AFC North outlook
PITTSBURGH

LAST SEASON: Had best regular season in 23 years as QB Kordell Stewart had best season, but were upset by Patriots in AFC championship — third time in eight years they've lost conference title at home.

ADDITIONS: K Todd Peterson, LB James Farrior, QB Charlie Batch, WR Terance Mathis.

SUBTRACTIONS: K Kris Brown, LB Earl Holmes, G Rich Tylski, LB Mike Jones, CB Jason Simmons, WR Bobby Shaw, FB Jon Witman, OL Roger Duffy.

WATCH FOR: RB Jerome Bettis must return from his second serious groin injury to be the focal point of an offense that often settled for FGs. Was Stewart's big season after three off years a mirage, or will newly signed Charlie Batch push him? Stewart has yet to have two straight good seasons.

EXPECTATIONS: There hasn't been this much Super Bowl talk in Pittsburgh since the early 1980s. With nearly every key veteran re-signed, nothing less than a trip to San Diego will placate Steelers fans.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

  • Sep. 9 at New England, 3 p.m. HST
  • Sep. 15 Oakland, 2:30 p.m.
  • Sep. 22 Open date
  • Sep. 29 Cleveland, 7 a.m.
  • Oct. 6 at New Orleans, 7 a.m.
  • Oct. 13 at Cincinnati, 7 a.m.
  • Oct. 21 Indianapolis, 3 p.m.
  • Oct. 27 at Baltimore, 8 a.m.
  • Nov. 3 at Cleveland, 8 a.m.
  • Nov. 10 Atlanta, 8 a.m.
  • Nov. 17 at Tennessee, 8 a.m.
  • Nov. 24 Cincinnati, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 1 at Jacksonville, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 8 Houston, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 15 Carolina, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 23 at Tampa Bay, 4 p.m.
  • Dec. 29 Baltimore, 8 a.m.

BALTIMORE

LAST SEASON: Failed to defend Super Bowl title but made the playoffs, beating Miami before losing in Pittsburgh. Sputtered on offense because of knee injury to RB Jamal Lewis and ineffective play of QB Elvis Grbac.

ADDITIONS: QB Jeff Blake, who will initially serve as backup to Chris Redman.

SUBTRACTIONS: Salary cap purge: Grbac, TE Shannon Sharpe, LB Jamie Sharper, KR Jermaine Lewis, CB Duane Starks, SS Corey Harris, P Kyle Richardson, DL Tony Siragusa, DL Larry Webster, DL Lional Dalton, WR Patrick Johnson, RB Jason Brookins, RB Moe Williams, OT Leon Searcy, WR Qadry Ismail, QB Randall Cunningham.

WATCH FOR: LB Ray Lewis, who must carry a depleted defense, and Redman, who finally gets his chance to start after spending two years as a backup.

EXPECTATIONS: Burdened by salary cap woes, the 2001 champions are clearly rebuilding. A .500 finish would be a pleasant surprise.

BALTIMORE RAVENS

  • Sep. 8 at Carolina, 7 a.m. HST
  • Sep. 15 Tampa Bay, 7 a.m.
  • Sep. 22 Open date
  • Sep. 30 Denver, 3 p.m.
  • Oct. 6 at Cleveland, 2:30 p.m.
  • Oct. 13 at Indianapolis, 7 a.m.
  • Oct. 20 Jacksonville, 7 a.m.
  • Oct. 27 Pittsburgh, 8 a.m.
  • Nov. 3 at Atlanta, 8 a.m.
  • Nov. 10 Cincinnati, 8 a.m.
  • Nov. 17 at Miami, 8 a.m.
  • Nov. 24 Tennessee, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 1 at Cincinnati, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 8 New Orleans, 11:05 a.m.
  • Dec. 15 at Houston, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 22 Cleveland, 11:15 a.m.
  • Dec. 29 at Pittsburgh, 8 a.m.

CLEVELAND

LAST SEASON: Showed dramatic improvement in first season under Butch Davis. Looked as if they might make a playoff run after 4-2 start but lost five of last six. Seven games were decided in final minute.

ADDITIONS: LB Earl Holmes, S Robert Griffith, DE Kenard Lang, OT Ryan Tucker, OG Barry Stokes, plus RB William Green, WR Andre Davis, the first two draft choices.

SUBRACTIONS: S Percy Ellsworth, LB Wali Rainer, DE Keith McKenzie, TE O.J. Santiago, FB Mike Sellers, RB Benjamin Gay, OT Roman Oben.

WATCH FOR: DE Courtney Brown, limited to just four games in 2001, could be ready to break out. Green may finally be the answer to woeful running game, which has ranked 31st, 30th and 31st the past three years.

EXPECTATIONS: Extremely high as Davis begins his second year and the Browns their fourth since returning as an expansion team. QB Tim Couch has to make some big plays.

CLEVELAND BROWNS

  • Sep. 8 Kansas City, 7 a.m. HST
  • Sep. 15 Cincinnati, 7 a.m.
  • Sep. 22 at Tennessee, 7 a.m.
  • Sep. 29 at Pittsburgh, 7 a.m.
  • Oct. 6 Baltimore, 2:30 p.m.
  • Oct. 13 at Tampa Bay, 10:15 a.m.
  • Oct. 20 Houston, 10:05 a.m.
  • Oct. 27 at New York Jets, 8 a.m.
  • Nov. 3 Pittsburgh, 8 a.m.
  • Nov. 10 Open date
  • Nov. 17 at Cincinnati, 8 a.m.
  • Nov. 24 at New Orleans, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 1 Carolina, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 8 at Jacksonville, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 15 Indianapolis, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 22 at Baltimore, 11:15 a.m.
  • Dec. 29 Atlanta, 8 a.m.

CINCINNATI

LAST SEASON: Raised hopes by starting 2-0 with home wins over the Patriots and Ravens, then lost 10 of next 12, reverting to the form that has led to the NFL's worst overall record since 1991.

ADDITIONS: QB Gus Frerotte, CB Jeff Burris. Four promising draft picks: OT Levi Jones, FS Lamont Thompson, TE Matt Schobel, K Travis Dorsch.

SUBTRACTIONS: QB Scott Mitchell, TE Tony McGee, FS Darryl Williams, WR Darnay Scott.

WATCH FOR: Frerotte will compete with Jon Kitna for the starting QB job in an offense that scored the fewest points in the NFL last season.

EXPECTATIONS: If either Frerotte or Kitna can give the Bengals a passing attack to complement Corey Dillon, they could make a run at their first winning season since 1990. If not, more close losses and dashed hopes.

CINCINNATI BENGALS

  • Sep. 8 San Diego, 7 a.m. HST
  • Sep. 15 at Cleveland, 7 a.m.
  • Sep. 22 at Atlanta, 2:30 p.m.
  • Sep. 29 Tampa Bay, 10:05 a.m.
  • Oct. 6 at Indianapolis, 7 a.m.
  • Oct. 13 Pittsburgh, 7 a.m.
  • Oct. 20 Open date
  • Oct. 27 Tennessee, 8 a.m.
  • Nov. 3 at Houston, 8 a.m.
  • Nov. 10 at Baltimore, 8 a.m.
  • Nov. 17 Cleveland, 8 a.m.
  • Nov. 24 at Pittsburgh, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 1 Baltimore, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 8 at Carolina, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 15 Jacksonville, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 22 New Orleans, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 29 at Buffalo, 8 a.m.

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