The AFC North year after year is one of, if not the toughest and most competitive divisions in the NFL, and with four teams all preparing to make a playoff run in 2022, it's going to be absolutely thrilling from Week 1 all the way through until the final night of the year. With each team featuring elite talent on both sides of the ball, divisional matchups are going to be key to the 2022 campaign, and if any team slips up, they'll be hard pressed to come back and win the division, as it's going to be the toughest it has been in years.
4. Cleveland Browns
This Cleveland Browns team is certainly built to have some success, but with the 11-game suspension handed down to Deshaun Watson, they're going to struggle early in the year, and given how tough the competition is, it may be very tough to keep pace. If Nick Chubb can turn up and put this team on his back, there's a chance they may finish better than this, but right now, every other team is fit, healthy and ready to explode, and that spells bad news for an understrength Cleveland team.
3. Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are one of the tougher teams in the NFL to read, as Lamar Jackson continues to put up amazing seasons, but with a lack of receivers and a defence that, while good, lacks the depth of others in the AFC, they may struggle to reach lofty heights in 2022. Ravens fans have become used to success, but with improvements from the two teams above them in the division and many others in the AFC, there won't be a spot for them in the playoffs, and then all eyes will turn to Jackson and his contract situation.
2. Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals made a shock run to the Super Bowl in 2021 on the back of some good luck and their amazing chemistry, and with Ja'Marr Chase back for year two and some more protection for Joe Burrow, they could repeat similar playoff success in 2022. If Joe Burrow can improve in 2022, he will take his place among the elite QB's in the NFL, and with another year of experience and some playoff success under their belt, there's no reason why they can't take a playoff spot in 2022 en route to another Super Bowl.
1. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers have been one of the NFL's most successful franchises over the past 20 years, and with all of their elite talent on both sides of the ball, they could be in with a very good chance at making a deep playoff run in 2022. The QB battle has still yet to be decided, with veteran Mitch Trubisky up against Kenny Pickett, but with their receivers and one of the best running backs in the game, this offence will be hard to stop, and on the other side of the ball, T.J Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick combine to make this arguably the deepest team in a very talented AFC.
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