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| (photo credit: steelersdepot.com) |
The
only way to describe the 2015 Baltimore Ravens season is something
out of a horror movie. After finishing 10-6 in 2014 Baltimore was
decimated by injuries, they would finish the year with 22 players
including Quarterback Joe Flacco and Defensive End Terrell Suggs on
Injured Reserve. The fact makes predicting how the Ravens perform in
2016 difficult. However if you look further into the cap situation it
becomes clear that Baltimore is in the middle of franchise re-build.
After franchise legends Ed Reed and Ray Lewis retired Ozzy Newman
found his squad in a predicament. As of 2015 the Raven's have five of
the highest six contracts belong to players on the wrong side of
thirty. The team still has a lot of talent, but they will not age
well. They will likely compete for for a wild card playoff berth, but
their lack of depth at wide receiver could hinder their offense.
Cincinnati Bengals
Over the last
decade the Bengals have been one of the best run organizations which
only $0.24 million in dead money. Last season they showed how good
they could be, Defensive Tackle Geno Atkins anchored a defensive that
ranked second in points allowed.
On the other side of the ball Andy Dalton proved that he could be a franchise Quarterback and was great until a broken thumb ended his season. If it weren't for a meltdown toward the end of the Wild Card game versus Pittsburgh I believe Marvin Lewis would have made the AFC Championship Game. With A.J. Green and rookie Tyler Boyd on the outside, Dalton should have another great season. The Bengals are the favorites to win the division and if Lewis can get the monkey off they should be Super Bowl contenders.
On the other side of the ball Andy Dalton proved that he could be a franchise Quarterback and was great until a broken thumb ended his season. If it weren't for a meltdown toward the end of the Wild Card game versus Pittsburgh I believe Marvin Lewis would have made the AFC Championship Game. With A.J. Green and rookie Tyler Boyd on the outside, Dalton should have another great season. The Bengals are the favorites to win the division and if Lewis can get the monkey off they should be Super Bowl contenders.
Cleveland Browns
After
the garbage fire that was the Johnny Manziel era in Cleveland it
seems that the thousandth rebuild since the franchise restarted in
1999. However the Browns are taking a much different approach to this
rebuild putting a premium on asset acquisition. This was obvious
during the draft when made 14 picks. Nonetheless the Browns will be
terrible this season and likely the worst team in the division.
Robert Griffin III will have some incredible highlights with Josh
Gordon, but those will be the high point for this year.
Pittsburgh Steelers
When
the off-season started the Steelers were not only the heavy favorite
to win the division, but make the Super Bowl. However the suspensions
of Levon Bell and Martavis Bryant due to substance abuse policy
violations Ben Rothlisberger's offense will be limited. Pittsburgh's
offense will still be one of the best in the league, but their
limited defense could be their downfall. The Steelers will probably
spend the last half of the season battling Baltimore for second place
in the division and one of the Wild Card playoff berths.
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