Baltimore, Minnesota look like teams to beat

When Ray Lewis talks defense, everybody listens.

When the premier defensive player in the NFL and one of the league's all-time great linebackers says he's impressed with the 2004 unit his Baltimore Ravens will field, everybody shudders.

Despite an inexperienced quarterback, so-so receivers and a star running back who could miss practices, even games, in midseason because of a criminal trial, the Ravens are strong favorites to repeat as AFC North champions. Lewis and the boys are why.

"We've come in and we've gotten all the pieces together," says Lewis, the 2003 Defensive Player of the Year. "Just like back in '99 and how it transferred into 2000, we've got that type of team again . . . It's going to be special just to watch us."

If the offense comes around, this season could be very special, perhaps even as good as 2000, when the Ravens won the Super Bowl. Even so, there's a feeling in Baltimore that Lewis, Chris McAlister (who ended his holdout earlier this week), Ed Reed, Ed Hartwell, Terrell Suggs, Gary Baxter and, yes, Deion Sanders.

"I wanted the opportunity to win it all, and that's it," Sanders says. "That's the only reason I'm here."

Having the best linebacking corps and the best secondary in the AFC makes the Ravens an easy choice over the Steelers, Bengals and Browns. Baltimore also can assert itself early -- it plays the other three division members right away.

The offense will try to assert itself by handing the ball to 2,000- yard rusher Jamal Lewis most of the time. Last season's Offensive Player of the Year with 2,066 yards, second most in NFL history, also set the individual game record with 295 yards against the Browns.

Guess who the Ravens open with?

Lewis has other concerns besides reaching 2,000 again. His trial on charge of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and using a cell phone in violation of federal law, is scheduled to start Nov. 1.

"It's set for November, and that's when we have to handle it," he says. "I have a long season ahead of me and we will handle it as it comes along."

Lewis needs to be just as effective because Kyle Boller still is growing at quarterback and there is no star receiver. Tight end Todd Heap is excellent, but if Kevin Johnson, now with his third team in less than a year, is your top target, that's troublesome.

The Ravens did try to land Terrell Owens, who wound up in Philadelphia, so the offense will be conservative, relying on Lewis and a staunch line led by tackle Jon Ogden and guard Edwin Mulitalo.

Pittsburgh has a superb trio of wideouts: Hines Ward, Plaxico Burress and Antwaan Randle El. It also has versatile Duce Staley supplanting Jerome Bettis as the prime running back, and standout guard Alan Faneca is back at that position after being pressed into playing tackle because of injuries in '03. With the other starting guard, Kendall Simmons, gone for the year, Faneca figures to stay put.

The line is critical to success in Pittsburgh, because quarterback Tommy Maddox isn't very mobile and his backup, first-round pick Ben Roethlisberger, is just learning. Anyone who has watched Bill Cowher over the last dozen years knows he wants the Steelers to be rugged and to establish some sort of ground game before turning to Ward, Burress and Randle El.

"That's why I came here, because the Steelers will run the ball," says Staley, signed away from Philadelphia as a free agent.

To not throw it would be foolish, however, considering the talent outside. While Ward, in particular, is a superb blocker, he also can be a game-breaking receiver.

Randle El can break things open on special teams.

Where the Steelers will look somewhat different is defensively. Although not a lot of the personnel has changed, Cowher promises they'll be more aggressive, boosted by a return to full healthy by LB Joey Porter and the insertion of safety Troy Polamalu into the lineup.

Cincinnati comes off a turnaround season, the first of Marvin Lewis' head coaching career. He got the Bengals to 8-8 -- they still haven't had a winning record since 1990, the last time they made the postseason -- and they were in contention for the playoffs all season .

But with Carson Palmer replacing last year's top comeback player, Jon Kitna, at quarterback, there could be a backslide. Palmer does have quality receivers in Chad Johnson and Peter Warrick, and RBs Rudi Johnson and rookie Chris Perry should be able replacements for departed Corey Dillon. The secondary is suspect and the defensive line is inconsistent.

Cleveland is even more inconsistent, racked by front office turmoil and some strange managerial decisions. Coach Butch Davis had total control, which means any blame for a poor record should fall on his shoulders.

Jeff Garcia is the new quarterback, and he has some weapons in young runners William Green and Lee Suggs and wideouts Andre' Davis and Quincy Morgan. But the line is a sieve.

As for the defense, well, if it can stop Jamal Lewis from approaching 300 yards on opening day, that could be the highlight of the season.

-- Predictions: Baltimore 10-6; Pittsburgh 8-8; Cincinnati 8-8; Cleveland 5-11.

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