who again will be looking for further progress in his game at FirstEnergy Stadium this season.
After so many years in the wilderness, it was a pleasure for many neutrals to see the Browns winning football games.
It will be a big ask to repeat the efforts of last season, but the Browns are available at a competitive 6/4 to win the AFC North this time around.
Steelers With a Point to Prove
Despite finishing top of the pile in the division last season, the Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves at 5/1 to repeat the feat this term.
The Steelers may well be looking to move on from the Ben Roethlisberger era at quarterback and it looks like Mason Rudolph will be given the opportunity to impress as starter in the regular season.
Experienced head coach Mike Tomlin also has other options in the pocket, with the likes of Dwayne Haskins and Joshua Dobbs also looking for time out on the field.
New #Steelers quarterback Dwayne Haskins is learning some of the tricks of the trade from Ben Roethlisberger.
"I grew up watching Ben so it's great to see how he operates."https://t.co/eDtPIIVLd5 pic.twitter.com/fZ9o47faNd
— Steelers Now (@PghSteelersNow) August 4, 2021
It’s set to be a third year in the NFL for Rudolph and this is the time for the Oklahoma State QB to shine, having neared the end of his tutelage under Roethlisberger.
If the Steelers offence can get going then they should be in the mix at the end of the regular season for the AFC North title, but the Ravens look like they have the all-round game to finish top of the pile.
*All odds correct at time of writing.