With the offseason moves they have made, the Ravens look improved on paper. However, will they be good enough to avoid missing the playoffs in back-to-back years for the first time since 2004 and 2005?

Making the playoffs will be difficult for the Ravens, and part of their problem is playing in the AFC North. I think it will be the best division in the AFC. Some might think the AFC West is tougher than the North, with the continued improvement of the Raiders. However, I believe the Super Bowl champion Broncos are going to have issues at quarterback, with Mark Sanchez the likely starter. I still like the Chiefs, but I’m not sure the Chargers have done enough to make a major leap back into the playoffs.

Every team in the AFC South has question marks, and the Patriots still look like overwhelming favorites in the AFC East, even if quarterback Tom Brady serves a four-game suspension for Deflategate.

Meanwhile, the AFC North remains highly competitive, excluding the Browns. The Steelers have made the playoffs two straight seasons, and could have the NFL’s most potent offense in 2016 if quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, running back Le’Veon Bell, and wide receiver Antonio Brown all stay healthy.

The Bengals have made the playoffs five straight seasons. You can’t trust them in the playoffs. But they still have a potent offensive nucleus led by wide receiver A. J. Green, quarterback Andy Dalton, and tight end Tyler Eifert, plus a physical defense. Meanwhile, the Bengals have dominated the Ravens recently, beating them five straight times.

The consistency established by John Harbaugh during his eight-year tenure as Ravens coach is extremely impressive. Playoff berths in each of his first five seasons. A 10-5 career playoff record, including at least one playoff victory in every year his team has reached the postseason.

However, since the Ravens’ most recent Super Bowl win, they have missed the playoffs twice in three years. Their regular-season record the past three years is 23-25.

I could see a scenario where the Ravens, Bengals, and Steelers all make the playoffs, which happened in 2014. However, the Ravens have a difficult four-game stretch to close the season – at Patriots, vs. Eagles, at Steelers, at Bengals.

If the Ravens enter that four-game stretch at 8-4, or better, they’ll likely control their playoff destiny. But the Ravens could be in the toughest division in the AFC – again. And that will make their road to the playoffs challenging.

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