Three of the Bears’ first six games are against AFC North teams Cincinnati, Cleveland and Baltimore. In December, they play at Pittsburgh.
By then, the Steelers will know whether they are anywhere close to matching their 15-1 record and again dominating the division.
The Bengals and Ravens have other plans. The Browns still are tagging along, with general manager Phil Savage arriving from Baltimore and coach Romeo Crennel taking over from New England.
This is a defensive division. The Steelers led the league and the Ravens were sixth.
The Bengals and Browns are coached by former defensive coordinators. But as usual, quarterbacks are the key.
Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger still hasn’t lost a regular-season game, although his 13-0 rookie start was abruptly interrupted by the Patriots in the playoffs.
Cincinnati’s Carson Palmer was the league’s No. 1 draft choice in 2003 and showed signs last year of fulfilling his potential.
Baltimore’s Kyle Boller was picked before the Bears’ Rex Grossman in 2003 and is under pressure now that he is surrounded by better receivers.
Cleveland dumped Jeff Garcia and brought in another veteran, Trent Dilfer, who won a Super Bowl with Baltimore in 2000.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Besides the New England Patriots, the Steelers are the most admired organization over the years because they always manage to survive the annual turnover in players.
Coach Bill Cowher will try to follow up a 15-1 season despite suffering the biggest net loss of players in the league.
Six full-time or part-time starters are gone, and only San Francisco receiver Cedrick Wilson was signed.
Good news: Although Roethlisberger can’t improve on his record, he is expected to learn from his five playoff interceptions in two games and get better in only his second season.
There may be no better football player than wide receiver Hines Ward. Defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau gets injured nose tackle Casey Hampton back.
Bad news: The power running Cowher prefers could take a hit with running back Duce Staley already nursing an injury, Jerome Bettis now 33 and the right side of the offensive line–guard Keydrick Vincent and tackle Oliver Ross–gone. Cornerback also is a concern.
Baltimore Ravens
For an offensive coach, Brian Billick has relied an awful lot on his defense. This year he made ex-Giants coach Jim Fassel his offensive coordinator, hoping the offense can carry more weight.
After Terrell Owens was yanked out from under them last year, the Ravens went after Tennessee free agent Derrick Mason this year and landed one of the AFC’s most prolific wide receivers.
Then they made Oklahoma’s Mark Clayton their first draft choice. Clayton was considered the most polished collegiate receiver and was the Sooners’ go-to guy ahead of Bears draftee Mark Bradley.
Good news: Running back Jamal Lewis, who spent his off-season in jail for allowing his cell phone to be used in a drug deal before he got into the NFL, appears recommitted to football. Boller has more weapons than ever and the defense still has Ray Lewis and friends like football’s best safety, Ed Reed.
Bad news: Losing rookie defensive end-linebacker Dan Cody to a knee injury changes plans. Tight end Todd Heap continues to battle injury.
Cincinnati Bengals
Who scored the most points in the AFC North? The Bengals want to be more than a trivia answer as Palmer develops along with wide receiver Chad Johnson and running back Rudi Johnson.
Getting off to a fast start is a priority after 1-4 openings the last two seasons. The Bears stand in their way in Week 3.
Coach Marvin Lewis, who worked with defenses in Pittsburgh and Baltimore, knows his team must improve its No. 19 ranking, which was last in a division that emphasizes defense.
Good news: Palmer’s passer rating in his first seven games last year was 66.8. In his final six starts, it jumped to 96.9. Lewis expects rookie linebacker David Pollack to become an instant leader.
Bad news: The Bengals have trouble stopping the run, and strong safety Kim Herring doesn’t seem suited to the task. They hope ex-Bears lineman Bryan Robinson will help.
Cleveland Browns
Five wins might get Crennel coach-of-the-year votes. The Browns won four under fired Butch Davis and interim Terry Robiskie, and Davis’ personnel misses left Crennel and Savage with a reclamation job.
They started by unloading 11 players who started at least two games on defense last season, including failed former first-round picks Courtney Brown and Gerard Warren.
The offense was in even worse shape, so journeyman Dilfer was hired until rookie Charlie Frye or somebody else is ready.
Good news: The new regime is a breath of fresh air, and the honeymoon should last all season. First-round draft pick Braylon Edwards looked ready to star at wide receiver in the preseason.
Running back Reuben Droughns was a nice addition from Denver.
Bad news: They were last in stopping the run and are a couple of seasons away from fully incorporating Crennel’s system.
Tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. will miss his second season with an injury.
