NFL From Across the Pond 21/8/13 | Page 5

Not bad then for someone considered inconsistent at best during the regular season. This year he will have removed one monkey from his back, living up to potential and winning games, to simply add another, living up to the huge contract.

His job will not be easy, and got even harder with the loss of Anquan Boldin to the 49ers and Dennis Pitta to injury. The O Line is still one of the best in football, and Ray Rice can ease a huge amount of pressure but again I would suggest that losing your two clutch time go-to-guys is one bridge too far.

I still believe this is the best team in the AFC North.

I am very concerned about the direction the steelers are moving in having lost as many, if not more playmakers from a roster that was weaker to begin with.

The Bengals will be strong, but again I would question the decision to load the hopes and dreams of a team in two still very players

young players in AJ Green and Andy Dalton, Hard Knocks cannot have helped their preparation any either.

The Browns will be better than they were last year, but are still the weakest team in this division by some margin.

I am convinced the Ravens will make the playoffs, but they will not be championship contenders. John Harbaugh is one of the best coaches around right now, but he

cannot work with a roster full of holes, which is where the Ravens unfortunately find themselves this year. They find themselves far weaker than many NFC teams if they got to the Superbowl, but I am jumping on the Broncos bandwagon to start this year. for the AFC They are my pick for the Superbowl and I will stick with that despite losing Von Miller for one reason - Peyton Manning. He is Mr Consistent, and is now surrounded by talent. A talented line, a talented stable of running backs and incredibly talented receivers. Unlike the Ravens, the pieces they have lost in Von Miller

to suspension and Champ Bailey to injury will be ready to go by week 8. The Ravens cannot hang their hopes on that with Lewis, Pitta, Reed or Boldin.

You should not consider this Ravens bashing from a bitter fan. I strongly believe them to be a very good team that can probably get a top 4 seed again this year. I do however, consider their losses to be insurmountable, and with it being incredibly rare for a Superbowl team to replicate regardless of circumstance I think this is a mountain that will take a few more years to ascend again.

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