Around the AFC North: Links to Follow
By Connor Howe
The NFL’s regular season is just a day away, with the Pittsburgh Steelers traveling to Foxborough to take on the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots. On Sunday, three more AFC North games will take place. The Cleveland Browns will travel to the Meadowlands to take on the New York Jets, the Baltimore Ravens will travel to Mile Hile Stadium and take on the Denver Broncos and the Cincinnati Bengals will travel to O.co Coliseum to play the Oakland Raiders.
The biggest news of this weekend: Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell will be absent in the Steelers’ matchup against the New England Patriots in the NFL Kickoff match, in which home teams have consistently won. This could be a problem for Pittsburgh as the team looks to start out the season strong but is already forced to face a difficult opponent.
Here’s some news around the AFC North before Week 1 action:
Pittsburgh Steelers
Kim Moran from Still Curtain asks Connor Fulton from Musket Fire a few questions regarding Thursday’s upcoming matchup. Connor asks Kim some questions of his own in his own piece on Musket Fire, which you can find here.
Will Allen was named the Steelers’ starting strong safety prior to the team’s Week 1 clash. This means that Shamarko Thomas will not be in the starting lineup.
Just a few days after the Steelers traded for Josh Scobee, the team dealt punter Brad Wing to the New York Giants, signaling the team’s decision to promote Australian punter Jordan Berry to the starting lineup.
Cleveland Browns
Dawg Pound Daily takes a look at Cleveland’s depth chart prior to the team’s matchup with the Jets.
Browns GM Ray Farmer is suspended for the Browns’ Week 1 game against the New York Jets, and his decision to trade Terrance West upset several Browns fans.
Thomas Moore of Dawg Pound Daily talks Browns strategy, specifically in regards to running the ball, prior to the team’s matchup with the New York Jets.
Baltimore Ravens
Brett Foote of Ebony Bird breaks down the Ravens’ roster and depth chart in anticipation of the 2015 season.
Four Ravens players need to step up if the team is going to have a successful 2015 season and make another Super Bowl run.
Rookie tight ends have struggled mightily transitioning to the NFL. Here’s why Maxx Williams isn’t an exception to the rule.
Cincinnati Bengals
Stripe Hype analyzes the Bengals’ final roster and announces its predictions for the team’s practice squad. You can find more takeaways and the practice squad roster here.
The Bengals ended up cutting one of the team’s most beloved players who has been an inspiration to NFL fans, cancer patients and families impacted by cancer. Still and his daughter, however, will still be covered by NFL insurance for another five years if he isn’t signed by another team.
Cincinnati’s superstar wide receiver has yet to be paid, despite numerous top flight receivers receiving long-term extensions in the offseason.
Be sure to check out our AFC North Offseason Roundup if you missed it and follow @CHoweSports on Twitter for more Bengals news and reactions.