Reuniting Joe Barrow with LSU receiver Ja'Marr Chase was more important to the Bengals than improving his pass protection. (Stripe Hype)
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland.
The natural next step for the Browns before advancing in the post-season is winning their division and hosting a playoff game.
They haven’t done that since 1989 when the old Browns won the old AFC Central for the fourth time in five years.
Since the AFC North was created when the NFL expanded to 32 teams in 2002, the Browns finished second twice -- in 2002 (9-7) and 2007 (10-6). They were third last year (11-5) based on a worse record in division games (3-3) than Baltimore (4-2).
The difference was a 55-yard field goal by Justin Tucker into the Dawg Pound end zone in Game 13 plus a game-ending safety in a 47-42 Baltimore win -- the most exciting prime-time game of the 2020 NFL season.
The Browns finished with a flourish, of course, defeating Pittsburgh, 24-22, in the playoff-clinching season finale, and then blowing out the division-champion Steelers in Heinz Field, 48-37, in a wild-card game.
Whatever slim margin existed between the rivals at the end of 2020 has been closed in the transaction season.
The Browns added six key veteran players on defense in free agency and at least two more projected contributors on defense in the draft, while the offense returns completely intact.
No less important is the fact the Browns return to the same coaches and schemes. It’s the first time in their expansion era the Browns made no changes on their coaching staff. Pittsburgh and Baltimore have had the same head coach for 14 and 13 years, respectively, and virtually the same systems that whole time.
While the Browns were aggressive in upgrading their defense, their division rivals were less so in addressing their teams needs.
Here’s a look at how each team did in the transaction season:
Pittsburgh Steelers
2020 record and finish: 12-4, first place; lost to Browns, 48-37, in AFC wild card.
Final DVOA rankings (per FootballOutsiders.com): 22nd offense, 1st defense, 14th special teams.
Key veterans lost: RB James Conner, S Sean Davis, OLB Bud Dupree, OL Matt Feiler, CB Mike Hilton, CB Steve Nelson, C Maurkice Pouncey, OT Alejandro Villanueva.
Key veterans added: C B.J. Finney, QB Dwayne Haskins, OT Joe Haeg.
2021 draft: 1. RB Najee Harris, Alabama; 2. TE Pat Freiermuth, Penn State; 3. C Kendrick Green, Illinois; 4. OT Dan Moore Jr., Texas A&M 4. ILB Buddy Johnson, Texas A&M 5. DT Isaiahh Loudermilk, Wisconsin; 6. OLB Quincy Roche, Miami; 7. CB Tre Norwood, Oklahoma; 7. P Pressley Harvin III, Georgia Tech.
Analysis: The Steelers not only ranked last in rushing (84.4 yards per game), it was the worst rush offense in their history. As a result, the offense was absent physical toughness and turned 38-year-old quarterback Ben Roethlisberger into a weak dink-and-dunker out of the shotgun.
After their playoff exit, Coach Mike Tomlin fired offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner and replaced him with quarterbacks coach Matt Canada. He’ll be Tomlin’s fourth offensive coordinator in 15 years. Tomlin also named Adrian Klemm offensive line coach to implement a zone-blocking scheme, which is a departure for the Steelers.
The focal point of the running game now will be first-round pick Najee Harris, with second choice Pat Freiermuth integral as an in-line blocking tight end. Whether the Steelers did enough to upgrade their offensive line is debatable, but they are likely to have three new starters in front of Roethlisberger.
Defensively, the Steelers will miss Dupree, the complement to edge rusher T.J. Watt, and cornerbacks Hilton and Nelson.
Offseason grade: C-minus.
Baltimore Ravens
2020 record and finish: 11-5, second place; beat Titans, 20-13, in wild card; lost to Bills, 17-3, in divisional playoff.
Final DVOA rankings: 11th offense, 9th defense, 2nd special teams.
Key veterans lost: OT Orlando Brown Jr. (traded), RB Mark Ingram, OLB Matt Judon, DE Yannick Ngakoue, C Matt Skura, WR Willie Snead.
Key veterans added: TE Josh Oliver, OT Alejandro Villanueva, WR Sammy Watkins, G Kevin Zeitler.
2021 draft: 1. WR Rashod Bateman, Minnesota; 1. OLB Odafe Oweh, Penn State; 3. OG Ben Cleveland, Georgia; 3. CB Brandon Stephens, SMU; 4. WR Tylan Wallace, Oklahoma State; 5. CB Shaun Wade, Ohio State; 5. DE Daelin Hayes, Notre Dame; 5. FB Ben Mason , Michigan.
Analysis: The Ravens were hoping to ween quarterback Lamar Jackson from running so much by now, but it hasn’t happened. The reason the Ravens surged into the playoffs on a five-game winning streak was because they accepted their passing game wasn’t going to get it done and reverted to quarterback runs. Jackson had his second 1,000-yard rushing season in three years. The Ravens know that can’t be sustained.
So they drafted a pair of wide receivers for the fourth year in a row, hoping to correct their blind spot for the position and ease the pressure off Jackson’s legs. Also, they hoped to supplement No. 1 tight end Mark Andrews with a second intermediate target for Jackson. An under-radar trade with Jacksonville for Oliver was their answer. Oliver was a third-round pick in 2019 but has played only four games in two years because of injuries.
The Ravens had big issues on their offensive line last year. They addressed them by trading right tackle Brown and replacing him with Villanueva (a severe downgrade), adding Zeitler at right guard (big upgrade) and holding a competition at center.
The Ravens addressed defections at edge rusher by promoting within and drafting Oweh.
Offseason grade: B-minus.
Cincinnati Bengals
2020 record and finish: 4-11-1, fourth place.
Final DVOA rankings: 29th offense, 27th defense, 9th special teams.
Key veterans lost: CB Mackensie Alexander, DT Geno Atkins, RB Gio Bernard, K Randy Bullock, C B.J. Finney, WR A.J. Green, OT Bobby Hart, CB William Jackson III, DE Carl Lawson, WR John Ross, S Shawn Williams.
Key veterans added: CB Eli Apple, CB Chidobe Awuzie, DE Trey Hendrickson, CB Mike Hilton, DT Larry Ogunjobi, OT Riley Reiff.
2021 draft: 1. WR Ja'Marr Chase, LSU; 2. OG Jackson Carman, Clemson; 3. DE Joseph Ossai, Texas; 4. DE Cameron Sample, Tulane; 4. DT Tyler Shelvin, LSU; 4. OT D'Ante Smith, East Carolina; 5. PK Evan McPherson, Florida; 6. C Trey Hill, Georgia; 6. RB Chris Evans, Michigan; DE Wyatt Hubert, Kansas State.
Analysis: Supporting franchise quarterback Joe Burrow after his ACL surgery was the theme of their transaction season. The seminal decision was providing Burrow with Chase, his receiver teammate from their LSU championship season, rather than top-rated offensive tackle Penei Sewell of Oregon.
It’s not as if the Bengals ignored the offensive line. They signed Reiff to play right tackle and drafted Carman to plug in at guard. They believe the explosive, big-play potential of Chase, in a three-receiver offense with Tyler Boyd and Tee Higgins, will have a bigger impact on the offense.
The Bengals hope the return of injured pass rusher Sam Hubbard with the addition of Hendrickson and Ogunjobi will fortify the defensive front and stabilize the defense.
Offseason grade: C.