Portrait of a Division As a Young Man Part I: AFC North

I'm currently planning to do either a four-part or eight-part series on the various NFL divisions (the number will depend on whether I decide to do the NFC). The AFC North being home to my beloved Steelers, I figured I would start here. Heads up on how this whole series will go: brief opening comments, a projected order of finish, playoff prospects, and then a list of the division's signature, best overall, and most valuable players. So- to business.

The AFC North probably has the strongest personality out of any of the league's divisions, primarily because it has been dominated by two similar teams over the last decade. Either the Steelers and the Ravens have been involved in the divisional race every year in the new millennium, and each of those years, one or the other (or both) has made the playoffs. They have done it primarily through physically imposing 3-4 defenses and power running offenses, although each is undergoing something of an offensive metamorphosis, with Joe Flacco and Ben Roethlisberger assuming greater and greater roles. Thus, the North has been marked by intense, physical play which is only exacerbated by the fact that each team considers each of the others in the division to be a true and hated rival. This is actually a bit unusual: most teams have one or two in-division teams specifically marked as "rivals," but the teams in the North always insist that each of the others is truly an enemy. Thus, even a lopsided pairing like Browns-Ravens or Browns-Steelers takes on psychological import.

My Prediction:
1. Pittsburgh, 11-5
2. Cincinnati, 10-6
3. Baltimore, 9-7
4. Cleveland, 3-13

I expect the Bengals to fall off over the next few weeks, and Baltimore to pick up some slack, although I don't Baltimore will challenge the top two down the stretch, or at least not seriously. I expect Cincinnati to get a wild card slot, but I think they'll lose in the first or second round. I'm afraid of my own bias toward Pittsburgh, so I'll be a bit vaguer with regards to their playoff hopes: I think they'll win one game, meaning they'll either lose in the divisional round (if they don't get a bye) or in the championship game (if they do), likely to either Indianapolis or New England. Now that I've said this, odds are that I will be ridiculously wrong, but I don't particularly care.


Players (Note: no repeats, even for honorable mentions)

Division's signature: Ray Lewis, ILB, Baltimore Ravens. Much as I can't stand Ray-Ray, he has been the most visible player at the division's most critical position, inside linebacker in the 3-4. Defense defines this division, whether as a dominant unit (Pittsburgh, Baltimore) or as an Achilles' heel (Cincinnati, which has seen high-octane offenses go to waste because of it). Ray is declining quickly, but he does still manage to at least appear important.
Honorable mentions: James Harrison, OLB, Steelers; James Farrior, ILB, Steelers

Best overall: Troy Polamalu, SS, Pittsburgh Steelers. You can accuse me of bias if you want, but Polamalu has been so relentlessly clutch and preternaturally aware of the game unfolding around him that I consider him better than Ed Reed, who is, to be fair, unquestionably an excellent player, as well. Polamalu elevates the Steeler defense simply by being present- even when slowed by injury, his instinctive coverage skill makes him ominous to opposing passers.
Honorable mentions: Reed, SS, Baltimore Ravens; Haloti Ngata, NT, Baltimore Ravens

MVP: Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Steelers. Again, I am susceptible to accusations of bias, but the Steelers are the most successful team in the division (and, in fact, the league's history), and Roethlisberger has overseen a shift in the Steelers offensive philosophy from the punishing ground game of the Bettis era to a no-huddle heavy, vertical and mid-range passing attack, and he orchestrated a nigh-on perfect Super Bowl winning drive last year. He is not the Steelers' best player, or the real face of the franchise, but losing him would be more significant to them even than losing Polamalu, Harrison, or Farrior. Without him, the offense becomes almost non-existent.
Honorable mentions: Carson Palmer, QB, Bengals; Cedric Benson, RB, Bengals.