Hot takes for each team in the AFC North | A to Z Sports NFL Newsletter
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Hot takes for each team in the AFC North
The AFC North is always a highly competitive division, and that should be the case once again in 2025. The Pittsburgh Steelers are hoping that quarterback Aaron Rodgers has one more great run left in him, the Cleveland Browns are looking to get to respectability, the Cincinnati Bengals will strive to get back to the playoffs, and the Baltimore Ravens are all-in for a Super Bowl run.
With that in mind, our guys Destin Adams and Kyle Crabbs collaborated to come up with their hottest takes on each team in the AFC North. Here’s what they came up with:
Ravens win the AFC title: “Lamar Jackson is playing the best ball of his career. Derrick Henry's late stage career is playing out like his 4th quarter carries — he's only getting stronger the later it gets. DeAndre Hopkins joins a loaded supporting cast with Zay Flowers and an emergent Rashod Bateman. The Ravens had the most potent 12 personnel grouping of the last 20 years and have all those pieces back. Sprinkle in the depth of the secondary and the young pass rushers on defense? This team is going to be a force. The Buffalo Bills or Kansas City Chiefs have ended the Ravens' season in each of the last three seasons. I believe Baltimore has the best roster from top to bottom out of any of the three, and Lamar Jackson is ready for that big game breakout after seeing how he battled against Buffalo on the road last winter." —Kyle Crabbs
Shedeur Sanders starts more games than any other QB on Browns’ roster: “Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders' free fall during the 2025 NFL Draft was by far the biggest surprise of the event. He went from being projected as a first round selection to not hearing his name called till the fifth round. While the Browns ultimately stopped his fall in the draft, they also selected a QB ahead of him in Dillon Gabriel out of Oregon. I think Sanders will end up starting more games than Gabriel and every other QB on their roster for two reasons. I think he has more upside than Gabriel and is worth betting on as a potential long-term starter, whereas I see Gabriel as a career backup. Secondly, I think the Browns are going to struggle this season, no matter who is under center, and Sanders will sell tickets and get fans excited, no matter if they win or lose. Veteran Joe Flacco seems like the favorite to be the day one starter, but I don't think it'll be long before the fan base begins banging the table to see Sanders inserted into the lineup." —Destin Adams
Steelers OLB T.J. Watt claims his fourth single-season sack title: “Pittsburgh's defensive investments in names like Derrick Harmon and Darius Slay should have the team well-positioned to finish in the top 10 in scoring defense for the sixth time in seven years. The difference this season? The Steelers have every reason to aspire to be better than in the 20s in scoring offense with Aaron Rodgers at the helm. That means more complimentary game scripts, which means more time to tee off on opposing quarterbacks. Watt's one of the league's best pure pass rushers, and he had 19 sacks as recently as 2023." —Kyle Crabbs
Bengals QB Joe Burrow wins his first MVP: “Over the last four years, we've seen four different QBs bring home the MVP trophy, and I think we'll see that trend continue for a fifth straight season. Joe Burrow was fantastic last season, and if the Bengals had won more games, the race for MVP with Josh Allen would have been much closer. He led the NFL in passing yards with 4,918 yards and passing touchdowns with 43. The teams defense struggled for the majority of the year and some could say robbed Burrow of a deserved MVP season. I expect him to continue where he left off in 2024, and I seriously doubt the Bengals will find themselves out of the playoffs in back to back years. Burrow has his top two weapons back in the fold with Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins both inking new contracts this offseason, and I don't see any reason he won't be just as successful, if not more, in 2025. The Bengals are going to remind people just how good their offense is this year, and a year off from the playoffs was the outlier, not the new normal in Cincinnati." —Destin Adams
Bold predictions have the AFC North representing the conference in the Super Bowl, and Joe Burrow to have a magical season
The AFC North has been one of the toughest divisions in football for quite some time. That remains the case ahead of the 2025 season. The divisional crown seems truly up for grabs, and three of the four teams enter the year feeling solid about their chances. Two of our writers here at A to Z […]
Travis Kelce, George Kittle, Greg Olsen host fifth annual Tight End University
Created by Kelce, Kittle, an Olsen back in 2021, the three hosted and participated in on-field drills, film study, and other team-building activities with 78 other tight ends from around the league. Here are some highlights:
- Coach Kelce: The NFL’s social media team captured Kelce coaching up his fellow tight ends by sharing his route running wisdom.
- Taylor Swift makes surprise appearance: The megastar musician sang with country music star Kane Brown.
- Underrated TE participates: Veteran Durham Smythe attended the camp, and our Chicago Bears writer Kole Noble has the breakdown of Smythe’s unique skillset.
- Two Dolphins TEs participate: Veteran Pharaoh Brown and rookie Jalin Conyer were also in attendance as they look to make an impact for Miami in 2025.
- $30 million TE attends: Juwan Johnson of the New Orleans Saints also participated, fresh off receiving a three-year contract extension.
- Three Cowboys attend: Jake Furguson, Brevyn Spann-Ford, and Tyler Neville participated as well.
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