Baltimore Ravens: Keeping an Eye on the AFC North

Jun 16, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis answers questions from the media during minicamp at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

Cincinnati Bengals – 2014 Record: 10-5-1, 2nd place in the AFC North

The Bengals entered the draft with an immediate need for their offensive line. Their first two picks of the draft were offensive linemen.

Analysts say their second round pick Jake Fisher could start immediately. The team also added a handful of tight ends to the roster. The competition should be good as they try to find sure hands for quarterback Andy Dalton.

The 2015 season could be all or nothing for head coach Marvin Lewis as he was given a one-year extension.

An interesting storyline is head coach Marvin Lewis’s one-year contract extension. His contract was about to expire, but the fact it is only for one year shows he needs to improve upon his team’s poor performance in the playoffs.

Dalton signed a new contract last year, but the head coach is not the only one who is responsible for the poor performance. The quarterback has to look at this upcoming season as his chance to prove he is worth the new deal he received.

Dalton received a contract extension last year, but he hasn’t proven he’s worth the money yet.

They were not active during the free agency period, though they rarely spend excessive amounts of money on players. However, the team did not lose many players, so they retained the majority of their playoff team.

This year very well could be their make or break for playoff success. If they fail again, major changes could occur. The Bengals have recently begun to understand how to beat Baltimore. Cincinnati has won three of the last four meetings.

Next: Any Chance for Anything Other than Last Place?