It all depends how you look at the AFC North. I am actually in the habit of calling it that now instead of the Central, so I am getting old.
Pitt, Bmore and Cincy all have stout, playmaking defenses and Cincy just swept the division two years ago by out physicalling everybody. They are still tough with a two rooks on offense as their primary guys. They have had real tough luck with injuries to high picks over the years, but people tend to dwell on them signing convicts and basically being the cheapest run franchise in the league---plus, they hate looking at Mike Brown. Palmer's injury against Pitt set them back along with the Ocho/TO debacle. Even though they were good two years ago it wasn't because of Palmer, he has never been near what he was. They dominated the lines of scrimmage.
I never get too wrapped up in stats one way or the other team wise, because there are so many ambiguities. For example, some teams get a lead and manage from that point on, so their defensive stats suffer from teams playing catch up and their offensive stats suffer from grinding things out and running clock.
Big Gay Ben is an enigma, Pitt is living off that guy. Their oline has been shit for a few years now, but his presence and ability to extend plays benefits not only their numbers, but their ability to run just enough when needed. Pig Ben doesn't run an efficient passing game, it is one made up on the fly where he creates things out of the pocket. The numbers add up, but they are still not an elite passing team. You remove Ben and Polly from that team and they are a 500 ball club at best, and I promise that.
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