NFL Schedule Picks and Predictions, Part 2

Tuesday, I started my NFL schedule picks and predictions with the AFC East. Now, I will give you part 2 of an 8-part series. This part focuses on the AFC North.

AFC North

Baltimore Ravens- The Ravens are coming off a heartbreaking loss in the AFC Championship Game to the New England Patriots. This is a team that is built on defense, led by the ageless Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, and Ball So Hard University's most famous graduate, Sizzle, aka Terrell Suggs, reigning Defensive Player of the Year. However, they are not lacking on offense either, as they are led by running back Ray Rice and quarterback Joe Flacco.

The Ravens open the season with the first game of a Monday Night doubleheader hosting the Bengals in Baltimore, then face two tough games: a trip to always hostile Philadelphia to face the Eagles, then a tough Sunday Night primetime AFC title game rematch with the Patriots. They then play the Browns at home on Thursday Night then go to Kansas City to face the Chiefs, never easy to face on the road. Their last 2 games before their Week 8 bye are at home against the Cowboys and a trip to Houston to face the Texans in a playoff rematch. They come out of the bye to face the Browns in Cleveland, then host the Raiders the following week. The next three weeks after that are treacherous, to say the least (@ Steelers Sunday night, @ Chargers, vs. Steelers). After a DC-Baltimore showdown with the Redskins in Washington, they close out the season with the Manning brothers in back to back weeks at home (vs. Broncos, vs. Giants), followed by a season-ending trip to Cincinnati to face the Bengals.

My prediction: Overall, I think the Ravens go 12-4. The Ravens go 6-1 before the bye, with a win over the Patriots and the lone loss coming in Houston. After the bye, the Ravens go 6-3, losing in Pittsburgh and San Diego, then in Cincinnati.

Cincinnati Bengals- The Bengals were a surprise team last season, led by two great young players, QB Andy Dalton and receiver A.J. Green. They also have a strong defense led by DE Geno Atkins. However, the Bengals' success has forced others to take notice, and they cannot sneak up on opponents like they did last season. This time, other teams will gameplan around Dalton and Green. However, they are still considered to be a team on the rise and a possible future contender.

The Bengals open up with a very tough road game on Monday Night in Baltimore against an always tough Ravens team. However, a nice 5 game winning streak is possible with these opponents: (vs. Browns, @ Redskins, @ Jaguars, vs. Fins, @ Browns). Then, the Bengals get another tough one, this time on Sunday Night in primetime hosting the Steelers, before a Week 8 bye. In Weeks 9-10, the Bengals get the Manning brothers back-to-back at home (vs. Broncos, vs. Giants), then play 3 straight AFC West opponents (@ Chiefs, vs. Raiders, @ Chargers). The Bengals then face a rough 4 game stretch to finish the year hosting the Cowboys, then take a trip to Philly for a Thursday Night game with the Eagles, then the Bengals face two tough divisional opponents the last 2 weeks when they travel to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers again, and finally, the Bengals end the season hosting the Ravens.

My prediction: The Bengals go 5-2 before the bye, with losses to the Ravens and Steelers, then go 5-4 after the bye, with a big win over the Ravens to finish off the season, giving them a 10-6 record, and they should be in the hunt for a playoff spot throughout.

Cleveland Browns- The Cleveland Browns are a team that seems to be in a constant state of rebuilding. When they have found/drafted players to build around, their production either drops off or they sign larger contracts elsewhere. Since the return of the Browns to Cleveland in 1999, there has only been 1 playoff appearance, and only 2 seasons of .500 or better. They're likely to draft Alabama RB Trent Richardson, but most Browns fans will tell you, there's still a long way to go.

The Browns open up against the Eagles at home by the lake, then face 5 more tough opponents in a row: (@ Bengals, vs. Bills @ Ravens Thursday Night, @ Giants, vs. Bengals). The following week, the Browns face Andrew Luck in Indianapolis and hope to take advantage of his inexperience in the NFL. Then, two more tough home games follow after that before a Week 10 bye: First, they host Philip Rivers, Antonio Gates, and the Chargers, then host Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, and the Ravens the following Sunday. The Browns come back from the bye traveling to Dallas to face the Cowboys and hosting the Steelers the following week. The next 3 weeks are somewhat easier, but not much easier (@ Raiders, vs. Chiefs, vs. Redskins). Having completed the home schedule, the Browns will close out the season on the road in back-to-back weeks, facing Peyton Manning and the Broncos in Denver, then traveling to Pittsburgh, to face their hated archrivals, the Steelers.

My prediction: Sorry, Browns fans, it looks like another rough season. The Browns go 2-7 before the bye, then coming off the bye, go 2-5 for a 4-12 record. However, I will say 5 or 6 wins is not a stretch.