Rich’s Pick to Win the AFC North This Season Is ...?

The AFC North was the division the show had been circling for weeks, and when it finally came time to commit, two of the three landed on Cincinnati and nobody had anything nice to say about Cleveland.

Chris Brockman went first and called it a two playoff team division, possibly three. His order was Bengals, Ravens, Steelers, Browns. He allowed that Pittsburgh could win ten games and still finish third, which tells you what he thinks of the top of this division. On Cleveland, he gave real credit before dropping them, praising the young talent and the draft, then landing on the thing that decides it. "The quarterback situation is still completely hairy."

His pick came with a full endorsement attached. "I'm drinking the Bengal juice." Healthy across the board, a better defense, and Joe Burrow putting up an MVP type season.

TJ Jefferson agreed on almost everything except the winner. He also has Cleveland fourth, offered without disrespect, and put Pittsburgh third while expecting them to have a good season. His reasoning for keeping the Steelers out was comparative rather than critical. "I just for some reason don't think they're as good as the Bengals, because this Bengals offense, I just have a weird feeling it's just going to have a historical type season."

Which made his actual pick a small surprise. Jefferson took Baltimore to win it, with a motive he stated openly, which is that he is angling to be sent to Brazil to watch the Ravens play in Week 3.

That produced a brief detour, since Michael Irvin had been on the day before, mentioned that he loves Rio, and then declined to tell the story. The room decided, after some deliberation, to let it rest.

Rich went with Cincinnati, but spent most of his time explaining the teams he was leaving behind, and he was warmest about the one he ranked second. "I do love Jesse Minter, and I think he's going to make that Ravens defense better."

On Pittsburgh, his hesitation is the offense. He is not convinced the arrangement of Mike McCarthy calling plays and connecting with his quarterback has proven it can go back to the future. He still thinks they can win ten games and make the field.

On Cleveland, he conceded he has been talking them up as a sleeper and then refused to act on it. "I just can't choose them anything but fourth."

His Bengals case came down to points and posture. They have the best offense in the division for scoring, and they appear to have finally added a genuine presence on defense, provided that player can turn back the clock to where he was two, three and four years ago rather than where he was last season.

The rest was about the quarterback, and Rich got noticeably more animated. What he wants is simple. Get Joe Burrow on the field with good field position and a lead, and let his quick starts hold up.

What actually sold him, though, was not scheme. "I love the way that he's been talking. I love the way that he's speaking into existence, and I love the way that he's focused."

The one thing all three agreed on needed no analysis at all. This division playing itself is going to be lit.