A Powerhouse Division

       All throughout the NFL, teams come and go, and powerhouses rise and decline throughout the years. Some years, teams rise to the top, like the Jets, who went to the AFC Championship game a few years ago, only to have a losing season the year after. Other times, teams stay right at the top, like the Seahawks, who have an impressive record of 9-4 after the year they won the Super Bowl. One division who has 4 impressive teams this year is the AFC North. Each team has a record north of .500, and each team still has a shot to make the playoffs. 

       The top team in the division is the Cincinnati Bengals, who are 8-4-1. They have two divisional losses (Browns, Steelers), and 4 conference losses (Browns, Steelers, Colts, Patriots). They also have one tie, with the Panthers. The Bengals have a mediocre at best quarterback in Andy Dalton, with two excellent receivers on the outside (Green, Sanu). They are the tenth best rushing team in the league, with around 120 yards per game. I expect them to finish second in the division, and be a wild card team. 

       The second team in the division is the Pittsburgh Steelers, who are 8-5. They have a win against the Ravens, putting them is second place. Big Ben, the all time leading passer for the Steelers, leads the team, along with La'Veon Bell. I expect them to finish third in the division. 

       The third team in the division is the Baltimore Ravens, who are also 8-5. With a very easy remaining schedule, I expect the Ravens to finish first in the division this year. The Ravens are led by Joe Flacco, with an experienced defense to help him out, along with a great wide receiver in Steve Smith. 

       In last place are the Cleveland Browns. The Browns have no defined leader on offense, but have Joe Hadden, a pro bowl corner-back leading the defense. the Browns will finish in last place, but they have certainly made resounding improvements this year. At 7-6, the Browns already have improved their record from last year by three games, and may be able to improve their record from last year even more. 

       I have not seen a division in my life where every team was fighting for a playoff spot, and now I can say that I have. The next questions I have is, what will the NFC south look like next year?

End Of Discussion

       There are rumors circulating around. Rumors that are being asked to be tested by millions of people across our great country. These rumors may or may not be true, but they have certainly caused quite a stir in the world of sports. The questions is: Could J.J Watt be a better tight end than Rob Grownkowski? This is a hot topic of the league, and has been brought up numerous times. A section on the show Sports-nation dove into this debate, as well as multiple writers from ESPN. There is also a country wide dispute, with Houston fans claiming that Watt could be better, while New England fans scream in protest and claim that Gronk is the best. So, again I propose the question, who do you choose?

       If you chose J.J Watt, you probably have an argument that he has played tight end only three plays this year, and has three touchdowns. Yes, great argument. In only three explosive routes run, Watt has caught three balls for three touchdowns. Combine that with about thirty seconds of play time, and you have the best tight end with no film to ever play the game of football. But, we can't forget the fact that J.J Watt played tight end at Central Michigan University for a year. Surprisingly, he only recorded 8 catches for 77 total yards. To me, his stats at Central Michigan University scare me away from calling him better that Gronk. starting all games, but only catching at passes for 77 yards is an eye opener: of surprise, that is. Although Watt definitely has the size, speed, and hands for the job, he may not be a natural tight end like Grownkowski. Also, not playing tight end consistently in four years may have diminished Watt's receiving skills quite a bit. Yet, he has still managed to find a way to score three touchdowns this season as a receiver. 

     If you chose Rob Grownkowski as the better tight end, you probably have more sense. With an excellent quarterback, a great offensive line, and a weak division, Gronk is poised for success. If put on a bad team, with a bad quarterback and offensive line, in the best division, how would Gronk fare? Well, in my expert opinion, Grownkowski would still excel on the field. He was recognized as one of the best tight ends in college, even though he missed his whole junior year because of a back surgery. As a rookie in the NFL, Gronk broke records for the most reception touchdowns by a rookie tight end in a season, and came back even stronger with 17 touchdown receptions, leading all players. Granted, he also has the best QB to ever play the game. 

       Obviously, there is much controversy over this topic. Whether you decide Gronk is better, or Watt is better is beside me. There is no way to really test this except for putting each player in the same scenario and testing their skills. One thing for sure is that this is not the end of this debate.