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I changed the oil and shined up the Lamborghini nicely. Now it's time to hand over the keys.

On Thursday, Jamison Hensley, formerly of the Baltimore Sun, will take over the AFC North blog. Tomorrow I will start full-time in the AFC East.

But before I leave, I want to give a special shoutout to Melliott74, Rasta212, Wyosteelers, Blkandgold1969, Ravenous, Pucrepeap, Feardaraven01, BaltimoreThor, Ohoshun, Ogive17, Kovacs, SteelBeam00, ClevelandPownd, Bgsteelfan and other regulars. Welcome Jamison with open arms and keep this community strong.

Don't be a stranger, AFC North fans. I'm only moving next door.

Stop by the AFC East blog sometime to say hello.

No team should push the panic button after one game. But if you're the Cleveland Browns, your hand is inching closer to it in Week 2.

Is Sunday's game against the Peyton Manning-less Indianapolis Colts a must-win for Cleveland? Yes, for a variety of reasons.

Cleveland lost all momentum with an ugly, Week 1 loss at home to the rebuilding Cincinnati Bengals. There was excitement this fall about the preseason, a new coaching staff and second-year quarterback Colt McCoy. But all of that was killed after Cleveland fell to 1-12 in season openers since 1999.

The new regime of president Mike Holmgren and general manager Tom Heckert asked for patience from Browns fans. They passed on big-name free agents that could've helped this season and opted to build long-term through the draft. But the team didn't look any better last weekend than it did during its back-to-back five-win seasons. That's a concern.

I've been saying for months that the Browns are at least two years away. It could be more if the team continues to play at this level. The Browns simply don't have enough game-breaking talent. They have to play mistake-free football every week to have a chance. That's difficult to do.

Week 2 is an important litmus test for Cleveland (0-1). Win, and the Browns get a much-needed split. But if the Browns can't beat the Manning-less Colts and fall to 0-2 Sunday, it's probably time to push the panic button.

Here are the most interesting stories Wednesday in the AFC North:

• The Pittsburgh Steelers have given the nod to rookie Marcus Gilbert to replace the injured Willie Colon at right tackle.

Morning take: Gilbert is the next man up for Pittsburgh. The Steelers invested a second-round pick in the Florida alum and needs a quick return on their investment.

• Baltimore Ravens receiver Lee Evans made an impact against Pittsburgh without a reception.

Morning take: Evans' speed kept the Steelers honest. Pittsburgh wasn't able to stack up against the run and more routes were open underneath.

• Can the Cleveland Browns (0-1) beat the Peyton Manning-less Colts (0-1)?

Morning take: I don't think either team is that good. But it's a winnable game for both sides. The loser is in for a long season.

• The Denver Broncos are hurting entering their Week 2 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Morning take: Cincinnati may catch a break with Denver coming off a short week. The status of cornerback Champ Bailey, running back Knowshon Moreno and receiver Brandon Lloyd are all up in the air.

Here are the latest happenings around the AFC North:

• Can the Cincinnati Bengals (1-0) take advantage of the Denver Broncos (0-1) coming off a short week?
• Is left tackle Bryant McKinnie the biggest surprise for the Baltimore Ravens?
• The Cleveland Browns (0-1) reportedly signed punter Brad Maynard to replace Richmond McGee.
• Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Willie Colon was put on injured reserve and will be out for the season.

» NFC Stock Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

FALLING

1. Cleveland Browns: The Browns finished the preseason with optimism and were favorites to beat the rebuilding Bengals at home. But Cleveland continued its longstanding trend of playing poorly in regular-season openers. The Browns fell to 1-12 in Week 1 since returning to the NFL in 1999. Cleveland had too many penalties (11) and some odd, unexplainable mental errors. The Browns have another winnable game Sunday against the Manning-less Colts. If Cleveland blows this one and falls to 0-2, it's going to be a rough season.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers' defense: Pittsburgh's defense has been too good for too long to write off. But the Steelers did look old and two steps slow on that side of the football in Sunday's loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Pittsburgh's defense has eight starters over 30. The unit had a poor game against the Green Bay Packers in the Super Bowl and struggled again in Week 1. That is a concern. Baltimore had surprising success running and passing against the Steelers. We will see in Week 2 how Pittsburgh's proud unit bounces back against Seattle.

3. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers quarterback: Roethlisberger had a great preseason but accounted for five turnovers in Week 1. He threw three interceptions and lost two fumbles. The Steelers can't win when Roethlisberger is this careless with the football. The offensive line certainly didn't help. Pittsburgh allowed four sacks.

RISING

1. Ravens' defense: Baltimore tied a team record with seven turnovers against Pittsburgh. I thought about breaking down the accolades individually in this "Stock Watch," but there were too many good performances. Defensive end Terrell Suggs had three sacks and became Baltimore's all-time sack leader with 70.5. Pro Bowl defensive tackle Haloti Ngata had four tackles, caused a fumble and tipped the ball at the line for a Ray Lewis interception. And Ed Reed had two picks off Roethlisberger for another multi-interception game.

2. Joe Flacco, Ravens quarterback: Flacco finally got over the hump of beating Pittsburgh with Roethlisberger under center. Now, he can move on with the rest of his season. Few quarterbacks have faced more offseason scrutiny than Flacco. He responded with 224 yards and three touchdowns against Pittsburgh. The pass protection was good and Flacco took advantage. He looks ready to make a jump in Season 4.

3. Cincinnati Bengals: The inexperienced Bengals showed some moxie with a come-from-behind road win over the Browns. Cincinnati scored 14 unanswered in the fourth quarter and did it without their starting quarterback, Andy Dalton, who was out with a forearm injury. Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis has said numerous times that he likes this young group.

Here are the most interesting stories Tuesday in the AFC North:

• Cincinnati Bengals rookie quarterback Andy Dalton (arm) most likely will play Sunday against the Denver Broncos.

Morning take: Dalton was having a decent game before his forearm injury. The Bengals picked up the slack without him. But they need him healthy against Denver.

• Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Willie Colon is out indefinitely with a triceps injury.

Morning take: This has to be tough for Colon, who just returned from last year's Achilles injury. Pittsburgh doesn't have much depth on the offensive line. Rookie Marcus Gilbert or Chris Scott are potential replacements.

• Baltimore Ravens first-round draft pick Jimmy Smith with miss a few weeks with an ankle injury.

Morning take: Smith was hurt on the opening kickoff, which has to be frustrating for the rookie. Backup cornerback Lardarius Webb filled in well against Pittsburgh.

• The Cleveland Browns may be looking for a new punter after Richmond McGee's shaky debut.

Morning take: McGee wasn't an issue in training camp or the preseason. But you never know how players respond when the lights come on. He cost the Browns a lot of field position against Cincinnati.

With a new coaching staff and a second-year quarterback, Cleveland Browns fans were excited for the 2011 season. But much of that optimism came crashing down following a 27-17 home loss to the young Cincinnati Bengals.

Cleveland was sloppy and folded down the stretch. The Browns allowed 14 unanswered points in the fourth quarter in Week 1.

Does this alter your perception of how you view the Browns this year? Or do Browns fans feel the same way they did in the preseason?

In our latest SportsNation poll, vote on how many wins you think the Browns will earn this season. It ranges from Andrew Luck territory (0-4 wins) to being our latest Homer of the Week (13-15 wins). You can share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Week 1 is in the books for the AFC North. Therefore, expect some significant changes in our next NFL Power Rankings.

Here is how things could look on Tuesday:

Baltimore Ravens

Last week's vote: No. 8

Projected vote: No. 4-7

Analysis: I voted the Ravens the highest last week at No. 5. I believe they're the best team in the AFC North this season. Baltimore thoroughly outplayed the Steelers to add confirmation to that prediction. If the offensive line continues to protect the way it did against Pittsburgh, Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco could make major strides this year.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Last week’s vote: No. 3

Projected vote: No. 8-11

Analysis: The Steelers were one of the NFL's most surprising teams in Week 1 -- and not in a good way. Pittsburgh was dominated by Baltimore and looked like a shell of last year's team. Most likely Sunday's showing was just a horrible outing. But you wonder if Pittsburgh is getting old fast. I expect the Steelers to get back on track. But they could have one of the biggest drops this week.

