4 Burning Questions in the AFC North

The current odds project a tight, three-way race in the AFC North, with the Pittsburgh Steelers the lone longshot to win the division. The Cincinnati Bengals reached the Super Bowl last year, whereas the Baltimore Ravens will look to bounce back in 2022 after having the second most games missed by injured players last season.

And then there’s the Cleveland Browns.

The Brownies are the favorite – or co-favorite – to win the AFC North despite having just a single winning season over the past 14 years. The hope must be that quarterback Deshaun Watson acclimatizes to the chill of Lake Erie in a hurry or while suspended.

Here are the division odds at Caesars, DraftKings, and FanDuel Sportsbooks, followed by a burning question for each team in the AFC North.

AFC North Division Odds

https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/QLQw7/1/

Check out the latest comprehensive and most trusted Sportsbook Reviews by SBR here.

Cleveland Browns

The depth chart is loaded with talent and depth, and the blockbuster acquisition to bring in quarterback Deshaun Watson has the Browns positioned to be a contender to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl.

Still, Watson’s availability is in question, with 22 civil lawsuits pending and the NFL investigating whether he violated its code of conduct policy.

If the Browns will win the AFC North, how many games does Watson have to suit up for?

Baltimore Ravens

Injuries grounded the Ravens last season, and they missed the postseason for the first time with quarterback Lamar Jackson under center. Pundits lauded Baltimore’s draft haul and free-agent acquisitions, and aside from a questionable cast of characters at wide receiver, the Ravens are stacked.

Are bookmakers overlooking that Jackson boasts a career 37-12 record during the regular season?

Cincinnati Bengals

Shoring up the offensive line through free agency was a good first step for the Bengals making another push toward a Super Bowl appearance, and quarterback Joe Burrow has the playmakers at his disposal to build on last year’s success. 

Addressing the secondary in the draft could also prove to be a sneaky boost with safeties Jessie Bates and Vonn Bell already established starters.

Still, are the Bengals truly legit Super Bowl contenders?

Pittsburgh Steelers

This season it’s the beginning of a new era for The Black and Gold, and selecting quarterback Kenny Pickett with the 20th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft suggests he’ll receive every opportunity to start Week 1. 

On paper, the rest of the roster is solid, so Pickett’s play might be the determining factor for the Steelers this year. 

Pittsburgh made the playoffs last season with underwhelming quarterback play, so could Pickett be an upgrade on retired signal-caller Ben Roethlisberger?

Make sure to keep an eye on our Live Odds page throughout the week to get the best lines possible and connect with others in the SBR community on our popular sports betting forum.