AFC North
Divisional Foes Are Improving
By Jerry DiPaola

Cleveland Browns

Key offseason acquisitions: LB Barry Gardner, C Jeff Faine.

Key offseason losses: C Dave Wohlabaugh, QB Kevin Thompson, S Chris Akins, S Devin Bush, RB J.J. Johnson, LBs Earl Holmes, Lenoy Jones, Dwayne Rudd and Jamir Miller, TE Mark Campbell, CB Corey Fuller and LS Ryan Kuehl.

Why the Steelers should be nervous: The Browns have their problems, but almost all of them are on defense. Either quarterback, Kelly Holcomb or Tim Couch, can be effective throwing to talented, young receivers Kevin Johnson, Quincy Morgan, Dennis Northcutt and Andre Davis; and the secondary is the Steelers' weakest link. RB William Green ran for 726 yards over the last seven games in 2003.

Why the Steelers should care less: The Brown made over their defense, but it's going to take a least a full season for coach Butch Davis and the demanding Browns fans to be happy with it. It's a young defense that will make its share of mistakes.

Bottom line: The Browns were in the playoffs last season, but they were unable to hold a big lead against the Steelers in the first round. Now, solid veterans such as Earl Holmes and Corey Fuller are gone, and there's a potential quarterback controversy brewing. Regression seems inevitable.

Cincinnati Bengals

Key offseason acquisitions: Coach Marvin Lewis, DE Duane Clemons, DT John Thornton, FB Mike Green, CBs Tory James and Dennis Weathersby, LB Kevin Hardy, TE Reggie Kelly, DL Carl Powell, QB Carson Palmer, G Eric Steinbach and WR Kelley Washington.

Key offseason losses: DL Bernard Whittington, OTs Richmond Webb and Jamain Stephens, QBs Joe Germaine and Gus Frerotte, DE Vaughn Booker, S Cory Hall, FBs Nicholas Luchey and Lorenzo Neal, S Jason Perry and LB Takeo Spikes.

Why the Steelers should be nervous: In bad years, the Bengals usually find a way to beat the Steelers at least once. Now, with Lewis, the entire organization has a desperately needed makeover, and even some of the rooms in the practice facility smell of fresh paint. Look for the Bengals, with better players on defense, to raise a ruckus in the division, if they don't actually contend for a playoff berth.

Why the Steelers should care less: There are some things Lewis just can't fix in one season. For instance, he can't make No. 1 pick Carson Palmer a star in his rookie season. And he can't help it if starting quarterback Jon Kitna is nothing but a mediocre talent playing behind an offensive line that's known to struggle.

Bottom line: Lewis has taken large strides in the right direction, but he needs one more offseason of change to turn the Bengals into winners.

Baltimore Ravens

Key offseason acquisitions: DE Terrell Suggs, QB Kyle Boller, CB Corey Fuller, FB Harold Morrow, WRs Marcus Robinson and Frank Sanders, and OT Orlando Brown.

Key offseason losses: QB Jeff Blake, FB Sam Gash, CB James Trapp, LB Shannon Taylor, WR Brandon Stokley, CB Robert Tate, WR Jeff Ogden.

Why the Steelers should be nervous: Ravens All-Pro middle linebacker Ray Lewis is healthy now after playing only five games in an injury-plagued 2002 season. He's also mad about the Ravens missing the playoffs for the first time since 1999, even if it was just by one game. This means trouble because Lewis is such a force, he can dominate games and simply will his team to victory.

Why the Steelers should care less: Yeah, the Ravens had two first-round draft picks, but their second top choice: quarterback Kyle Boller: needs a lot of seasoning. If the Ravens have to play Boller, veteran QB Chris Redman is struggling.

Bottom line: Coach Brian Billick took the shaky shell of a championship team and won seven games last season. Sure of himself to the point of arrogance, Billick knows the right buttons to push. He has a good defense, some new weapons at wide receiver: veterans Marcus Robinson and Frank Sanders: to go along with, perhaps, the NFL's best tight end in Todd Heap. Plus, he has a solid running game, with Jamal Lewis. If Redman is recovered from his herniated disc, the Ravens could be a contender.