Cincinnati Bengals

Last week’s vote: No. 32

Projected vote: No. 26-29

Analysis: The Bengals pulled off a mild upset by beating the rebuilding Browns on the road. Both teams were ranked near the bottom of our Power Rankings. Therefore, don't expect a huge jump. Cincinnati showed guts by staging a fourth-quarter comeback on the road with its backup quarterback (Bruce Gradkowski). Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis seems to like his young team.

Cleveland Browns

Last week’s vote: No. 29

Projected vote: No. 30-32

Analysis: Are the Browns as bad as they showed in Week 1? Penalties and mental and physical errors killed Cleveland. The Browns were expected to be a better and smarter football team than last season but didn't show it against the Bengals. They have another winnable game next week against the Peyton Manning-less Colts. If Cleveland blows this one, it could be a very long season.

Here are the most interesting stories Monday in the AFC North:

• After injuring his arm, Cincinnati Bengals rookie quarterback Andy Dalton is hopeful to return next week against the Denver Broncos.

Morning take: You never want to see a rookie get injured in his NFL debut. But the Bengals beat the Browns with backup Bruce Gradkowski and look prepared if Dalton can't return.

• Meanwhile, the Browns' offense is dealing with its disappearing act down the stretch.

Morning take: I've said for months Cleveland's offense lacks game-breakers. Someone has to make a big play in the fourth quarter and no one stepped up.

• Ravens defensive end Terrell Suggs (three sacks) was dominant against the Steelers.

Morning take: Suggs plays big in big games, especially against Pittsburgh. He is now the team's all-time sack leader with 70.5 career sacks.

• Steelers linebacker James Farrior is disappointed after being subbed for backup Larry Foote.

Morning take: Farrior is a team leader and longtime starter. I didn't understand the switching of series in the first game. But Pittsburgh's defense is searching for answers.

BALTIMORE -- It may go down as the most unpopular prediction in AFC North blog history. But after Sunday's game, it's also the most accurate.

The Baltimore Ravens are the new favorites in the AFC North. I wrote it in July -- to the shock and chagrin of many -- and I’m saying it again. After Baltimore's 35-7 blowout win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, it's especially true.

I didn't have a good feeling about the Steelers this offseason. I trust my gut on these things. Pittsburgh struggles after Super Bowls (trend alert) and had too much bad news outside of football (focus alert). The Steelers also are a year older and a year slower. Father Time is undefeated in athletics.

Meanwhile, the Ravens quietly closed the small gap on their biggest rival in the offseason, getting better, younger and faster. All those facets were on display during one of the most lopsided games in this rivalry.

The victory was a measure of revenge for the Ravens, who were knocked out of the playoffs by Pittsburgh last season. Baltimore finally -- and convincingly -- cleared the Steelers' hurdle.

"It's a new year," Ravens middle linebacker Ray Lewis said. "2010 and all the other years are way behind us. ... New pieces, new faces."

Ravens tailback Ray Rice described the win as a "physical, executed beatdown."

"It was domination," Ravens Pro Bowl linebacker-defensive end Terrell Suggs said.

Both statements are accurate.

With the exception of a fake extra point, the Ravens didn't trick their way to victory. They lined up and pounded Pittsburgh. By midway through the third quarter, the Steelers had no answers other than a lot of pushing and shoving.

Pittsburgh committed seven turnovers. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger had one of his worst games. He threw for 280 yards and a touchdown but also had three interceptions and two lost fumbles. The Ravens also dominated in the trenches.

Rice (107 yards) ran wild. Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco (224 yards, three touchdowns) had good pass protection and was masterful. The Steelers were two steps behind the Ravens the entire game.

