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Early 2020 Win/Loss Projections: AFC North 

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Brady Podloski, Sam Schneider, Steve Seufert | May 9th, 2020

The AFC North is a battle for the top spot year in and out. With young quarterbacks like Joe Burrow, Baker Mayfield, and Lamar Jackson the division looks to have a promising and entertaining year. With the return of Ben Roethlisberger, the Steelers may return to their old winning form. The AFC North division has some of the best rivalries and hardest-hitting football which always makes for close games. Additionally, there is an extra playoff spot, of which means the AFC North could see three of its teams in the playoffs. With that said, this is an eight-part series where our Scorecrow NFL analysts do an early prediction of the wins and losses of each team. We projected all 256 games and have the winners and losers of each division!

Make sure to check out the rest of our record projections here.

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Cincinnati Bengals

Week Home/Road Opponents Brady Sam Steve
Week 1 Home Los Angeles Chargers Loss Loss Loss
Week 2 Away Cleveland Browns Loss Loss Loss
Week 3 Away Philadelphia Eagles Loss Loss Loss
Week 4 Home Jacksonville Jaguars Win Win Win
Week 5 Away Baltimore Ravens Loss Loss Loss
Week 6 Away Indianapolis Colts Loss Loss Loss
Week 7 Home Cleveland Browns Loss Win Win
Week 8 Home Tennessee Titans Win Win Loss
Week 9 Bye Bye
Week 10 Away Pittsburgh Steelers Loss Loss Win
Week 11 Away Washington Redskins Win Win Loss
Week 12 Home New York Giants Loss Win Loss
Week 13 Away Miami Dolphins Win Win Win
Week 14 Home Dallas Cowboys Loss Loss Loss
Week 15 Home Pittsburgh Steelers Win Win Win
Week 16 Away Houston Texans Loss Loss Win
Week 17 Home Baltimore Ravens Loss Win Loss
Record 5-11 8-8 6-10

Cleveland Browns

Week Home/Road Opponents Brady Sam Steve
Week 1 Away Baltimore Ravens Win Loss Loss
Week 2 Home Cincinnati Bengals Win Win Win
Week 3 Home Washington Redskins Win Win Loss
Week 4 Away Dallas Cowboys Loss Loss Loss
Week 5 Home Indianapolis Colts Win Loss Loss
Week 6 Away Pittsburgh Steelers Loss Loss Loss
Week 7 Away Cincinnati Bengals Win Loss Loss
Week 8 Home Las Vegas Raiders Win Win Win
Week 9 Bye Bye
Week 10 Home Houston Texans Win Loss Win
Week 11 Home Philadelphia Eagles Loss Loss Loss
Week 12 Away Jacksonville Jaguars Win Win Win
Week 13 Away Tennessee Titans Loss Win Win
Week 14 Home Baltimore Ravens Loss Loss Loss
Week 15 Away New York Giants Loss Loss Win
Week 16 Away New York Jets Win Win Win
Week 17 Home Pittsburgh Steelers Win Loss Win
Record 10-6 6-10 8-8

Baltimore Ravens

Week Home/Road Opponents Brady Sam Steve
Week 1 Home Cleveland Browns Win Win Win
Week 2 Away Houston Texans Loss Win Win
Week 3 Home Kansas City Chiefs Loss Loss Win
Week 4 Away Washington Redskins Win Win Win
Week 5 Home Cincinnati Bengals Win Loss Win
Week 6 Away Philadelphia Eagles Loss Win Loss
Week 7 Home Pittsburgh Steelers Loss Loss Win
Week 8 Bye Bye
Week 9 Away Indianapolis Colts Win Win Loss
Week 10 Away New England Patriots Win Loss Win
Week 11 Home Tennessee Titans Win Win Win
Week 12 Away Pittsburgh Steelers Win Loss Win
Week 13 Home Dallas Cowboys Loss Loss Win
Week 14 Away Cleveland Browns Loss Win Win
Week 15 Home Jacksonville Jaguars Win Win Win
Week 16 Home New York Giants Loss Win Win
Week 17 Away Cincinnati Bengals Win Win Win
Record 9-7 10-6 14-2

