Friday 8 September 2017 16:51, UK
For the new NFL season, we preview all eight divisions...
Here, we kick things off with the AFC and NFC North, plus at the foot of the page we give you the chance for you to take our personality quiz to determine which of the teams you should support...
Don't worry, if none float your boat here, there are seven other divisions to try!
Head coach: Mike Tomlin
Key man: Martavis Bryant. Bryant was suspended for the entire 2016 season for violating the league's substance abuse policy - the second offence of his career - but when he plays, he scores. On a stacked Pittsburgh offence, Bryant is a dynamic deep threat who could be key, because opponents can't cover everyone.
Major additions: The Steelers picked TJ Watt, brother of superstar JJ, in the first round of the draft and he has already been named as a starter after an impressive pre-season. The team lost receiver Markus Wheaton and linebacker Lawrence Timmons to free-agency, but picked up quarterback Josh Dobbs in the fourth round, who they hope will be ready to go after a year or two learning under Ben Roethlisberger.
Last season: A promising 4-1 start to the season was upended by a four-game losing streak, which began with a defeat to the Miami Dolphins, in which Ben Roethlisberger tore the meniscus in his knee, and ended with a heartbreaking late loss to the Dallas Cowboys. A return to winning ways set up a division decider against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 16, which looked to have been lost until Big Ben orchestrated a last-minute drive down the field to seal the title. Playoff wins over Miami and Kansas City Chiefs saw them into the AFC Championship game, but they had no answer to the New England Patriots, losing 36-17.
Prospects: The Steelers are favourites to retain their AFC North title by virtue of the best WR/RB pairing in football - Antonio Brown and Leveon Bell. On their day one of the best in football, capable of lighting anyone up, but in the playoffs they've come up against Patriots and not had the answer for them. Can they keep the big three - AB/LB and Big Ben - healthy for all 16? There were mutterings of retirement for Roethlisberger in the offseason, so it's time for him and his team to put it all together.
Prediction: 1st (12-4)
Head coach: Marvin Lewis
Key man: AJ Green. The six-time Pro Bowl pick missed out on his sixth straight 1,000-yard season after tearing a hamstring two plays into his 10th game of the year. Up until then, he had 66 receptions for 964 yards. The 28-year-old is a growing influence in the Bengals dressing room and alongside QB Andy Dalton is a vital piece of the offence as the team infuses a number of youthful prospects.
Major additions: The Bengals added firepower in the draft with the second-round pick of running back Joe Mixon - who has been in the news for the wrong reasons, but is also a supreme talent and adds to an impressive backfield. Wide receiver John Ross was drafted ninth overall and is a speedster who broke the 40-yard dash record at the combine with 4.22s, albeit pulling up injured as he ended his run. He could and should be lethal opposite Green.
Last season: This is a talented team, but injuries to key players meant the Bengals slumped from a 12-4 record the year before to 6-9-1 in 2016 - their first losing record since Andy Dalton emerged as an unfancied rookie. Dalton was sacked 41 times as the pass protection fell apart and despite high hopes in pre-season, after falling 3-7 in the opening 10 weeks Lewis' team was never in contention.
Prospects: Like the Steelers, getting everyone healthy is key to the Bengals making a run. Keeping Green and tight end Tyler Eifert healthy and on the field at same time is huge because when they are they do damage. Add the new pieces and Dalton has all the weapons he could want. They lost all-pro LT Andrew Whitworth to free agency, so their shaky line got shakier, which could derail things. Defensively they're solid and have some rookie pass-rushers to add to the mix.
Prediction: 2nd (10-6)
Head coach: John Harbaugh
Key man: Danny Woodhead. The team that passed the ball the most last year added Woodhead, pass-catching-RB extraordinaire, to their ranks. He will be a valuable safety blanket for Joe Flacco.
Major additions: With the retirement of Steve Smith Sr and Kamar Aiken's departure to Indianapolis, the Ravens signed free agent wide receiver Jeremy Maclin to partner finally-fit Breshad Perrimen as the deep threats for big-armed Flacco. On defence, ex-Cardinals safety Tony Jefferson joined on a $36m deal and should go well alongside Eric Weddle while $23.5m was spent on cornerback Brandon Carr.
Last season: For the first three-quarters of the season, they had the best run defence in the league, but much like the Bengals, 2016 was a write-off for the Ravens as injuries decimated their roster. Among others, quarterback Flacco, proven receiver Steve Smith and their top two pass-rush threats in Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil all missed significant time.
Prospects: The Ravens can't expect to suffer the same bad luck with injuries next year, but this is not a young team. Those who have recovered from injury will need to find their form while they will be hoping for contributions from new the arrivals to keep them competitive in a tough, blue-collar division with big rivalries. However, they are always competitive, especially at home, and their defence will again be lead by 15-year veteran Suggs, who could be entering his final season.
Prediction: 3rd (8-8)
Head coach: Hue Jackson
Key man: Myles Garrett. No1 overall pick in the 2017 draft, Garrett is a freak athlete and a transcendent talent at DE, Drafting the 21-year-old out of Texas A&M will boost their non-existent pass-rush.
Major additions: Three first-round picks will hopefully help the Browns begin the long-trek back, with Garrett an obvious choice at No 1 overall. The Browns struggled at safety last year, so with the 25th pick they took Michigan's Jabrill Peppers before then trading declining linebacker Demario Davis for Jets former first-round safety Calvin Pryor. The free-agency signings of former Bengals guard Kevin Zeitler and ex-Packers centre JC Tretter gives the Browns excellent solidity on the inside of their offensive line.
Last season: What can you say about a team that finished the season 1-15, that didn't pick up its solitary win until a 20-17 victory over San Diego in Week 16, and in doing so posted a losing record for a ninth straight season? The Browns were at least competitive in most of those games and sucking up loss after loss is part of the pain of rebuilding the franchise from the ground up, which is what they are attempting in Ohio.
Prospects: There may finally be light at the end of the tunnel although much depends of how their QB situation plays out. Brock Osweiler's movement and decision-making is suspect, as is Cody Kessler's arm-strength, so the Browns will be hoping rookie Deshone Kizer wins the job. His big arm and raw talent has already played out well in pre-season.
Whoever starts under centre, they have a good OL and Isaiah Crowell is set for a breakout year at running back, alongside the speedy Duke Johnson. With 1st year WR Corey Coleman now healthy, sneaky-good free agent acquisition Kenny Britt, and rookie David Njoku also at his disposal, the winner of the QB battle has big targets to hit downfield
Prediction: 4th (5-11)
