Phil Agius
Show Bio
The AFC North has had different champions in each of the last 3 seasons, and last year it supplied the AFC conference champions in the unexpected form of the Cincinnati Bengals. Zac Taylor’s team became the first AFC North team to reach the Super Bowl since the Ravens won the Vince Lombardi Trophy in 2013.
The Bengals are not the sportsbooks’ favorites to win it this year, with the Ravens at the top of the market after their injury worries of last season. The Steelers are beginning a new era after the retirement of long-time QB Ben Roethlisberger and the Browns’ season could hinge on the final outcome of new quarterback Deshaun Watson’s disciplinary procedure.
The competition is always fierce in this division and this season is set to be no exception. Last year all 4 teams had at least 8 wins and they all finished within 2 wins of each other, while the year before 3 teams made the playoffs after winning at least 11 games. Let’s take a look at each team’s prospects in 2022 and their odds to win the AFC North.
AFC North teams
The AFC North teams are the Baltimore Ravens (most recent win 2019), Cincinnati Bengals (current champions), Cleveland Browns (no wins in the division in its 4-team format) and Pittsburgh Steelers (most recent win 2020).
AFC North odds
DraftKings Sportsbook has the Ravens as favorites at -155 odds, with the Bengals at +190, the Browns at +300 and the Steelers as outsiders at +1000.
Baltimore Ravens (-155)
The Ravens should be better than last season simply by default. A healthy season from QB Lamar Jackson would be a start — he has done nothing but win games as a starting quarterback. In fact, the dual-threat QB is 37-12 as a starter since taking over the role in late 2018. Running backs JK Dobbins and Gus Edwards should be fully healthy again this season after knee injuries last year and they should be running behind an offensive line that has been improved via the draft and free agency.
Baltimore’s defense is revamped, and rookie safety Kyle Hamilton can be expected to help out straight away. Most importantly, their schedule is pretty favorable. The AFC North won’t be easy, but Baltimore should hold an edge in most of its games outside of the division.
Read our full Baltimore Ravens 2022 season preview
Cincinnati Bengals (+190)
The Bengals have enhanced their reputation with last season’s amazing run to the Super Bowl and they might be even stronger as a team this year, having finally made some positive moves to strengthen their weak link on the offensive line. QB Joe Burrow is a year further removed from his knee surgery and his talented receiving group is a threat to any defense. Running back Joe Mixon is one of the most underrated running backs in the league. Some of the gambles they took on defense last season paid off handsomely with Troy Hendrickson in particular proving to be worth the money, and the pressure is well and truly off head coach Zac Taylor, which was not the case at the start of last season.
However, there has to be a chance that the Bengals can be improved and yet not have everything go quite so well for them as it did in last year’s charmed campaign. They can’t expect to finish the year as strongly this time with a brutal home stretch against the Chiefs, Browns, Bucs, Patriots, Bills and Ravens.
Read our full Cincinnati Bengals 2022 season preview
Cleveland Browns (+300)
No one can have a strong idea of how the Browns will get on this year until Deshaun Watson’s disciplinary case is over. The Browns proved last year they can still win even when missing key players and getting poor quarterback play, so even an extended spell of Jacoby Brissett at QB would not be unsurmountable. If Watson’s punishment remains at 6 games, the Browns could go 3-3 or 4-2 and be ready to roll when Watson is allowed to play. At this stage, though, we still don’t even know for sure if he will be allowed to play this year.
The rest of the roster remains strong, with one of the best offensive lines in the league, Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt leading the ground game and elite route runner Amari Cooper brought in to be the new No. 1 receiver. The Browns have some great young cornerbacks, Myles Garett and Jadeveon Clowney coming off the edge and second-season linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koromoah looking set for stardom. They even drafted a kicker in Cade York who might just be the answer to years of costly PAT and field-goal misses. None of that might matter unless they can resolve their QB situation, though.
Read our full Cleveland Browns 2022 season preview
Pittsburgh Steelers (+1000)
The Steelers already weren’t great last year and now they are a team in transition with Ben Roethlisberger retired and wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster having left to join Kansas City. The Steelers are not likely to fall off a cliff, though. Head coach Mike Tomlin is too good to let that happen. Whoever wins the QB battle between Mitch Trubisky, Mason Rudolph and Kenny Pickett will have plenty of help in the form of Diontae Johnson, Chase Claypool and tight end Pat Freiermuth, plus rookie receiver George Pickens, while Najee Harris is one of the best running backs in the business.
The other side of the ball features pass-rusher extraordinaire TJ Watt, safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and new linebacker Myles Jack. There may be some minor growing pains in Pittsburgh, but the Steelers can’t be totally written off.
Read our full Pittsburgh Steelers 2022 season preview
2022 AFC North predictions and best bet: Baltimore Ravens to win the AFC North (-155)
Like last season, our predictions for the 2022 AFC North season expect another close battle with all 4 teams at least going close to a .500 year. With the Steelers adapting to life without Ben Roethlisberger and the Browns’ excellent roster handicapped by missing starting QB Deshaun Watson, this year’s title could be a contest between the Ravens and last season’s champions the Bengals.
The Ravens did well to stay competitive last season after suffering a succession of devastating injuries to their running backs, while starting QB Lamar Jackson was able to play a full role in only 11 games. With JK Dobbins back in action, they look the right favorites to win the division for the first time in 3 years. The Bengals have made the right moves to improve their offensive line but they’re no longer going to be taken lightly by any opponents this season. The schedule offers them a chance to get off to a strong start, but they’ll need to with a tough run to come in December and January.
AFC North standings 2021
Cincinnati Bengals, 10-7 (4-2 in division)
Pittsburgh Steelers, 9-7-1 (4-2 in division)
Cleveland Browns, 8-9 (3-3 in division)
Baltimore Ravens, 8-9 (1-5 in division)
AFC North champions
2021 Cincinnati Bengals, 10-7
2020 Pittsburgh Steelers, 12-4
2019 Baltimore Ravens, 14-2
2018 Baltimore Ravens, 10-6
2017 Pittsburgh Steelers, 13-3
Pickswise is the home of free expert NFL Picks and NFL Odds. Be sure to check out all of our season previews and NFL Futures Bets leading up to the 2022 NFL season.