Pittsburgh Steelers

Week Home/Road Opponents Brady Sam Steve
Week 1 Away New York Giants Loss Win Win
Week 2 Home Denver Broncos Win Win Loss
Week 3 Home Houston Texans Win Win Win
Week 4 Away Tennessee Titans Win Loss Win
Week 5 Home Philadelphia Eagles Win Loss Loss
Week 6 Home Cleveland Browns Win Win Loss
Week 7 Away Baltimore Ravens Win W Loss
Week 8 Bye Bye
Week 9 Away Dallas Cowboys Loss Loss Win
Week 10 Home Cincinnati Bengals Loss Loss Loss
Week 11 Away Jacksonville Jaguars Win Win Win
Week 12 Home Baltimore Ravens Loss Win Loss
Week 13 Home WashintonRedskins Win Win Win
Week 14 Away Buffalo Bills Loss Loss Loss
Week 15 Away Cincinnati Bengals Win Win Loss
Week 16 Home Indianapolis Colts Loss Loss Loss
Week 17 Away Cleveland Browns Loss Win Win
Record 9-7 10-6 7-9

Winner of the AFC North

Brady: Cleveland Browns (10-6) | Team MVP: Baker Mayfield

Truly one of the most difficult divisions to win, the Browns have been basement dwellers for several years. Last year they had the talent but lacked the coaching staff and play-calling to be a consistent team. With new head coach Kevin Stefanski, his run-first mentality will open up the passing game in significant ways for Mayfield. Overall, the Browns have the depth and talent to make a deep run into the playoffs if they can maintain the run-first offense. 

Sam: Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6)Team MVP: Ben Roethlisberger

This offseason, Pittsburgh is flying below the radar, but who is ready to see the defense be complemented by an offense that welcomes the return of their quarterback with a full arsenal of weapons. I project they will finish with the same record as Baltimore but win the division on the strength of head-to-head matchup although both advance to the playoffs. 

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Steve: Baltimore Ravens (14-2) | Team MVP: Lamar Jackson

The Ravens have a football culture like no other and the city is buzzing. Jackson is a prime time superstar and could probably carry a team on his back. Fortunately for Jackson, that doesn’t need to happen. Eric DeCosta is an Ozzie Newsome disciple and he has carried on the tradition of elite team-building. Jackson has a legitimate shot at winning another league MVP award.

Loser of the AFC North

Brady: Cincinnati Bengals (5-11) | Team MVP: Joe Burrow

The Bengals aren’t necessarily a bad team, but the lack of offensive protection for Burrow is a significant concern. As well, rookie quarterbacks do not historically play well, their first year. Also, there are concerns about defense, and if the secondary has enough depth to be consistent, as injuries have ruined the group year after year. Going forward, the offensive line is arguably one of the worst in the NFL and should be addressed in the 2021 draft and offseason. As well, if Tee Higgins cannot replace A.J. Green, then the Bengals will need some new weapons. 

Sam: Cleveland (6-10) Team MVP: Nick Chubb

The Browns are poised to make a run, right? We have heard this narrative before. Despite a Pro Bowl caliber season from Chubb (the presence of Kareem Hunt notwithstanding), Mayfield stumbles again behind an upgraded line and it’s back to the drawing board for the factory of sadness. 

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Steve: Pittsburgh Steelers (7-9) | Team MVP: Devin Bush

When you think of Mike Tomlin and the Steelers, you think of consistency. Although they didn’t finish in last place, they’re the real losers of this division. At some point, I think the authority can become stale and it might be time to let Tomlin go. This team will compete and play the tough Tomlin way, but I don’t think Roethlisberger has what it takes to put this team on his back.

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Main Image Credit:

[getty src=”1199072542″ width=”594″ height=”396″ tld=”com”]

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