While we continue on in the summer, we’re having the typical stretch without NFL football. We won’t see a game until July 31st. That’s when we have the Hall of Fame Game between the Detroit Lions and the Los Angeles Chargers. The AFC North though will not have a preseason game until August 7 where Cincinnati and Baltimore have preseason games. During this time of the offseason, not only are the 4 AFC north teams making moves. Every team in the NFL is now making moves for the 2025 season. So here is my way too early predictions for the AFC North standings, and why I see this happening. 

4. Cleveland Browns (6-11)

The Cleveland Browns had a 3-14 season in 2024, which was one of the rougher years for the franchise. Going 0-16 in 2017 has been the meme and throughout the sports world. The Cleveland Browns have been a punching bag, and we will see the same situation this season. Even with the worst QB situation in the NFL with newcomers Dillon Gabriel, Sheduer Sanders. As well as veterans Kenny Pickett, and Joe Flacco. They had a good draft. They were patient with getting Mason Graham. They waited and, in doing so, passed on Travis Hunter. I’m confident Cleveland will bounce back, but this is not going to be the year for Cleveland. They need to get the QB room figured out, and then the rest of the offense will fall into place. The Browns had a strong draft. They picked up Harold Fannin Jr., who I think is the greatest Tight End in the draft class, from Bowling Green State University. Cleveland will do their best on defense. Getting linebacker Carson Schwesinger from UCLA helped tremendously and will hopefully give the Browns defense new light. New editions and the leadership of Myles Garrett will be the face defensively. However, there is still much more work to be done. There are too many aging offensive linemen. This is similar to their Ohio counterpart, the Bengals. The QB room is unclear. Finally, the wide receiver core is uncertain. These issues will be the reasoning behind another rough year for the Cleveland Browns. Unfortunately, it will be a down year this season. Here are the results of all the regular season games.

Week 1: Cinncinati Bengals L

Week 2: @ Baltimore Ravens L

Week 3: vs. Green Bay Packers L

Week 4: @ Detroit Lions L

Week 5: Minnesota Vikings (London Game) W

Week 6: @ Pittsburgh Steelers L

Week 7: Miami Dolphins W

Week 8: @ New England Patriots W

Week 9: BYE

Week 10: @ New York Jets W

Week 11: Baltimore Ravens L

Week 12: @ Las Vegas Raiders L

Week 13: San Francisco 49ers L

Week 14: Tennessee Titans W

Week 15: 2 Chicago Bears W

Week 16: Buffalo Bills L

Week 17: Pittsburgh Steelers L

Week 18: @ Cinncinati Bengals L

3. Cincinnati Bengals (9-8)

The Cincinnati Bengals will repeat their 9-8 stretch that happened last year in 2024. Times have been rough for the Bengals, ever since their Cinderella run back in the 2021 season. Joe Burrow, the Louisiana State quarterback, was taken 1st overall in the 2020 draft. He is the star of this franchise. He is going in the right direction with LSU teammate Ja’Marr Chase. What is difficult for the Bengals, however, is the absence of a plan for the offensive line. Without it, these weapons can not be effectively utilized. Tee Higgins is another notable figure in the Bengals Offense. He further adds to the idea that Cincinnati has it nearly figured out. However, they are still struggling to find an offensive line identity. Let’s look at the defensive side of the ball because Cincinnati is making advancements towards that side of the game. Keven Winston jr. is recovering from a torn ACL at this time and this will be a damper to defense. If I’m a Bengals fan, I should be looking forward to seeing Oren Burks. He is a linebacker who will be the starter for the season, and some will overlook him. What could be seen, however, are the Bengals getting a good chance here at a veteran. He can be a role model for the stars. He can improve their team chemistry by guiding them. These stars already know their way around the NFL. as for the draft. Although they have made some positive contributions to the franchise, the Cincinnati Bengals will still have an off year.

