AFC North Preview: Let's go with the jaw-dropping choice

AFC North Preview

It got to them, like it had to so many before. The Super Bowl hangover is a malady that inflicts many, and rarely is there a cure.

The Pittsburgh Steelers got a severe case of it in 2006. After winning the Super Bowl in February that year, the Steelers came apart.

Predicted Order of Finish
1. Steelers	2008 standings: 12-4
	Pts Scored: 347 Pts Allowed: 223 Off. Yds/G: 311.9 Def. Yds/G: 237.2
2. Ravens	2008 standings: 11-5
	Pts Scored: 385 Pts Allowed: 244 Off. Yds/G: 324.0 Def. Yds/G: 261.1
3. Bengals	2008 standings: 4-11-1
	Pts Scored: 204 Pts Allowed: 364 Off. Yds/G: 245.4 Def. Yds/G: 325.5
4. Browns	2008 standings: 4-12
	Pts Scored: 232 Pts Allowed: 350 Off. Yds/G: 249.1 Def. Yds/G: 356.5

Their quarterback had a motorcycle accident that nearly killed him, followed that up with an appendectomy right before the start of the season and then suffered a serious head injury in the game against Atlanta.

The defense, a Steelers staple, struggled to get to the quarterback. Pressure, a must in their 3-4, wasn't what it needed to be.

Considering all that, the 8-8 record is impressive. But they didn't make the playoffs and that was followed up by the retirement of coach Bill Cowher.

Mike Tomlin takes over coach, and what he inherits is a heck of a football team, with many of the same parts that won the Super Bowl still on board.

"It's not like we're an entirely different team," Steelers corner Deshea Townsend said. "We're still pretty much the same team."

There are changes, some good.

With Cowher gone after 15 seasons, Tomlin brings a different type of approach. His training camp was far more physical than those of his predecessor. And Tomlin has handed over the offense over to Bruce Arians, whose plan is to play more up-tempo.

That might seem strange in a city known for a blue-collar team, but it's the right move for quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

He will excel in the new system, which will include some no-huddle and more spread formations on early downs. That offense should help create plenty of cracks and crevices for speedy Willie Parker to hit the big-play run.

Arians, who was the team's receivers coach, said the idea is to be more aggressive and to take away from of the predictability in the offense. He likes the way Roethlisberger has taken to the offense.

"He's comfortable with it," Arians said.

On defense, the Steelers let Joey Porter go, and that was a wise thing. He played a pass-rush position and had 5 1/2 sacks. They need more from that spot. Look for James Harrison, Clark Haggans and rookie LaMarr Woodley all to exceed that total this season.

Aside from the coach and a few faces here and there, this Pittsburgh team isn't much different from the one that owned the Super Bowl two seasons ago. With the new offensive style, look for them to get close again. They are the team to beat in the AFC North, which is a good division.

The Baltimore Ravens are the trendy pick, some even picking them to win the Super Bowl after their 13-3 season in 2006. But the pick here is for the Steelers to return to the playoffs by winning this division.

The Mike Tomlin era will get off to a good start.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Roethlisberger: New system and less drama mean big season? (AP)

Significant additions: C Sean Mahan, LB LaMarr Woodley, LB Lawrence Timmons, P Daniel Sepulveda.

Significant subtractions: Coach Bill Cowher, LB Joey Porter.

Biggest offseason move: The retirement (call it that if you want) of Cowher brought in Tomlin as the new coach. Tomlin's intensity was quite visible during the preseason.

Will go to the playoffs if ... Arians can get Ben Roethlisberger to the Pro Bowl.

Rookie to watch: Woodley is the perfect player to fit the Steelers' 3-4 defense. He played end at Michigan, but will line up at outside linebacker in this defense. Look for him to become a force as a pass rusher.

Overview: Tomlin did the smart thing keeping Dick LeBeau to run the defense and making Arians the offensive coordinator. LeBeau's unit needs to get better play from the outside pass rushers and the corners to improve. On offense, Arians will use the pass more on early downs. He will also spread things out to help open things up for Parker. Look for a big year from Roethlisberger in this offense and Santonio Holmes will become the big-play receiver.

Baltimore Ravens

Significant additions: RB Willis McGahee

Significant subtractions: LB Adalius Thomas, RB Jamal Lewis, DT Aubrayo Franklin, T Tony Pashos.

Biggest offseason move: Letting Lewis leave and trading for McGahee. They gave up a lot and paid McGahee a big-money deal, so he better pay off in a big way.

Will go to the playoffs if ... the running game improves from 25th a year ago into the top 10 to help take the pressure off Steve McNair.

Rookie to watch: LT Jared Gaither came in the supplemental draft, and he started at left tackle in the preseason for Jonathan Ogden. He will eventually become the starting right tackle. The Ravens nailed that pick.

Overview: This is a veteran team that was the No. 2 seed in the playoffs last season but choked at home in the playoff loss to the Colts. They lost that day because they struggled on offense. The Ravens think the addition of McGahee will help change that, but I still think it's all about McNair at quarterback. If he struggles, this team will struggle. The defense will again be dominant. But at some point, they have to be able to put up points with the passing game to get to the Super Bowl. Why? This Ravens defense is good, but it's not like that 2000 bunch.

Cincinnati Bengals

Significant additions: CB Leon Hall, DT Michael Myers, LB Ed Hartwell.

Significant subtractions: G Eric Steinbach, DT Sam Adams, CB Tory James, S Kevin Kaesviharn, LB Brian Simmons.

Biggest offseason move: They didn’t make any, aside from the draft. And that has to be a concern.

Will go to the playoffs if ... a defense that was ranked 30th overall can improve into the low teens or Carson Palmer throws for 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns.

Rookie to watch: Hall. He is a solid cover corner who should be able to help the 30th-ranked pass defense.

Overview: I love their offense. With Palmer now an elite quarterback == right behind Peyton Manning and Tom Brady == the Bengals will have no problem scoring points. Chad Johnson will once again be a star, while the running game will be fine as well. So this season is all on the defense. Can it show enough improvement to make it playoff good? That's the big question. Marvin Lewis made his bones on defense, yet it's the offense that drives this team. At some point, the defense has to catch up, but that might not be this year. That's why they will finish out of the playoffs.

Cleveland Browns

Brady Quinn: Hope for future. (AP)

Significant additions: QB Brady Quinn, G Eric Steinbach, RB Jamal Lewis, WR Tim Carter, DT Shaun Smith, FB Alan Ricard.

Significant subtractions: WR Dennis Northcutt, G Joe Andruzzi, S Brian Russell, FB Terrelle Smith.

Biggest offseason move: Drafting Brady Quinn. They got their quarterback of the future and maybe even a player who can start this season.

Will go to the playoffs if ... Jim Brown, Brian Sipe, Leroy Kelly, Hanford Dixon and Frank Minnifield come out of retirement and are still in their primes. Yeah, good chance of that.

Rookie to watch: CB Eric Wright. He is a smooth cover corner they took in the second round. He had first-round talent, but off-field issues pushed him down.

Overview: This could be it for coach Romeo Crennel. The Browns don't appear set to push for a playoff spot, and that could doom Crennel. The quarterback situation can be summed up as shaky at best, and that's no way to compete in this division. It's only a matter of time before Quinn takes over. That will mean it's about the future, which isn't good for Crennel. If they get six victories, it will be a heck of a season.