The Browns will win the AFC North this year.
Dylan623 said 03/15, 11:12 AM
They have upgraded as a team this offseason. Plus they were pretty good before so they are bound to be at least a very good team this year. Plus thet don't have much competition this year.
bsaffels said 03/15, 11:40 AM
The browns will not win the AFC North. It will go to the pittsburg steelers.
The steelers defense is much better than the browns. They only gave up 269 points all season...or 16.8 points per game...which was number 2 in the nfl.
The browns defense on the other hand gave up 382 points (23.8 per game) which put them at 21st in the nfl. And the cleveland offense only put up 402. Slightly more than they gave up. They were very fortunate to be 10-6 and will be lucky if they reach that mark again.
The steelers meanwhile finished 10-6 under first year coach mike tomlin. He will have one season under his belt this year and the steelers will not have to go through the process of adjusting to a new head coach. They can only improve on what they accomplished last year.
Finally the steelers had the number 3 rushing offense in the nfl last season. So they have a better defense and a better rushing attack than the cleveland browns. Everyone knows running the ball and playing good defense is how you win games in the NFL. And they will repeat as NFC north champions this year.
Dylan623 said 03/15, 12:29 PM
While the Steelers have a better overall running game the Browns Jamal Lewis did put up better numbers than Willie Parker. Let's compare them.
Willie Paker:
car:321
yd:1316
avg:4.1
td:2
Jamal Lewis:
car:298
yds:1304
avg:4.4
tds:9
As you can see Parker has23 more carries than Lewis and only 8 more yards to show for them. Also Lewis averages one-third of a yard more per carry than Paker so that show he had a more consisent season and finally, Parker has 2 tds while Lewis has 9 tds. So actually you can make the arguement that the Browns have the better running game. Also the o-line of the Steelers is a mess. The only good linemen they had is now a Jet. Also, even with there good linemen, Alan Faneca they allowed 47 sacks. While last year the Browns only allowed 14 sacks.
bsaffels said 03/15, 02:36 PM
why are we comparing just jamal lewis and willie parker? Did you forget about najeh davenport?
Najeh Davenport:
car:107
yds:500
avg:4.7
tds:5
4.7 a carry is pretty good for a number two back. And big ben, who is more mobile than most people realize, averaged 5.8 a carry and rushed for 2 tds. So when you combine those two and willie parker they do have a better rushing attack than the browns. I was talking about team rushing not just comparing the number 1 backs.
you cant consider donte stallworth a "big" offseason signing...he hauled in all of 46 catches and 3 tds last year while playing for the pass happy patriots who didnt even realize it is legal to hand the ball off...do you really expect him to put up huge numbers when he goes to a more balanced and less talented offense?
The steelers did just lose Alen Faneca to free agency. But this years draft is one of the deepest there has been in a long time as far as offensive linemen go, with up to 7 projected as first rounders. Pittsburg could easily snag Jeff Otah(pitt) or Brandon Albert(UVA) to fill his shoes. Meanwhile the browns dont even have a first round pick.
Dylan623 said 03/16, 03:10 PM
Forfeited Turn
bsaffels said 03/16, 08:04 PM
I'll take your silence as you realizing that you were wrong and the browns were an illusion of a 10-6 team this year and will be lucky to be 9-7 next year. You couldve at least had the balls to forfeit.
But ill go ahead and finish proving my point. You said that the steelers allowed more sacks last year than the browns. This is true. What you failed to mention was that Roethlisberger still managed to post the 2nd highest passer rating in the nfl. Second only to tom brady. Thats right. Higher than favre, romo, and some guy named peyton manning. And willie parker was the #2 rusher in AFC. Second only to LT. Obviously their o-line isnt quit as much of "a mess" as you made them out to be.
So far i have only mentioned the steelers. But dont forget that baltimore is only one year removed from a division title and cincy only two years. Although they looked very average last year both have some good talent and either could have a bounce back year.
The division is wide open and there is no way you can say that the mediocre browns are the team to beat in the North. They havent won the division in the 9 years since they rejoined the NFL and i dont see that changing this year
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Comments (162)
Steelers reign is over. They may have the same defense but the offense has taken a huge step backwards. Pittsburgh has questions all over the o-line and the only decent one they had is now a Jet. The running game will not be what it has been over the last few years and good luck keeping the 108 million dollar quarterback up right.
The Browns on the other hand have drastically improved the defense and have added another solid WR to an allready potent offense. The have one of the best o-lines in the NFL and Cleveland will have a better running attack than Pittsburgh.
Clubbin' baby seals | 03/15/08, 12:07 PM
Report Offensive Commentsince when does picking up guys mean that your team will do well?
The Rams, Dolphins, Broncos, and 49ers ALL picked up big names last offseason. How did that work out?
BSchwartz07 | 03/15/08, 12:08 PM
Report Offensive Commentwell.. he says they only scored 40+.. thats pretty impressive if you ask me
GO*Jord on a 18-2-6 run*CANUKS | 03/15/08, 12:13 PM
Report Offensive CommentSee the Browns added players to an allready solid team. That is what you are supposed to do.
