Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens were the NFL's best regular-season team in 2019. After starting the season 2-2, they didn't lose another game until the Tennessee Titans bounced them from the playoffs.
The Ravens sport the reigning NFL MVP in quarterback Lamar Jackson and got markedly better on both sides of the ball in free agency and the draft. They also have the league's easiest schedule in 2020, as their opponents were a combined 32 games under .500 last season.
Not every game will be a cakewalk, as the Ravens have to face the rival Steelers twice, host the Chiefs and Titans and have to travel to Houston, Philadelphia and Indianapolis. But beyond two games against the lowly Bengals, the Ravens also play the Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Giants and Washington Redskins.
Here's your favorite (again) for the AFC's No. 1 seed in 2020.
Prediction: 12-4
Cincinnati Bengals
OMG, Joe Burrow is so dreamy! The Bengals are going to the Super Bowl! WHOOOO DEYYYY!
Kidding aside, you can't blame Cincinnati Bengals fans for being stoked about the arrival of Burrow after his record-setting 2019 campaign at LSU. The Bengals started last season 0-11 and finished the season with only two wins. They haven't won a playoff game since George Bush Sr. was president.
Beginning with a season opener in Cincinnati against the Los Angeles Chargers, the Bengals should have an opportunity to improve on last year's disastrous season. Only five teams have an easier strength of schedule than the .477 winning percentage Cincinnati's opponents had last season.
However, the Bengals still have issues on both sides of the ball and have five games against teams that made the postseason in 2019. Baby steps.
Prediction: 5-11
Cleveland Browns
Last year, I was one of the many pundits who fell for the offseason hype surrounding the Browns. I predicted Cleveland would win 10 games and capture the AFC North. (Oops.)
I'm not falling for it again.
That isn't to say the Browns won't be better in 2020. New head coach Kevin Stefanski has no shortage of talent on both sides of the ball, and the addition of free agent Jack Conklin and rookie Jedrick Wills should solve Cleveland's problems at offensive tackle.
The schedule-makers were also relatively kind to the Browns. Cleveland has the fourth-easiest schedule in the league and has only two road games against squads that advanced to the playoffs last season.
However, the Browns have been to the playoffs only once since they re-joined the NFL in 1999. You can believe they're a contender when they're in the mix for a playoff spot in December.
Having the season opener in Baltimore doesn't help.
Prediction: 8-8
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers' fortunes will depend on one thing in 2020: Ben Roethlisberger's surgically repaired elbow.
Roethlisberger has indicated that his rehab is going well, and if he can recapture his pre-injury form, the Steelers' elite defense and solid (if unspectacular) offense are good enough to get them into the playoffs. If Roethlisberger can't stay on the field—well, we've already seen how that turns out.
Having the second-easiest schedule in the league won't hurt, though.
Pittsburgh's hardest contest outside the division may be a Week 4 trip to Nashville to face the Titans. The Steelers draw two other 2019 playoff teams in the Houston Texans and Philadelphia Eagles, but both of those games are at Heinz Field.
If Roethlisberger is ready in Week 1, the Steelers are a good bet to bring home at least a wild-card spot.
Prediction: 10-6
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May 08, 2020 at 08:08AM
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2020 NFL Schedule Release: Win-Loss Predictions for Every Team - Bleacher Report
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