The division of “so what.” Red still has to pick ’em.
Pittsburgh Stealers – Ben “Big Ben” Rothlessburger may be tired but he isn’t old just yet. This season may change that assessment and if so, the Stealers are in for a cold December – well make that a colder December. BB should be helped by the presence of Antone “Big Time” Brown and the debut of the JuJu “No Need for a Nick Name” Smith-Schuster. The big ? – is Le’Veon “Will he Answer the” Bell. If not, then maybe James “Hey I Don’t Suck” Conner is the answer – or maybe not. The Stealers defense is always there and probably improves with the emergence of T.J. “Yeah He’s my Big Brother” Watt. It all rests in the reasonably capable hands of Mike “Can You Believe I’m Still Here” Tomlin. Red likes Mike and Pittsburgh does more than enough to win this division at 12-4.
Cleveland Browns – You read it here first, the Browns are going to the playoffs. Red just had to choke back a spoonful of delicious Grazier’s whole milk, grass-fed yogurt when he wrote that and is now seriously contemplating the function of the back key – but the moving hand writes and when it is written moves on. Sort of like Red’s bowels. This could be the greatest prediction of Red’s life or . . . Happy times in Cleveland at 10-6.
Cincinnati Bengals – Red really likes the Bengals. He also likes Neapolitan ice cream even though he knows it’s just vanilla, chocolate and strawberry and the vanilla is always left at the end. Sort of like the end of your typical Bengals season where there either challenge for a playoff spot or make the playoffs and lose to the Texans – an even worse fate. This has to be the year for Marvin “Can You Believe I’m Still Here When I’m not Half as Good as Mike Tomlin” Lewis. He cannot hang on any longer without at least one playoff win. Marvin lets go of the rope. Cincinnati comes close but not close enough 9-7.
Baltimore Ravens – Flacco Joe, Flaco Joe, Flaco Joe. Can Red just say no? Okay then. Baltimore 2-14.