The Steelers, last year’s AFC North title winners, are staring down a potentially brutal season, if you believe the guys on “First Things First.” Nick Wright is out here calling a shocking 6-11 season for them. That’s a massive drop for a defending champ, and it points to what’s gonna be an absolutely wild ride in one of the NFL’s toughest divisions this year. Forget what you thought you knew about the AFC North, because it looks like a total shake-up is coming!
The North’s Defending Champs are on the Ropes, And Nobody’s Surprised
Man, get this: Wright didn’t hold back on the Pittsburgh Steelers. He’s got them finishing 6-11, and he’s seriously questioning what Aaron Rodgers is gonna look like when that cold weather rolls in. Rodgers turns 43 this year, you guys, and Wright straight up thinks he won’t be the starting quarterback all season! Can you imagine? He even floated the idea that Drew Allar could start a game or two. Talk about a bombshell!
And it only gets worse for the Cleveland Browns. Wright put them dead last in the division, predicting a pathetic 4-13 record. He said it loud and clear: “I think it’s the worst quarterback situation in the NFL.” He’d be “very surprised” if they even snagged six wins. Chris Broussard totally agreed, saying he’s “stunned” Deshaun Watson won the starting job because Watson “hasn’t played well.” Broussard even threw down the gauntlet: Watson “better go out and win those first two road games.” Yikes. The questions around Rodgers and Watson are definitely making this division feel unpredictable.
MVP Buzz and The Same Old Cycle for the Rest of the North
So who does Wright see rising up? Well, the Cincinnati Bengals, even with Joe Burrow back in full force alongside Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase, are apparently stuck in a rut. Wright thinks they’ll just do “basically what they do every year,” winning nine games and still somehow missing the playoffs. He’s not buying any of the hype around their offense, predicting they’ll only have the ninth-best offense in the league. That’s gotta sting for Bengals fans.
But the real excitement is all about the Baltimore Ravens! Wright is absolutely all in on them, setting the bar sky-high. He expects Lamar Jackson to maybe even snag his third NFL MVP award this year! With new head coach Jesse Minter, Wright is convinced the Ravens are gonna be a “breath of fresh air” and a “regular season juggernaut.” He’d be “shocked” if they don’t start 6-0 and just “sweep this conference.” This dude is predicting the Ravens will lock up the No. 1 seed in the entire AFC! Talk about a bold claim!
Seriously, this AFC North is shaping up to be pure chaos. With Lamar Jackson looking like an MVP frontrunner and the Steelers facing a massive age question at QB, every game is going to be HUGE. Can Deshaun Watson actually prove Broussard wrong, or will the Bengals finally break that maddening nine-win curse? It’s gonna be appointment viewing, that’s for sure. Get ready for an absolute dogfight in the AFC North!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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