AFC North Preview: Cincinnati Bengals aim for third straight title
The Cincinnati Bengals are the favorite to win a third consecutive AFC North title at +140 odds.
The Baltimore Ravens have a +235 chance to win the NFC North and avoid losing to the Bengals for a three-peat. The Cleveland Browns (+400) and Pittsburgh Steelers (+500) are close behind in a tight divisional round.
Aptly dubbed "Smashmouth Football," the NFC North is widely regarded as the most physical division in the NFL
The Steelers last won the NFC North in 2020. The Ravens last won the division in back-to-back seasons in 2018 and 2019.
The Browns have never won a division title since the NFC North was created in 2002 when the NFL restructured its divisions. The Browns last won the division in 1989 at the defunct AFC Center.
Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Burrow and the Cool Cat Eyes
- AFC North Odds: 140
- Super Bowl Odds: 1100
- 2022 Record: 12-4
- 2023 Win Total: 10.5 o/u
The Bengals suffered a major scare in training camp when quarterback Joe Burrow was carted off the field with a non-contact injury to his leg. Burrow suffered only a calf strain and is expected to start in Week 1.
The Bengals upgraded their offensive line this season, adding tackle Orlando Brown Jr. to protect Joe Burrow's blind side.
Burrow's strength is getting the ball to one of the NFL's best receiver trios: Ja'Marr Chase (9 TDs, 87 catches), Tee Higgins (7 TDs, 74 catches) catches) and Tyler Boyd (5 touchdowns, 58 catches). ). Chase and Higgins both reached 1,000 yards in 2022.
The Bengals will take on two of the 2022 division champions on the road: the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 13 and the Kansas City Chiefs on New Year's Eve. They play non-division home games against last year's playoff teams, including the Seattle Seahawks, Buffalo Bills and Minnesota Vikings.
The Bengals have a +550 chance to win the AFC Championship for the second time in the past three seasons.Patrick Mahomes overcame an ankle injury to lead the Chiefs to a 23-20 victory over the Bengals in the AFC Championship.
The Bengals, the fifth-ranked team on DraftKings' futures rankings, have a +1100 chance to win Super Bowl 57.
Baltimore Ravens: L-Jax fired, improved offense
- AFC North Odds: 235
- Super Bowl Odds: 1800
- 2022 Record: 10-7
- 2023 Win Total: 10.5 o/u
After a tense offseason that included trade requests, the Ravens re-signed quarterback Lamar Jackson to a five-year, $260 million contract extension. Jackson received a ridiculous raise as the Ravens went 45-16 since taking over as starting quarterback midway through his rookie season.
With the Jackson matter resolved, the Ravens can focus on taking the division title from the Bengals.
The Ravens hired Todd Monken as their new offensive coordinator. Monken was a member of two Georgia Bulldogs college football national championship teams. He gets a chance to develop the playbook for dual-threat Jackson.
The Ravens bolster their offense with veteran wide receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Nelson Agholor. They also drafted Zay Flowers out of Boston College, one of the best freshman receivers.
The Ravens have three tough road games against the Los Angeles Chargers, Jacksonville Jaguars and the San Francisco 49ers over Christmas at the end of the season. There are also some notable non-division home games, including the Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins and Seahawks.
The Ravens, the fourth-highest team on the board, have a +1100 chance to win the AFC Championship. They offer the best value in their division at +235 odds to win the NFC North.
Cleveland Browns: Watson’s first full season
- AFC North Odds: 400
- Super Bowl Odds: 3500
- 2022 Record: 7-10
- 2023 Win Total: 9.5 o/u
Deshaun Watson missed the first 11 games of last season and was suspended for allegedly sexually abusing multiple massage therapists while in Houston. After the suspension ended in December, Watson struggled in the final six games of the season. He completed a career-low 58.2 percent of his passes and threw seven touchdowns and five interceptions.
Watson now has a chance to play his first full season with the Browns and has some talented receivers to rely on, including Elijah Moore and Amari Cooper.
If Watson returns to form, the Browns have a chance to have a successful season and make the playoffs. He has thrown for over 4,000 yards twice in his career and threw for a career-high 33 touchdowns in 2020.
The Browns defense is led by defensive end Myles Garrett. But they did so with the help of star pass rusher Za'Darius Smith, defensive end Ogbunya Okonkwo, defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson and safety Juan Thornhill Significant progress. They also hired defensive guru Jim Schwartz to take over defensive coordinator duties. Three teams in the NFC North have win totals that point to potential winning seasons, with the Browns sitting at 9.5 o/u.
The Browns will host three potential playoff teams in non-division games against the 49ers, Jaguars and Jets.
According to one DraftKings bet, the Browns have a +115 chance to make the playoffs and a -135 chance to miss the playoffs.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Is Tomlin facing his first losing season?
- AFC North Odds: 500 SSuper Bowl Odds: 5000
- 2022 Record: 9-8
- 2023 Win Total: 8.5 o/u Head coach Mike Tomlin always finds a way to avoid a losing season, even in the "Smashmouth" division of the NFL. The Steelers haven't had a losing season in 20 years. In 16 seasons as head coach, Tomlin compiled a 163-93-2 record, including an 8-8 record in three seasons. Tomlin led the Steelers to the playoffs ten times and led the Steelers to a Super Bowl championship in 2008.
However, the Steelers have made the playoffs just three times in the past six seasons and haven't won a playoff game since 2016.
This is Matt Canada's third season as offensive coordinator and Kenny Pickett will enter his second season as quarterback. Although Pickett had an unpredictable rookie season, he led the Steelers to a 9-8 record before heading into the playoffs.
The Steelers have won by a total of 8.5 points and are expected to finish last in the division. They'll be tested over the final four weeks of the season, which includes three road games and a Week 16 home game against the Bengals.
Oddsmakers predict that this could be the year the Steelers finally fail. But Tomlin somehow found a way to win. The Steelers have a +125 chance of making the playoffs and a -150 chance of missing the playoffs.
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Source: www.casino.org
