Best Case, Worst Case for each AFC North team in 2014

Jungletiger · August 20, 2014

By Ryan Wilson | CBSSports.com

August 19, 2014 8:39 am ET

Can the Stealers or Ravens unseat the Bengals in the AFC North? (USATSI)

The whole idea started on our award-winning* podcast (embedded below): what would each NFL team look like in their “Armageddon scenario”? In other words, what's the absolute worst thing that could happen to each NFL team? And, conversely, what's the best-case scenario for each team? (Yes, theoretically “16 wins and the Super Bowl works, but let's be realistic.)

Baltimore Ravens

DREAM WEAVER: Relatively speaking, last season was an aberration. Under John Harbaugh and Joe Flacco, who both arrived in Baltimore in 2008 and haven't missed a day since, the Ravens had always won at least nine games and have always qualified for the post season. In 2013, the lack of playmakers in both the passing and running game, along with a leaky offensive line, finally caught up with them.

But Anquan Boldin was shipped to the 49ers, Dennis Pitta missed much of the year with a hip injury, Ray Rice suddenly looked old and slow and the o-line couldn't block an office chair. By the time it was over, the unit ranked 30th ahead of only the Giants and the Jaguars, according to Football Outsiders and Flacco was 35th in QB efficiencyjust behind Matt Schaub, Chad Henne and Christian Ponder.

Yikes.

Not surprisingly, the Ravens got to work this offseason, signing wide receiver Steve Smith, who spent his first 13 NFL seasons with the Panthers. Yes, he's old but he can still play. Don't forget, Derrick Mason excelled for years in the Ravens' offense as Flacco's security blanket and Smith can do the same opposite Torrey Smith.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/24667586/best-case-worst-case-for-each-afc-north-team-in-2014