Follow The North Stars – 2025 AFC North Preview

Like death and taxes, the AFC North having at least two playoff teams has become not just a constant, but truly a norm. Even though they haven’t had a Super Bowl champion since 2013, they’ve had some of the more memorable roads to the postseason over the last decade plus. Whether it’s Joe Flacco’s miraculous run with Cleveland in 2023 or Cincinnati’s Super Bowl run: to say it’s been fun would be an understatement.

This year should be no different. It’s just a question of how it plays out.

 

Baltimore Ravens

Record in 2024-25: 12-5

Key Player: Jaire Alexander – Cornerback

Player to Watch: Tyler Loup – Kicker

What does Baltimore have to do to get past the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills? That’s the question that members of the “Raven’s Flock” have been asking for years now. Despite adding talent like running back Derrick Henry and linebacker Roquan Smith, it hasn’t been enough.

After a rough year with the secondary in 2024-25, they added cornerback Jaire Alexander in free agency as well as safety Malaki Starks in the draft. They also bolstered their offense with wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, as well as dumped controversial kicker Justin Tucker for rookie Tyler Loup. If this doesn’t work, Baltimore may have to go back to the drawing board. Prediction: 14-4

 

Cincinnati Bengals

Record in 2024-25: 9-8

Key Player: Al Golden – Defensive Coordinator

Player To Watch: Chase Brown – Running Back

Last year exposed Cincinnati a little bit: their run game was one of the worst in the league and their defense wasn’t good, either.

To remedy this,  they added multiple pieces to both assets through the draft, as well as changed defensive philosophy with the hiring of former Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden. Will it work? We won’t know until the first official game is played, but if it doesn’t, that’s when heads could start rolling.
Prediction: 9-8

 

Cleveland Browns

Record in 2024-25: 3-14

Key Player: Joe Flacco – Quarterback

Player To Watch: Carson Schwesinger – Linebacker

Last year wasn’t just a wake-up call for Cleveland, it was a bucket of water to the face while they were sleeping.

Losing emerging linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah to injury, the revolving door at quarterback and the lack of a run game were just some of the issues last season.

With the Deshaun Watson experiment seemingly over, Cleveland will go with names like 2023 hero Joe Flacco and rookie Shedeur Sanders at quarterback. Realistically, this may be an experimental year. With the next two drafts having better quarterback prospects on paper, why not see what you have and go from there? Prediction: 7-10

 

Pittsburgh Steelers

Record in 2024-25: 10-7

Key Player: Zach Frazier – Center

Player to Watch: Roman Wilson – Wide Receiver

Pittsburgh is hard to evaluate. On the one hand, they have Mike Tomlin, who has been a model of consistency since arriving as their head coach. On the other hand, they continue to introduce seemingly volatile figures into the locker room (Aaron Rodgers, D.K. Metcalf, Jalen Ramsey, etc.)

The talent on this team, especially the defense, is undeniable and they should be a playoff team. However, one can’t help but wonder if there’s a breaking point with some of these attitudes. Could this be the year they finally get back to the promised land, the year that sees the team infrastructure crumble or somewhere in between? Prediction: 9-8