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AFC North: Biggest question for each team in 2021

By Russell S. Baxter

PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 27: T.J. Watt #90 of the Pittsburgh Steelers in action during the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Heinz Field on December 27, 2020 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 27: T.J. Watt #90 of the Pittsburgh Steelers in action during the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Heinz Field on December 27, 2020 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) /
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AFC North
Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

The division sent three teams to the playoffs this past season. But the club that claimed the AFC North in 2020 may have more questions than answers.

If ever there was credence to the adage off “it’s not how you start but how you finish,” look no further than the 2020 Pittsburgh Steelers, winners of the AFC North last season.

A franchise-record 11-0 start turned into four losses in their last five regular-season games. And that was followed by a horrendous 48-37 home loss to rival Cleveland in the AFC Wild Card Playoffs.

Meanwhile, Cleveland and Baltimore finished 11-5 this past season and also qualified for the playoffs.

What did the AFC North look like last season behind the Steelers?

The Ravens joined the Browns in the AFC Divisional Round thanks to a win over the Titans in Tennessee. But both Kevin Stefanski and John Harbaugh saw their teams bite the dust a week later as Cleveland fell in Kansas City and Baltimore shackled by the Buffalo Bills

As for the Cincinnati Bengals, it was another dreadful season that has seen the club post five consecutive losing campaigns after reaching the playoffs five consecutive years from 2011-15. But after a rough 2-14 debut for head coach Zac Taylor which included the franchise dropping its first 11 games for the first time ever, the club rebounded and doubled their victory total in 2020 and made steady progress as the year unfolded.

So after sending three teams to the playoffs this past season, could this division be primed to send all four clubs to the postseason this year? That would be quite the trick in the loaded AFC, which required at least 11 victories to get to the playoffs in 2020.

NOTE: Teams are listed in order of finish in 2020.

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