"That's pretty easy to assess, ladies and gentlemen. We got handled in all three phases today," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. "We accept responsibility for the plays that we made and didn’t make."

The Ravens will go as far as Flacco takes them. The early signs are positive, as Flacco played his best game (117.6 passer rating) against the Steelers.

Flacco was poised and made several of the best throws of his career. A 27-yard touchdown pass to receiver Anquan Boldin against tight coverage in the first quarter displayed Flacco's natural ability. He has seen enough of the Steelers' coverages that he should be more familiar with them than most quarterbacks.

In his fourth season, Flacco was criticized heavily this offseason by media and opposing players, including Steelers linebacker LaMarr Woodley. The monkey is off Flacco's back for now. He turned the Steelers into believers while staying even-keeled about his performance.

"There's always going to be critics," Flacco said. "Turn around, 10 weeks down the road and something might happen. Then, OK, [the criticism] is back again."

Pittsburgh looked slow on defense. That's probably the Steelers' biggest concern.

There were signs of cracks in the defense late last season when the Green Bay Packers ripped the Steelers for 288 yards passing in Super Bowl XLV. Pittsburgh brought back the same group this year, and the unit didn't get any younger or faster. Eight of Pittsburgh's 11 starters on defense are 30 or older. At some point age will catch up to the Steelers. Perhaps we are seeing the start of it in Week 1.

"I'm not ready to judge it from a speed standpoint," Tomlin said when asked about the defense. "We didn't turn around enough ball carriers. We didn't get off well enough on third down. We didn't create turnovers. Usually speed is a part of that equation, but I'm not ready to say that at this juncture."

Pittsburgh need not push the panic button yet. Yes, the Ravens are division favorites, but that doesn't mean the Steelers are out of the hunt. Barring injuries, both teams will make the playoffs, but the teams' roles have clearly reversed. Pittsburgh must catch up to the Ravens in the division for the first time in a long time.

The Steelers, who play host to the Ravens on Nov. 6, will try to avoid an 0-2 start next week at home against the Seattle Seahawks. Pittsburgh is too tough and too talented to go away.

"One game doesn’t knock anybody out of the playoffs," said Ravens safety Ed Reed, who had two interceptions. "We've seen that year in and year out. Those guys improve at the latter part of the season always. We know for a fact Pittsburgh will bounce back."

Here are some thoughts on the Cincinnati Bengals' 27-17 victory against the Cleveland Browns at Browns Stadium:

What it means: It means the Bengals aren't the worst team in the NFL. The Bengals came in last twice in ESPN.com's Power Rankings, and I keep voting against it. Perhaps the Browns should be considered for the No. 32 spot. Cleveland lost at home to a rebuilding Bengals team playing its second-string quarterback (Bruce Gradkowski) for significant playing time. The Browns continued their longstanding trend of losing season openers. Cleveland is now 1-12 in Week 1 since returning to the NFL in 1999.

What I liked: The Bengals started fast and showed a lot of poise in the fourth quarter for a young team. Cincinnati jumped out to a 13-0 lead, gave up 14 unanswered points, then dominated the fourth quarter. Bengals running back Cedric Benson had a huge day, rushing for 121 yards and a touchdown.

What I didn't like: It's a new era in Cleveland, but the Browns looked similar to previous years with sloppy play. Cleveland committed 11 penalties for 72 yards. The Browns also started slow at home. That forced second-year quarterback Colt McCoy to throw way too many times (40), which wasn't Cleveland’s intention entering the game. Also, you never want to see a starting quarterback injured, particularly in his NFL debut. Bengals rookie quarterback Andy Dalton was knocked out of the game with an arm injury.

What’s next: The Browns will try to get their first win against the Manning-less Colts in Indianapolis next week. The Bengals, who are tied with the Baltimore Ravens atop the division, will play a road game against the Denver Broncos.

