AFC NORTH
JOE
FLACCO
ANDY
DALTON
JOSH
GORDON
BEN
ROETHLISBERGER
RAVENS JUST TRYING TO GET
HEALTHY
CAN CINCY END PLAYOFF
LOSING STREAK?
A NEW ERA BEGINS IN
CLEVELAND
BIG BEN STILL DRIVING STEELER
OFFENSE
Coach: John Harbaugh
2015 Record: 5-11
Injuries plagued the Ravens’
2015 season but none was more
significant than the torn ACL suffered
by quarterback Joe Flacco. How a
big-armed deep thrower such as
Flacco responds this season will be
closely watched, especially since at
the time of the injury he was having
his worst season to date. Yet another
question is the Achilles injury of
linebacker Terrell Suggs, who is just
as important to the Ravens’ defense
as Flacco is to the offense.
Coach: Marv Lewis
2015 Record: 12-4
The Bengals are the last team
anyone wants to see on their
schedule, at least until the playoffs.
They lost their fifth straight playoff
game in 2015 after handily winning
the AFC North, and getting over
that hump is their main goal. But
quarterback Andy Dalton will
be working with a pair of rookie
receivers, and tight end Tyler Eifert
is coming off ankle surgery. The
defense may have to pick up some of
the slack.
Coach: Mike Pettine
2015 Record: 3-13
Seven different quarterbacks have
started for the Browns in the past
three seasons, including two first
round picks. Now it’s time for the
Robert Griffin III era to begin,
coincidentally with that of new head
coach Mike Pettine. Most notable,
however, will be the return of talented
receiver Josh Gordon, who after being
suspended for the entire 2015 season
and four games this season, will get
another chance from the NFL. The
Browns could use some good news.
Coach: Mike Tomlin
2015 Record: 10-6
As long as Big Ben Roethlisberger
is on the field, the Steelers offense
is one to be reckoned with. Still,
having running back Le’Veon Bell on
the field, who will start the season
serving a four-game suspension,
would take some pressure off the
aging quarterback. The Steelers’ top
three draft picks were on defense,
including Miami cornerback Artie
Burns, as they seek to improve from
being ranked 21st in 2015, when they
earned a wild card playoff berth.
AFC SOUTH
ANDREW
LUCK
J.J.
WATT
BLAKE
BORTLES
MARCUS
MARIOTA
COLTS ADD TO LUCK’S
SUPPORTING CAST
TEXANS GET OFFENSIVE IN THE
OFFSEASON
BORTLES LIGHTS IT UP FOR
JAGS
TITANS IMPROVED BACKFIELD
SUPPORTS MARIOTA
Coach: Chuck Pagano
2015 Record: 8-8
Quarterback Andrew Luck’s injury-
plagued 2015 season resulted in the
Colts missing the playoffs for the first
time since he joined the team in 2011.
They recognized his significance
in the offseason by making him the
highest paid player in the NFL. The
Colts also drafted heavily on the
offensive side of the ball, including
grabbing Alabama center Ryan Kelly
with the 18th overall pick to deliver the
ball to Luck for years to come.
Coach: Bill O’Brien
2015 Record: 9-7
It remains to be seen what the effects
of offseason back surgery will be on
menacing defensive end J.J. Watt,
but no one expects him to be 100
percent. Still, the Texans are moving
forward with revamping their offense
and made headlines when they
signed quarterback Brock Osweiler
away from Denver. They also grabbed
two receivers, including Ohio State’s
Braxton Miller, a running back and a
center in the draft and signed Miami
free agent running back Lamar Miller.
Coach: Gus Bradley
2015 Record: 5-11
Things are supposed to be getting
better in Jacksonville and it could
be happening, albeit at a slow pace.
Quarterback Blake Bortles tore it
up in 2015 throwing for 4,428 yards
and 35 touchdowns in a record-
breaking season. But the lack of a
rushing attack left the Jags’ offense
as one-dimensional and low scoring.
This team’s top six draft picks were
all defenders, including Florida State
stud cornerback Jalen Ramsey, taken
fifth overall.
Coach: Ken Whisenhunt
2015 Record: 3-13
The Titans are satisfied with the
progress made by rookie quarterback
Marcus Mariota in 2015. And, they
may have had the best offseason in
the NFL by giving him a supporting
cast. They traded down in the draft to
boost their roster, including picking
Alabama running back Derek Henry
who will share the backfield with 2014
NFL rushing leader DeMarco Murray,
acquired by trade. This could be one
of the most improved teams in the
league.
2016 NFL PREVIEW pg 5