Joey Sheiner

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Let’s be honest — if the AFC North were a family reunion, it’d be one where someone flips the table by lunch. It’s violent. It’s chaotic. It’s the only division where every team thinks they’re a Super Bowl contender and every fan base is clinically delusional. But that’s what makes it fun. While the rest of the NFL is posting gentle yoga selfies, the AFC North is rolling up with a black eye, a loaded depth chart, and 37 third-round linebackers who all run a 4.5.
So let’s light the match and toss it onto the oil-soaked turf. Here are four bold AFC North predictions that will make you look like a genius— right before reality drop-kicks you in the head.

NFL: AFC North Bold Predictions

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The Bold Prediction: 
The rookie sensation doesn’t just survive — he thrives. <a href="about:blankhttps://www.sportsgrid.com/nfl/players/shedeur-sanders/86346">Shedeur</a> brings prime-time swagger to Cleveland, throws for 4,000 yards, becomes the face of the franchise, and finally drags the Browns into the land of playoff relevance. Translation: the Browns finally stop Brown-ing.

1. Shedeur Sanders Becomes Offensive ROY and Leads the Browns to a 13-4 Season

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Sanders has NFL-ready poise, a high football IQ, and absurd media magnetism. He’s stepping into a team with <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/nfl/players/jerry-jeudy/2261">Jerry Jeudy</a> and <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/nfl/players/david-njoku/2352">David Njoku</a> to throw to, a revamped rushing attack through the draft, and a top-tier defense led by <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/nfl/players/myles-garrett/2360">Myles Garrett</a>. If the game slows down for him early, he could light it up.

Why It Could Happen:

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Because the Browns always find a way to implode — whether it’s locker room entropy, baffling play-calling, or just cosmic punishment for decades of despair. The AFC North is no Big 12 — this is a grown man’s division, with defensive ends get after the QB. Shedeur has talent, but Cleveland needs a miracle fast, and rookie QBs usually take their lumps. Also, the media pressure and expectations will be suffocating. Also, karma.

Why It Won’t Happen:

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The Bold Prediction: 
<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/nfl/players/aaron-rodgers/1536">Aaron Rodgers</a> ditches ayahuasca for Iron City and turns back the clock, throwing for 4,200 yards and 30 touchdowns. <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/nfl/players/dk-metcalf/1397">DK Metcalf</a> terrorizes corners down the sideline, rookie <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/nfl/players/kaleb-johnson/86174">Kaleb Johnson</a> becomes a punishing bell cow in Arthur Smith’s smashmouth scheme, and Pittsburgh 
grinds its way to a 12-5 division crown.

2. The Steelers Win the Division Behind a Top-5 Defense and the Fountain-of- Youth Version of Aaron Rodgers

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Rodgers has the experience, the swagger, and a top-10 defense. Pairing him with a freak like Metcalf gives the Steelers their best vertical threat since peak Martavis Bryant (minus the drama), and Kaleb Johnson looks tailor-made for Smith’s run-heavy, zone-read philosophy. Add in <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/nfl/players/tj-watt/2200">T.J. Watt</a> and a defense that forces 25+ turnovers, and you’ve got a team that can win ugly, pretty, or in pure chaos.

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Because Aaron Rodgers is 41, coming off a torn Achilles, and has spent more time podcasting than practicing in the last two years. Metcalf’s fit in a run-first, two-tight end offense is questionable, and Arthur Smith sometimes calls plays like he’s allergic to scoring. KalebJohnson might be the real deal, but rookie running backs usually hit the wall by Week 11. And let’s be honest: Pittsburgh’s offense running through an old Rodgers and a rookie back is either genius… or a beautiful disaster waiting to happen. They’ll be gritty. But elite? Nah.

Why It Won't Happen:

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The Bold Prediction: 
<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/nfl/players/lamar-jackson/2607">Lamar</a> goes full scorched earth — rushing for 1,200 yards, throwing for 3,800 more, and 45 total touchdowns, carrying the Ravens to a 12-5 record and a deep playoff run. He wins his third MVP, shuts down the “can’t win when it counts” narrative, and finally delivers a postseason win that actually matters—not Wild Card Weekend versus a backup QB, but a cold-weather, prime-time, legacy-defining moment.