Clubbin' baby seals | 03/15/08, 12:15 PM
Report Offensive CommentYeah, the Browns added questionable players at extremely high $$$ figures, and traded away pretty much all their draft picks plus a young CB (that, by the way, all you Browns fans thought was going to be the next HOF CB from the way you talked about him last offseason) in doing so. IF you somehow manage to win the AFC North, enjoy it, because it will be a VERY temporary visit to the top. You sold your future for a shot now. Better make the most of it.
perfect360 | 03/15/08, 12:23 PM
Report Offensive CommentWhat are you talking about, perfect360?
Dylan623 | 03/15/08, 12:32 PM
Report Offensive CommentHe is talking about a team with an overinflated sense of acheivment that decided now was the time to make a run at the Super Bowl, but will ultimately fail to even make the playoffs.
Swayze Bandwagon Fan *BBF | 03/15/08, 01:06 PM
Report Offensive CommentCan't you people even try to read the arguments?
Dylan623 | 03/15/08, 01:49 PM
Report Offensive CommentIts called blatant homerism, Kobe
djroxalot got a promotion!!! | 03/15/08, 01:59 PM
Report Offensive CommentPeople are reading
Parker is overrated
But the Bengals will be better, Baltimore cant be any worse, especially if they get a QB
This division could have everybody .500 and better
djroxalot got a promotion!!! | 03/15/08, 02:00 PM
Report Offensive CommentThe division is more likely to be entirely .500 and UNDER
Swayze Bandwagon Fan *BBF | 03/15/08, 02:03 PM
Report Offensive CommentThe AFC North is going to be the next 'black and blue division' in the NFL..., sorry NFC Central! Every team in the division is capable of winning it..., Cleveland's gotten a lot better the last two years, the Steelers are one of the best defenses in the conference, the Bengals are solid and the Ravens are probably going to get better (hopefully!) I think the Steel will return to the top of the division but, it's going to be a dogfight til the end!
Kev316 | 03/15/08, 02:18 PM
Report Offensive Comment1-Pittsburgh 11-5
2-Cleveland 9-7
3-Cincinnati 8-8
4-Baltimore 6-10
As of right now, this would be how I think things stack up
djroxalot got a promotion!!! | 03/15/08, 02:27 PM
Report Offensive CommentKobe - this is what I'm talking about...
$42 million for 6 years of Shaun Rogers ($20 million guaranteed) for Bodden and their 3rd round pick this year. Questionable because of the size of the contract they gave to a guy with a questionable work ethic, and who in recent headlines, has refused to divulge his weight. Also should be questionable to many of you Browns fans who felt Leigh Bodden was such an asset going into last season.
$35 million for 7 years for Dante Stallworth ($10 million guaranteed) for a guy who's averaging about 700 yds, 46 catches and 5 TDs a season. Questionable because it's pretty big $$$ to give to a guy who will likely be the 3rd receiving option after Edwards and Winslow.
Those two moves, combined with the Corey Williams (who is also expected to sign a big contract) trade (for Cleveland's 2nd rd pick this year)and re-signings of DA and Lewis, the Browns highest pick this year is the 4th round (Dallas has their 1st round pick) and they're pretty much guaranteed of having cap issues in the coming years with all the big contracts they're handing out like candy.
It's a tried and true method, you build and re-build a competitive team through the draft. You roll the dice on pricey free agents and if you're lucky, you have a competitive team for a few years.
perfect360 | 03/15/08, 02:28 PM
Report Offensive CommentI'm sorry. I think I'm seeing things. I could have just sworen that Kev316 just called the Bengals a "solid team". But like I said before I must be seeing things cause that would be a very stupid thing to say.
Dylan623 | 03/15/08, 02:30 PM
Report Offensive CommentPS - It cracks me up hearing all the Browns fans declare the Steeler's sky is falling because Faneca is gone.
Funny thing is, they were saying the same thing last year about Porter. Porter was the "leader and the voice of their vaunted defense" and they were going to be nothing without him. And what did losing Porter actually do to their D? Number 2 overall (could've been number 1 had Aaron Smith not been injured) and beat the Browns TWICE.
Oh yeah, the new coach was supposed to lead to their demise, not to mention Ben being exposed as an average QB at best, etc. etc.
perfect360 | 03/15/08, 02:35 PM
Report Offensive Commentexcuse me...i meant to say the browns traded away their picks for the FIRST THREE ROUNDS...not just the first round
bsaffels | 03/15/08, 02:41 PM
Report Offensive CommentKobe623..., yeah you're seeing things. The Bengals are a solid team...., Johnson reset his own yard record last season, Housh caught 112 for 12 TD's and made the Pro Bowl, Palmer's becoming a force at QB with over 4000 passing yards and , Graham and the kicking game are better than a lot of teams in the division? Oh..., and Leon Hall had five picks last season tying a Bengals rookie record. And with Rudi Johnson running the ball, this team could be a surprise pick for AFC North.
Kev316 | 03/15/08, 02:48 PM
Report Offensive CommentLOL
Perfect 360 speaks the truth
djroxalot got a promotion!!! | 03/15/08, 02:48 PM
Report Offensive CommentKev316
They will address the D in the draft since the offense is loaded......They might wanna get an insurance policy for Rudi, not sold on him
djroxalot got a promotion!!! | 03/15/08, 02:49 PM
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