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NFL Predictions 2020: Dark horse picks to win each division

By Randy Gurzi

CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 22: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns, KhaDarel Hodge #12 and Odell Beckham Jr. #13 walk out onto the field during the game against the Baltimore Ravens at FirstEnergy Stadium on December 22, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. Baltimore defeated Cleveland 31-15. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 22: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns, KhaDarel Hodge #12 and Odell Beckham Jr. #13 walk out onto the field during the game against the Baltimore Ravens at FirstEnergy Stadium on December 22, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. Baltimore defeated Cleveland 31-15. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /
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NFL 2020
NFL Record Predictions 2020 (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /

AFC North: Cleveland Browns

The AFC North wasn’t much of a race at all in 2019 and just like the AFC West, there was only one winning team in the division. The Baltimore Ravens were 2-2 after a Week 4 loss to the Cleveland Browns, but they didn’t lose again during the regular season. Finishing at 14-2, they were six games ahead of the 8-8 Pittsburgh Steelers. The 6-10 Cleveland Browns and 2-14 Cincinnati Bengals were planning for 2020 well before anyone else in the division.

This season, the Ravens seem ready to repeat. They return all their key players and added linebacker Patrick Queen and running back J.K. Dobbins in the draft to give them one more big star on either side of the field.

As for competition, the Pittsburgh Steelers hope they can pose a threat with the return of Ben Roethlisberger who missed the majority of the 2019 season due to elbow surgery. But they might not be the only team for the Ravens to worry about.

The Cleveland Browns had a much better team on paper than their record suggested in 2019 and now, they look even better. They rounded out their offensive line with the signing of Jack Conklin and the draft selection of Jedrick Wills. They also got a new weapon in the passing game in Austin Hooper and signed a few new defensive starters.

Most importantly, Cleveland added Kevin Stefanski as their new head coach and he should be an upgrade over Freddie Kitchens who struggled mightily in his one season as the Browns coach. Should Stefanski prove to be up to the task, this could be a big season for Cleveland.

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