For Cleveland and its favorite phrase "There's always next year..." well, that next year is slowly creeping up on all of us as the football season begins in just under a week after a very tumultuous lock-out in the off season. As for this blog as the title says will be focusing on the AFC North and following how the teams do over the course of their season. Let's look how each team did in the preseason and my predictions for the year:

Cleveland Browns: 1-3 The Browns are a young team with a lot of potential to have a breakout year with sophmore quarterback Colt McCoy and madden coverboy Peyton Hillis leading the new West coast Offense instituted by new head coach Pat Shurmur and a new defensive scheme in the 4-3. Josh Cribbs is a dangerous player to any team and they have been getting good production from draft prospect Greg Little, who has elite size, and tight end Evan Moore. Look for the Browns to impress and far surpass their dissapointing last season. I see a possible wild card spot at 9-7 or 10-6 as long as they stay healthy.

Cinncinatti Bengals: 1-3 The Bengals are in a rebuilding mode right now, much where the Browns were a few years ago. With losing a lot of vetrens last year and having to start a rookie quarterback in Andy Dalton and reciever A.J. Green it looks like this season will be filled with growing pains. Looks as if they will rely on Cedric Benson to put the team on his back, doe. Im being generous and giving them a 3-13 season.

Baltimore Ravens: 3-1 The Ravens biggest obstacle for this season will be themselves. Costly mistakes have hindered them late in games especially in teh playoffs against Pittsburgh who they seem unable to beat. Once again boasting an outstanding defense with vetrean leadership in Ed Reed and Ray Lewis. With the addition of Vonta Leach at fullback expect Ray Rice to have his third 1,000 yard rushing season in a row and Joe Flacco has improved his numbers each year so you can be sure this year wont be any different. Look for them to run away with the division this year cruising to a 13-3 record.

Pittsburgh Steelers: 3-1 The Steelers season will be outlined after their first game of the season; against Baltimore. If they are able to win I forsee them winning the division. It will be a very close duel of two very strong experienced teams who know eachother well. Pittsburgh has a lot of play makers on both offense and defense and led by Big Ben who will for sure provide a spark for the team when they need it most. They have a very deep recieving core this year and Rashard Medenhall is bound to have good numbers again this and has looked very good in the pre-season. I see them falling short to a vengence bound Baltimore team who tehy defeated in the playoffs last year and going 12-4.