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By Matthew Martz

The AFC North will once again prove to be one the tougher divisions in the 2009-10 NFL campaign. Here I breakdown the teams to exposing their strengths, weakness’ and odds
to win their division.

The Pittsburgh Steelers -225

Still hung-over from a Super Bowl party last season, the Pittsburgh Steelers will continue to use the same strategy as years past with a power running game and a solid defense. Once again leading the offense will be two time Super Bowl winning quarterback Ben Rothlisberger. Rothlisberger will again have a solid veteran-receiving core with WRs Hines Ward, and Super Bowl XLIII MVP Santonio Holmes. Troy Polamalu will lead the defense in the secondary. They will once again win the AFC North with a 12-4 record, but will lose in the Divisional Round of the playoffs.

The Baltimore Ravens +320

The Ravens will have most of their key players returning and are poised to be a threat yet again in the AFC North division. They will also bank on QB Joe Flacco to continue to build off a successful 2008-rookie campaign. They will once again be solid in the air with WR Derrick Mason, who is coming off back-to-back 1000-yard seasons. They will also rely heavily on their rigid defense that is anchored by Terrell Suggs and Ray Lewis, undoubtedly the best linebacker tandem in the league. Baltimore will finish the season at 10-6,making the playoffs as a wild card.

The Cincinnati Bengals +800

The Cincinnati Bengals will rely heavily on a healthy Carson Palmer at QB, but he will need to renew his relationship with WR Chad Johnson, who changed his name and hopefully his attitude towards the Bengals organization, if he is to prove his still an NFL caliber quarterback. Both Palmer and Johnson will need to step up this season if they hope to improve the Bengals 4-11-1 record in 2008. Even if they do, it may not be enough, as the Bengals young defense will wobble at times and the offense will be inconsistent making it difficult to win games. The best the Bengals finish will be 7-9, and out of the playoff hunt early.

The Cleveland Browns +900

The Browns have lost three key players this season. Kellen Winslow was traded to the Buccaneers, Stallworth has jail, and Joe Jurevicius has retired and is suing the Browns for ending his career with staph infection. New head coach Eric Mangini will have his work cut out from him this upcoming season. Mangini will put a lot of faith in QB Brady Quinn, and will be using Jamal Lewis again this year even though he continues to show a decline in performance. The D is a C+ at best. Cleveland will show some progress under Mangini but are still at least a year away from being a playoff caliber team. They will finish the season at 8-8.

Matt Martz is a freelance writer located in Central California. Blessed is the gambler who expects nothing, for ye shall not be disappointed.

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