3. Lamar Jackson Sets the Single-Season QB Rushing Record and Wins a Playoff Game… Finally

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He’s healthy. He’s paid, and he’s got weapons. In fact, this might be the most stacked offense Lamar’s ever had. <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/nfl/players/derrick-henry/2300">Derrick Henry</a> forces defenses to commit a safety in the box, giving Lamar lighter coverages and more daylight when he takes off. The receiver room is solid (<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/nfl/players/zay-flowers/2567">Zay Flowers</a>, <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/nfl/players/mark-andrews/16344">Mark Andrews</a>, and maybe 10 healthy games from <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/nfl/players/rashod-bateman/2606">Rashod Bateman</a>). And when teams focus outside, <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/nfl/players/isaiah-likely/2609">Isaiah Likely</a> joins Andrews to punish the middle with two elite pass-catching tight ends. If Todd Monken lets Lamar freelance a bit more within structure, we’re talking MVP-level chaos.

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Because we’ve been here before. Talent on paper doesn't always translate. Henry may be past the point of carrying a full season’s load. <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/nfl/players/deandre-hopkins/2289">DeAndre Hopkins</a>, while still capable, is no longer the separation machine he once was. Likely and Andrews could end up cannibalizing each other's targets. And let’s not forget: Lamar struggles to stay healthy for 17 weeks. If the offense stalls or the defense cracks at the wrong time, it’ll be another season of "what if" for a quarterback who deserves better but hasn't yet proven he can rewrite the story.

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The Bold Prediction: 
<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/nfl/players/joe-burrow/16237">Burrow</a> sprains something in October, sits out a month, <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/nfl/players/jake-browning/2093">Jake Browning</a> or some other quarterback born in the 2000s steps in, and Zac Taylor rallies the troops to a 10-7 wildcard spot. Oh, and <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/nfl/players/jamarr-chase/2097">Ja’Marr Chase</a> still drops 1,200/15 just for fun.

4. Joe Burrow Misses 4 Games… and the Bengals Still Make the Playoffs

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Why It Could Happen: 
Let’s start with Burrow and Chase — this duo isn’t just great, it’s telepathic. Add in a freshly-paid <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/nfl/players/tee-higgins/2066">Tee Higgins</a>, <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/nfl/players/andrei-iosivas/2046">Andrei Iosivas</a> in the slot, and a couple of capable TEs (<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/nfl/players/mike-gesicki/1936">Gesicki</a>, <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/nfl/players/erick-all/60208">All Jr.</a>), and the Bengals might legitimately have the most talented pass-catching unit in the league. But the real X-factor? <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/nfl/players/chase-brown/2088">Chase Brown</a>. His burst and vision flashed late in 2024, and if he continues that momentum into a heavier workload, Cincinnati suddenly has a viable run game. That opens up play-action, slows the rush, and helps keep Burrow upright, especially important if he’s working his way back from injury.

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Because JoeBurrow is the Bengals. Without him, this offense becomes a Toyota Corolla trying to merge on the Autobahn. Backup QBs don’t win shootouts in the AFC, and while Chase Brown looked promising, we’ve seen plenty of backs flash in garbage time and vanish the next year. This team’s margin for error is razor thin, and one extended Burrow absence could derail everything.

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You’re welcome to believe these bold predictions, or you can be smart and file them under “things that only happen in Madden.” The AFC North is an unpredictable circus with cleats. But hey — every great fantasy starts with a little delusion.
And if one of these comes true?
You didn’t hear it here.
Unless it was the one about the Browns. And in that case, we all know it was a fluke.

Final Word (or Warning):

NFL: Bold Predictions In The AFC North

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Derek Antoine makes one unbelievable prediction for each AFC North team. Could the Browns win the division? Could Lamar Jackson set a new QB rushing record?

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