AFC North Predictions: Who Takes The Steelers Spot As The Top AFC North Team?

The Steelers reign as the AFC North title winners, but two teams are emerging as stronger candidates to win one of the most competitive divisions in football this season, at least according to “First Things First.” 

From the questions surrounding the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Aaron Rodgers and the Cleveland Browns’ Deshaun Watson, and the healthy talent returning on both the Baltimore Ravens’ and Cincinnati Bengals’ rosters, the AFC North seems to be unpredictable this season. However, Nick Wright, Chris Broussard and Danny Parkins were in unison on who the top two teams in the division will be.

Here are their picks for the AFC North.

Nick Wright put the Cleveland Browns at the bottom and the Ravens at the top, leaving last year’s AFC North winners at third. 

Wright did not hold back when it came to the Browns, emphasizing that its quarterback situation does not benefit them or its record. 

“I think theyre going to be 4-13. I think its the worst quarterback situation in the NFL. … Id be very surprised if they win six games,” Wright said on Wednesday’s edition of First Things First. 

In terms of the Steelers, the return of Rodgers could go South for new head coach Mike McCarthy, especially with Rodgers turning 43 years old this year.

“I think they finish 6-11, but what is Aaron Rodgers going to look like once the weather turns cold? … He turns 43 this year,” Wright said. “I would be surprised if, during that stretch that Drew Allar doesn’t start a game or two … I do not think Aaron Rodgers will be the starting quarterback all year.”

Wright believes that Cincinnati will fall into the same cycle as last year: win nine games and miss the playoffs. Even with quarterback Joe Burrow back in full force with wide receivers Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase, Wright is not buying any of the hype surrounding its offense.

“Winning only nine games and missing the playoffs. Its basically what they do every year… I think they will have the ninth-best offense in the NFL.”

For Wright’s No. 1 team, the Ravens, he sets the bar high for quarterback Lamar Jackson and new head coach Jesse Minter. Wright predicts that Baltimore will also land the No. 1 seed in the AFC. 

“I would be shocked if they dont start 6-0. If they dont just sweep this conference. I am predicting that the Baltimore Ravens will be the No. 1 seed in the AFC,” Wright continued. “I think Minter is a breath of fresh air this year. I think Lamar might win his third NFL MVP. They might be a regular season juggernaut.”

Chris Broussard and Wright shared the same predictions from top to bottom. However, there’s a twist that came with the Bengals.

For Broussard, the Browns were the clear choice for fourth place, especially with their offseason decision on starting quarterback Deshaun Watson. 

“Im stunned that Deshaun Watson has won the job. He hasnt played well… He better go out and win those first two road games,” Broussard said. 

Broussard also turned heads when he made his prediction about the Steelers season, noting it could be their first losing season in over two decades. 

“This will be the first losing season for the Steelers since 2003. Were going to find out that Mike Tomlin was really holding that thing together…I think Mike McCarthy is a good coach, but the last two years he was with Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay…they went 8-10-1…with a team that had the potential to win 13 games,” Broussard said.

Rodgers left every NFL fan waiting for his offseason decisio