the AFC North Predictions.....is it STEEL COUNTRY again....or lil RAY RAY and THEM in MARYLAND...BROWNS better...BENGALS worse

The AFC North......home to the 2 Hardest-Hitting Teams in the land......STEELERS and RAVENS......and home to the Division Uncle ROGER has made a Home as well. It's not FLAG FOOTBALL ROGIE....it's tackle and you need to get suited up so I can hit you.

The STEELERS have a different Hangover this year......SUPER BOWL LOSS. When you win the Super Bowl it's like a New Year's Eve Hangover. When you lose the Super Bowl it's a Hangover from a HOUSE PARTY......real talk......that's what the BLUEDUDE'S hangover felt like the morning after the PACK sent us home with an L. We are on the CLOCK......for the UNKNOWN.

The RAVENS lose again to the STEELERS in the PLAYOFFS but take care of are light work in the PATRIOTS. They just seem to be Little Bro to the STEEL CITY....leftover clothes given to them, last to get a plate a dinner, last to get mom or dads car to take their squeeze out. Just a plethora of things that are never 1st........Here we go again in B-MORE.

Oh.......did I mention there are 2 other teams in the Division....or do you care?.......the 2011 AFC North Predictions powered by BLUEDUDE SPORTSTALK:

1. STEELERS 12-4 2nd Seed in the AFC Overall: Look......the Depth Chart is looking lovely in a of of areas not in need. On Defense the STEELERS have ILB Stevenson SYLVESTER, DE Ziggy HOOD, ILB Larry FOOTE, OLB Jason WORILDS, SS Ryan MUNDY, a rookie DE Cam HEYWARD.

Offensively the Problems or shall I say issues are apparent. Offensive Line.......we have STUD CENTER Maurkice POUNCEY...then Kemoeatu, and COLON...after that I worry and with COLON coming off injury not good. BIG BEN is used to getting hit and taking a pounding but when does that take its toll. RB Rashard MENDEHALL will be even bigger this season and the STEELERS need to ride him out especially with the lead. WR Mike WALLACE is the #1 and he is primed and ready for that. TE and captain Heath MILLER is always ready......a TRUE STEELER in every sense of the WORD...unflappable he is that WAHOOS DUDE.

OVERALL: the STEELERS have the BEST Overall D in the league...this is the last run for guys like Aaron SMITH, Casey HAMPTON, James FARRIOR, Hines WARD, and Brett Keisel to name a few. They have turned over their roster perfectly for the young guys to step in even this season. WR Mike WALLACE will be huge but even bigger to the O is the maturation of SANDERS #88 and BROWN #84. They open at the CRAB CAKE playing the RAVENS...then they have the AFC SOUTH.....and with the toughest part of their season with back to back homes games in late October early November with the PATS then the RAVENS again.

2. RAVENS 10-6 5th SEED overall in the AFC: They are trying to get young in B-MORE getting rid of TE Todd Heap and WR Derrick MASON. Joe FLACCO is turning the corner of becoming one of the better QB's in the NFL. RB Ray RICE is a load in the running game and passing game. They need help for WR Anquan BOLDIN at the wideout spots. Offensively they are formidable still.

The D is what they lay their hat on in MT BANK Stadium. RAY RAY is back along with fellow U ALUM ED REED. Throw in OLB Terrell SUGGS and the best DT on Sundays Haloti NGATA from the QUACK Attack.....they are still a top 5-8 D in the NFL. Replacing SS Dawan LANDRY who was lost in Free Agency to the JAGS will be tough. They also need steady CORNER play....DON'T WE ALL.

OUTLOOK: The RAVENS are still a TEAM to be reckoned with. I think this is the last year for some of their OLD WARRIORS as well. if QB Joe FLACCO can become an elite QB and RICE still does his damage....they have a chance. Ray and his SIDE of the BALL will do enough to keep the RAVENS in it WEEK IN and WEEK OUT. They open with the STEELERS at home....HUGE to get your TOP Division Opponent out of the way early. Then they have the AFC SOUTH, and a back to back at the STEEL CITY and at 12th Zone in the Great Northwest November. They have one of the easiest schedules I have seen. i just think defensively they will fall off a little.......