Week 1: @ Cleveland Browns W

Week 2: Jacksonville Jaguars W

Week 3: @ Minnesota Vikings L

Week 4: @ Denver Broncos W

Week 5: Detroit Lions L

Week 6: @ Green Bay Packers L

Week 7: Pittsburgh Steelers L

Week 8: New York Jets W

Week 9: Chicago Bears W

Week 10: BYE

Week 11: @ Pittsburgh Steelers L

Week 12: New England Patriots W

Week 13: @ Baltimore Ravens L

Week 14: @ Buffalo Bills L

Week 15: Baltimore Ravens L

Week 16: @ Miami Dolphins W

Week 17: Arizona Cardinals W

Week 18: Cleveland Browns W

2. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7)

I am a Steelers fan. I feel like we’re all beating a dead horse here. I bet you can already tell what is going to happen. Aaron Rodgers will not live up to the expectations set in place, Mike Tomlin will finish the season above .500 and last but not least. We will lose in the Wild Card. We have not won a playoff game since I was in 3rd grade back in 2016 (I start my first semester of college in August). Let’s keep the preseason pessimism to a low and look towards the improvements for 2025. I believe Will Howard will be a strong quarterback for Pittsburgh this season, and he has the credentials for it. He had over 4,000 yards and 35 touchdowns with a national championship playing the toughest college teams you can. This breakout season is nothing to sneeze at, and what makes it so great is now he has confidence. Now will he (and should he) start right out of the gate foe week 1 against the Jets? No, but what I do like is he has veteran guidance and a good position of receivers and a running back in Jaylen Warren if things go poorly. Additionally, our defense is in a strong position. Veterans TJ Watt and Cam Heyward are locked in to the Steelers for the foreseeable future. What got us worried was the capability of Alex Highsmith leaving, but these rumors seem to have died down. The Steelers actively engaged in the draft. They picked up Jack Sawyer. This move simply makes the defense more intimidating in terms of what will be the factor for the Steelers. While the Pittsburgh defense will be their strength; the black and gold brigade will fail to win, if they fail to rebuild the offense.

Week 1: @ New York Jets W

Week 2: Seattle Seahawks W

Week 3: @ New England Patriots L

Week 4: Minnesota Vikings W

Week 5: BYE

Week 6: Cleveland Browns W

Week 7: @ Cincinnati Bengals W

Week 8: Green Bay Packers L

Week 9: Indianapolis Colts L

Week 10: @ Las Angeles Charges W

Week 11: Cincinnati Bengals W

Week 12: @ Chicago Bears W

Week 13: Buffalo Bills L

Week 14: @ Baltimore Ravens L

Week 15: Miami Dolphins W

Week 16: @ Detroit Lions L

Week 17: @ Cleveland Browns W

Week 18: Baltimore Ravens L

1. Baltimore Ravens (14-3)

I think it’s clear that Baltimore will repeat as AFC North champions this year. Lamar Jackson is a top 3 quarterback in the AFC and top 5 in the NFL. Mark Andrews will be a go-ahead target for Jackson when he needs to throw. Receivers Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman will also be key targets. Roquan Smith is unbelievable in terms of raw ability, as well as Kyle Hamilton at safety. What should be noted is their strength of schedule. Baltimore has to play Buffalo Week 1, Detroit Week 3, and Kansas City in week 4. To say this is a tough way to start your regular season would be an understatement. We are talking about Baltimore, and we already should know this one detail. They will grow in adversity and even if the season doesn’t start their way. The flock will end the 2025 season their way. Baltimore is set for the future. We see this in the way they drafted in Green Bay, adding fuel to the fire of this claim. Taking two cornerbacks aids them defensively for the future, as well as the fact of them offensive lineman. The O-Line may seem mundane. Baltimore now has the ability to develop guys. These players will aid the offense and keep Lamar protected. We observed this being one of the main issues. If Lamar Jackson can run more often, this will spell trouble for defenses throughout the NFL. It will especially be troublesome in the AFC North where defenses have tried and mostly struggled to stop him. The Baltimore Ravens have built significant support. Therefore, they will reign on top of the AFC North for the 3rd year in a row.

Week 1: @ Buffalo Bills L

Week 2: Cleveland Browns W

Week 3: Detroit Lions L

Week 4: @ Kansas City L

Week 5: Houston Texans W

Week 6: Las Angeles Rams W

Week 7: BYE

Week 8: Chicago Bears W

Week 9: @ Miami Dolphins W

Week 10: @ Minnesota Vikings W

Week 11: @ Cleveland Browns W

Week 12: New York Jets W

Week 13: Cincinnati Bengals W

Week 14 Pittsburgh Steelers W

Week 15: @ Cincinnati Bengals W

Week 16: New England Patriots W

Week 17: @ Green Bay Packers W

Week 18: @ Pittsburgh Steelers W

There you have it, my way too early predictions for the AFC North in the 2025 NFL season. If you would like me to do the other divisions in the NFL, please let me know. I hope you enjoyed this article. Please let me know if you have any comments. Share what you would change down below.