Cleveland Browns Given Edge Over Pittsburgh Steelers In AFC North 2019, Baltimore Ravens In The Mix

The AFC North has been among the NFL’s most unpredictable divisions over the last decade. The Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals have all finished in first place at least three times since the 2009 season, and only twice during that span has there been a repeat champion.

The Cleveland Browns failed to even finish better than third in the AFC North at any point over the last decade. Cleveland last finished in second place in the 2007 season. It’s been exactly 30 years since the team won a division title.

The betting odds ahead of the 2019 regular season suggest that streak could finally come to an end. Cleveland is the consensus AFC North favorite at online sportsbooks, according to OddsShark.

The odds are closer at New Jersey’s FanDuel Sportsbook, but the Browns still have the edge. Cleveland leads the AFC North with +145 odds to finish in first place, putting them just ahead of Pittsburgh and their +150 odds.

Baltimore is a contender in the division, though they considered to be a relatively distant third with +290 odds. As a +2300 underdog, Cincinnati is given virtually no chance to win the AFC North.

Cleveland has received more hype than just about any team in recent memory that’s fresh off a losing season. The Browns went 7-8-1 in 2018 following a winless 2017 campaign.

There are enormous expectations on Baker Mayfield, who threw 27 touchdown passes and 14 interceptions as a rookie. He’s got one of the NFL’s best receivers in Odell Beckham Jr. at his disposal. On defense, Myles Garrett has a chance to be one of the league’s most dominant pass rushers.

The Browns still have plenty of question marks with a first-year head coach and a potentially shaky offensive line. Those are two issues that the Steelers don’t have to worry about with Mike Tomlin entering his 13th season with Pittsburgh, who might have the best offensive line in the entire AFC.

Only the New England Patriots are more of a sure thing than the Steelers. Pittsburgh hasn’t had one losing season since drafting Ben Roethlisberger in 2004. Trading Antonio Brown now feels like addition by subtraction.

The Ravens finished ahead of both the Browns and Steelers last season. Baltimore led the NFL in total defense, catapulting the team to a 10-6 record. Lamar Jackson went 6-1 as a starting quarterback in his rookie season.

Baltimore experienced plenty of changeover on defense, losing the likes of Terrell Suggs, C.J. Mosley and Eric Weddle. Earl Thomas, Justin Bethel and Mark Ingram were the team’s top additions. The Ravens have finished below .500 once in 11 seasons under head coach John Harbaugh.

For the first time in 16 years, Marvin Lewis won’t be on the sidelines for the Bengals. Cincinnati could end up being one of the NFL’s worst teams in 2019.