NFL: Browns ready to make noise?
Can the Cleveland Browns win the AFC North?
Oddsmakers definitely think they can, listing the Browns at 8-5 odds to win one of the toughest divisions in the NFL.
While not the division favorite, the Browns enter the season as the second choice to win the North, showing the high expectations this team has after last year’s 10-6 season, the franchise’s first winning season since 2002.
As all teams get set to start their training camps, the NFL Futures Odds available here at Sportsbook.com are getting lots of attention. Bet on the Division, Conference and Super Bowl Winner, Week 1 matchups and the biggest Games of the Year.
Leading up to the Opening Kickoff between the Washington Redskins and New York Giants on September 4th, we’ll preview each of the NFL’s eight divisions and keep you up to date on the latest futures odds.
Here’s a look at the AFC North, starting with the division favorite Pittsburgh Steelers:
Pittsburgh Steelers (10-11)
Pittsburgh enters 2008 with big plans for the offense, adding one of the top running backs in the draft, Rashard Mendenhall, to a ground game ranked third in the NFL with an average of 135.5 yards per game last year.
The Steelers hope that running back Willie Parker, whose season ended last December when he suffered a broken right fibula, shows no effects of the injury and can lead the rushing attack and open the passing game for quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
With Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes already at receiver, the Steelers added 6’4” Limas Sweed out of Texas on draft day, giving ‘Big Ben’ the tall receiver he requested.
The big question is whether Roethlisberger will have time to get any of his players the ball. The victim of 47 sacks last year, 93 over the past two years, the Steelers need to find protection without former All-Pro guard Alan Faneca in the lineup. Faneca left for the New York Jets during free agency.
On defense, the Steelers need their leader, safety Troy Polamalu, to return to Pro Bowl form after only playing 11 games last season due to knee injuries. Polamalu underwent surgery on his right knee and Pittsburgh backers are hoping he can play his first full season since 2005.
Even with a healthy Polamalu, the 9 regular season wins set by the oddsmakers is intriguing as the Steelers have one of the toughest schedules in the NFL. Along with road games against each of their division rivals, the Steelers play in New England, Jacksonville, Philadelphia, and Tennessee. Not to mention they host Indianapolis, San Diego, Dallas and the defending Super Bowl Champion New York Giants.
Cleveland Browns (8-5)
After four consecutive losing seasons, Cleveland entered 2007 with few people expecting much more than another last-place finish in the AFC North.
The Browns surprised everyone with a 10-6 season and a share of the division title thanks in large part to the 3,787 passing yards by quarterback Derek Anderson and 1,304 rushing yards by running back Jamal Lewis.
A fourth year quarterback out of Oregon State, Anderson was one of the big surprises in 2007, passing for 29 touchdowns in 15 starts and averaging 236.7 yards per game. Lewis, a free agent signing before the ’07 campaign, resurrected his career with a great season, capping it with nine touchdowns.
The emergence of tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. and receiver Braylon Edwards, each who caught for more than 1,000 yards, was also a huge boost to a team that finally found an offense and winning identity.
Cleveland added wide receiver Donte’ Stallworth to an already impressive passing game that will need to put up points.
The Browns were the third-worst defense in the NFL last year, giving up 359.6 yards per game, 129.5 of those yards on the ground. The team hopes they have addressed the issues, adding veteran defensive tackle Shaun Rogers and defensive end Corey Williams in the offseason but the young secondary remains a concern.
There’s no doubt that Cleveland has the offensive firepower to reach the 8 wins set by oddsmakers but will the defense hold up and allow backers to cash-in on the over?
Cincinnati Bengals (9-2)
Cincinnati has seemingly been on the verge of a breakout season for years, but they never seem to get over the hump. Backers thought they had finally rid themselves of their losing ways when the team went 11-5 in 2005 but they took a step back in 2006, going 8-8.
Things went backwards again in 2007, as the Bengals went 7-9 despite having one of the best quarterback-receiver duos in the league in Carson Palmer and Chad Johnson.
Johnson, who says he is tired of losing, was the focus of much media attention during the off-season, demanding trades, threatening to sit out the season and claiming the team is doing nothing to improve.
While he has since said he’ll be at training camp, it remains to be seen whether Johnson will give an honest effort or remain an unnecessary distraction. Either way, Palmer still has receiver T.J. Houshmanzadeh, who led the team with 12 touchdowns last season.
Running back Rudi Johnson, one of the biggest disappointments in 2007 with just 497 rushing yards, is said to be at 100% and if he is, then the Bengals offense could again be a dual-scoring threat. Johnson, who had just three touchdowns last season, had 12 in each of the three previous seasons and averaged 1,407 rushing yards over the three seasons.
Much like the Browns, Cincinnati struggles on defense and needs to cut down on the 348.8 yards per game they gave up in 2007, but outside of the addition of Antwan Odom at defensive end, not much has changed in Cincy.
Because of the distractions and defense, oddsmakers have set the Bengals regular season win total at 7.
Baltimore Ravens (8-1)
A 5-11 season in Baltimore was a huge disappointment but the team showed just how tough an opponent they could be in Week 13, taking the New England Patriots down to the wire.
If the Ravens’ defense can match the intensity they brought in that Prime Time matchup, Baltimore should be a competitive opponent in 2008.
Baltimore players claimed that former head coach Brian Billick lost the team last year and so John Harbaugh, and new offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, take over with the task of getting production out of an offense consistently near the bottom of the league in the passing game.
The big question is whether the Ravens go with first-round draft pick Joe Flacco at quarterback or if they give the youngster time to develop while Kyle Boller gets another shot as a starter. Whoever starts, the quarterback needs someone to throw the ball to other than tight end Todd Heap and aging receiver Derrick Mason.
Baltimore has been without a big-play receiver for years, relying on the running game to provide the bulk of the yards. Running back Willis McGahee is joined by Rutgers’ star Ray Rice but neither back will have Jonathan Ogden blocking for them. The 11-time Pro Bowler retired in the off-season after an injury-filled 2007 in which he started just 10 games.
The good news is that Ogden’s replacements saw lots of action in 2007 and the offensive line should be used to playing without the 6’9’ giant.
That said, there’s still a lot to question regarding this offense, which might make it hard for them to go over the regular season win total of 6.
Bet on the AFC North at Sportsbook.com