Pittsburgh (12-4). The defending Super Bowl champions are still the favorite to win the division with a strong defense and solid offense. Ben Roethlisberger’s legal issues aside, the quarterback is an efficient signal caller with a 62.4 career completion percentage. He won’t throw for many touchdowns, but he does get the job done. Willie Parker and the running backs should continue to pile up the yards. Hines Ward is a solid receiver despite being on the downside of his career, and Santonio Holmes, fresh of a Super Bowl MVP performance, is emerging as a real threat. This is still the team to beat in the AFC North.

Second year quarterback Joe Flacco will try to lead the Ravens past the Steelers.

Baltimore (11-5). Right on the Steelers heels are the Ravens. The two teams are in a dogfight for supremacy in the division each year. Second year head coach John Harbaugh and Audubon, N.J., homeboy Joe Flacco look to continue the progress they made last year as they reached the AFC title game. With a power running game led by Ray Rice and Willis McGahee, the Ravens will try to control the clock, which will keep Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and the defense fresh. Also, the team has Le’Ron McClain who was moved back to fullback this year. McClain can carry the rock at any time. On defense, the team lost LB Bart Scott and defensive coordinator Rex Ryan, who is now the Jets head coach. Baltimore has been through this before when Marvin Lewis left. They will be fine as the Ravens challenge for a playoff spot.

Cincinnati (7-9). The jailbirds Bengals surprised everyone when they passed on felon Michael Vick. The team lost WR TJ Whosyourmama, and replaced him with Laveranues Coles. Otherwise, there is nothing much to mention. Chad Ochocinco and Carson Palmer are still the stars of the offense. The defense is average, even with Lewis at the helm. Cincinnati will fight to finish at .500. Lewis loses his job at the end of the year.

Cleveland (5-11).The Browns enter the season with two quarterbacks — Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson. As John Madden has said, “if you have two quarterbacks, then you have no quarterbacks.” Quinn seems to have barely separated himself from Anderson and will start the season. Braylon Edwards must rebound from a down year for this offense to do anything. Jamal Lewis is a year older. The defense hasn’t done much to improve. The Dawg Pound is again at the bottom of the division. Sorry, Cleveland fans.