Which QB Has Better Statistical Season In AFC North In 2012?

Even I don't know how good I'm going to be, Pouncey! Credit: Charles LeClaire-US PRESSWIRE

I would have to say that the AFC North had one of the more interesting drafts of all the divisions in the NFL. Each team made key (or head scratching) moves directly involving offense. Each team is primed to have either a great offense or one that quickly swirls down the toilet bowl. Each quarterback also has a chance to have the season of a lifetime. For us to jump down this rabbit hole, we’re going to have to make a few assumptions.

First we’ll have to assume that nothing will happen to Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger or Bengals QB Andy Dalton. Ben appears to be flying the straight and narrow these days, and Andy Dalton has about an exciting life as a three-toed sloth – no chances for any events that will steer them away from the football field. We must also assume that Joe Bert and the Baltimore Ravens will tidy up the contract dispute currently on the table. Bert wants the big money and the Ravens are biting… yet. Joe doesn’t appear that he’ll be a hold out as he attended the OTA’s and mini camps. Now there’s about 10 (maybe he has 9?) Joe Bert fans out there who will argue that there’s no way he’ll hold out. And perhaps that’s true – he has the lack of spine to show up in camp. But I’m not convinced that Uni won’t try and pull a power play right before camp – after all, he is ‘the best’ right? But for now, we’ll assume that he’ll be taking the snaps. Our last assumption is the hardest one to make, but we’ll have to go on blind faith in order for this poll to work. We’re going to have to assume that Brandon Weeden will be the starter for the Cleveland Browns. Although it may seem easy to think that Weeden will be the starter, Colt McCoy and Seneca Wallace are the other men competing for that job. And while it may also be easy to write off McCoy, cause boy the analysts sure did on draft night, he will still have some fight in him. The Browns will be going for broke as they always do since they have no fighting chance of taking the division. If they feel Weeden is the guy to inject some type of pulse into that offense, then he’ll be the one to start. Ok, I’m game. Weeden it is.

The Steelers added a ton of weapons to the offense, and that includes the offensive line as being a weapon. With the addition of great run blockers like David DeCastro and Mike Adams, the tallest TE in the business Leonard Pope, and new offensive coordinator Todd Haley, the Steelers have the potential of blowing up the scoreboard. Can’t forget to mention NFL record setting receiver Antonio Brown and the other pass catchers, Heath Miller, and Isaac Redman primed to carry this team to the playoffs. Big Ben has the potential of the best season of his career. But will it be the best among the AFC North?


Is he wearing his helmet? Oh wait that's just his.... never mind. Credit: Frank Victores-US PRESSWIRE

Andy Dalton proved that ginger can be cool. He had a great rookie season, and connected with star receiver A.J. Green. Were he to have one good game against the Steelers last season, the Bengals could have had the Steelers on the outside looking in come playoff time. But with any rookie season came highs and lows. Now it’s time for Dalton to settle in with his offense once again (that surprisingly ranked 20th in the passing game) and make another push for the playoffs.

Joe Bert and the rest of the Ravens have quite a bit to deal with going into camp. Holdouts, injuries, etc. All distractions, and all things that can affect the overall chemistry of the team. Ray Rice, should he continue his hold out, could throughly screw this team by taking any semblance of a running game. No running game means more responsibility and pressure on Joe Bert. And well, sometimes that just doesn’t work out to well for our friend Bert. He does have plenty of weapons still at his disposal – none more electric than Torrey Smith. Smith proved numerous times, including several against Pittsburgh, that he has amazing speed. Should he improve his ability to catch the football, Bert could have TD after TD bomb.



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Joe Bert. There might be a photoshop opportunity there.

I think Ben will have the best year statistically. A much improved O-line and an OC who knows how to run an offense, combined with all the weapons we have and Ben playing with a chip on his shoulder likely will make our offense scary good. I look for Ben to have his best year statistically (or at least one of his best).