The AFC North is poised to be one of the most unpredictable divisions in the upcoming NFL season, with analysts on "First Things First" diverging on which team will emerge on top. Key uncertainties surrounding the quarterback positions for several franchises are central to these predictions.
Nick Wright, Chris Broussard, and Danny Parkins all placed the Baltimore Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals as the division's strongest contenders, while forecasting struggles for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns. However, their specific rankings and reasoning varied.
Wright ranked the Ravens first, predicting they could secure the No. 1 seed in the AFC and that quarterback Lamar Jackson might win his third MVP award. He expressed strong doubts about the Browns' quarterback situation, forecasting a 4-13 record and calling it the "worst quarterback situation in the NFL." Wright also predicted the Steelers would finish 6-11, questioning how veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who will turn 43 this year, will perform as the weather cools. He anticipates Cincinnati will win nine games and miss the playoffs, despite a potentially strong offense.
Broussard aligned with Wright's top two teams, but his outlook for the Steelers was particularly bleak. He predicted it would be the team's first losing season since 2003, suggesting that head coach Mike Tomlin's past success may have masked underlying issues. Broussard also expressed surprise at Deshaun Watson retaining the starting quarterback job for the Browns, emphasizing his past performance. For the Bengals, Broussard expects them to make the playoffs with a healthy Joe Burrow and a solid defense, but not to win the division.
Parkins' predictions placed the Bengals as division winners, narrowly ahead of the Ravens. He also forecasted a difficult season for the Browns, anticipating they might use three quarterbacks and struggle significantly. Parkins projected the Steelers to finish with an eight-win season, believing Rodgers would perform adequately but not lead the team to a winning record. He expressed caution regarding the Ravens, noting that new head coach Jesse Minter and the offensive coordinator are largely unproven in their roles, despite a potentially strong roster.