3. BROWNS 8-8 Playing for a Middle Round Draft Pick: Things are looking up in the DAWG POUND. They have a Good Young QB in Colt McCOY and Rb in Peyton HILLIS, who backed up RAIDERS RB Darren McFADDEN and COWBOYS RB Felix JONES at ARKANSAS Fayetteville. They have 2 Studs on the O-LINE in Center Alex MACK and the best OT on SUNDAYS in Joe THOMAS. Also their #1 Weapon scoring in WR Josh CRIBBS......Mr. FatHEAD himself......since LeBRON can't promo no mo.

Defensively there is work to be done and they have a good young corner in GATOR CHOP Joe HADEN teaming with veteran Sheldon BROWN. The only real pick-up thy made in FA on D was picking up SAINTS Sam LB in Scott FUJITA. They have a no name defense but remember who is watching from the top. I am not talking the Football Gods they have left town with KOSAR, MINNIFIELD, SLAUGHTER, NEWSOME, MATTHEWS SR., BYNER, and MACK. I am talking BROWNS PREZ Mike HOLMGREN........so they will get the ship running in the right direction......his Coaching Tree is all over the league......I mean all over.

OVERALL: The BROWNS are getting put in the right direction especially the RESUME' Holmgren brings to the Organization. QB McCOY needs to make the right strides and we will see if HILLIS can maintain that freshness all the way through because TEAMS no who he is now. They will be a real tough out at home and they are no longer the 2nd team in OHIO.......in the name of KING'S ISLAND....thanks Mike BROWN. Schedule they have the AFC SOUTH, and then from Week 13-17 they play the STEELERS and RAVENS twice each......WOW...they could play spoiler...REAL TALK

4. BENGALS 1-15 playing for the 1st Pick in the 2013 Draft as well: Where do I start. You remember when head coach Mavin LEWIS handed the BENGALS his resignation and Owner Mike BROWN told the Guys down in the GARAGE to stop him.....We are not finished.....this can't be my mess it's MARVIN'S. Yeah RIGHT.......and OLD RIVERFRONT STADIUM is on the other side of the OHIO RIVER.

AJ GREEN the wide out from UGA ATHENS by way of South CAROLINA is a BANGER....just off the TOP he gets 5 out of 5 Footballs because he was the best WR on the Board in the 2011 NFL Draft. QB Andy DALTON aka STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE is a Good one in time.....and after this season he will probably be thinking the put a STRAWBERRY PATCH right in the middle of the JUNGLE. RB Cedric BENSON is back and he can be the SANDMAN for DALTON as he should get 30 TOTES a game....not 30 shots at the Cadillac Ranch....but carries.....the BLUEDUDE has been to CINCY.

The D is going to be their STAPLE.....they have some good young guys over there like DE Carlos DUNLAP and DE Michael JOHNSON. LINEBACKER from SC in REY MAUALUGA is a keeper. Leon HALL is a good corner and they picked up Corner Nate CLEMENTS a 11 year veteran from th OHIO STATE University to put people in the SEATS......LOL.

OUTLOOK: This is a classic case you are only as strong at the BOTTOM as you are at the TOP.....PERIOD. And who is at the TOP......EL PRIMO himself......MIKEY BROWN.....who couldn't draft a 10 and under league. The CARSON PALMER thing is outta control......and they let go of some veterans like Chad OCHOCINCO and rightfully so. But they are officially back to KROGER Brown Grocery Sacks on the OHIO. See yall November 13th.....maybe......might be a wasted trip. The BENGALS Schedule.......not too bad but from Week 10- 17 they play the STEELERS and RAVENS twice each....OUCH....who ever made the OHIO NFL Teams schedules.....wants them to get SMASHED by the STEEL CURTAIN and those CRAB CAKES in PURPLE.