A few thoughts on the Baltimore Ravens' convincing 35-7 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers:

What it means: Baltimore finally beat Pittsburgh in a big game -- and it wasn't even close. It has been years since the Ravens overcame Ben Roethlisberger & Co. when it mattered. Pittsburgh knocked Baltimore out of the playoffs two of the past three years. It was also Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco’s first win over the Steelers when Roethlisberger was under center.

Turning point I: The first drive set the tone for Baltimore. The play calling was sterling, and the Ravens marched 66 yards on three plays. Flacco threw this best pass of the day -- a 27-yard throw in tight coverage to Anquan Boldin. Baltimore’s offense was a couple of steps ahead of Pittsburgh the entire game.

Turning point II: The first drive of the second half went even better for the Ravens. Pro Bowl defensive tackle Haloti Ngata crushed Steelers tailback Rashard Mendenhall on the first play after intermission. Mendnenhall fumbled, and it was recovered by Ngata. That set up a touchdown catch by Ravens tight end Ed Dickson. The Ravens, who never trailed, led 29-7.

Turnover city: The Ravens forced seven turnovers, tying a team record. The Steelers were sloppy and outplayed in every area. Roethlisberger had two fumbles and three interceptions. Ravens safety Ed Reed (two) and linebacker Ray Lewis (one) intercepted Roethlisberger.

What happened to the Steelers' run defense? I don't know whether I've seen Pittsburgh's run defense play this poorly in a long time. The Steelers were No. 1 against the run last season, and their D is usually air-tight. But the lanes were open from the beginning when Ravens tailback Ray Rice took the first carry 36 yards. Rice finished with 107 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

What’s next: The Ravens will try to improve to 2-0 with a road game against the Tennessee Titans. The Steelers will look to pick up the pieces and avoid an 0-2 start next week at home against the Seattle Seahawks.

BALTIMORE, Md. -- The Baltimore Ravens lead the Pittsburgh Steelers 21-7 at halftime.

Here are some notes at intermission:

• Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is ready for this game. He made some of the best throws in the first half that I've seen from him in four seasons. The first was a 27-yard touchdown pass to Anquan Boldin against good coverage by Steelers cornerback Bryant McFadden. The other was a throw down the seam to tight end Ed Dickson, although it was called back because of a holding penalty. Flacco completed his first six passes in the game and looks in control.
• Baltimore is bringing a lot of extra linebackers and defensive backs on the blitz. The Steelers are countering with delayed runs and draws that are working. Pittsburgh tailback Rashard Mendenhall has 44 yards on eight carries.
• Ravens running back Ray Rice has fresh legs and is running well. Rice usually struggles against Pittsburgh but has 89 rushing yards and two touchdowns (one rushing, one receiving) in the first half. His first run of 36 yards up the left sideline was started by a good kickout block by offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie.
• Ravens rookie cornerback Jimmy Smith injured his ankle on the opening kickoff and didn't return in the first half. His return is questionable. Steelers middle linebacker James Farrior also is sidelined. But no injury was reported. Farrior started the game and it’s unknown if it was a coach's decision or injury to sub him for Larry Foote.

BALTIMORE, Md. -- Here are the players you won't see in Sunday's game between the Ravens and Steelers.

Ravens

• CB Chykie Brown
• LB Michael McAdoo
• C Bryan Mattison
• WR Tandon Doss
• LB Sergio Kindle
• DL Brandon McKinney
• LB Jason Phillips

Steelers

• QB Dennis Dixon
• WR Jerricho Cotchery
• OL Ramon Foster
• OT Chris Scott
• LB Chris Carter
• CB Curtis Brown
• RB Jonathan Dwyer

Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu agreed to a four-year contract extension just one day before the team's first game of the regular season, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.

Here are several thoughts on the signing:

• I like the signing for the simple fact that Pittsburgh needs Polamalu. The team -- and particularly the defense -- just isn't the same without him. The Steelers probably would have put the franchise tag on Polamalu and worked out a deal next year if it came down to it. But the Steelers and Polamalu should be happy not to have that hanging over them this season.
• The extension shows the Steelers are confident in Polamalu's health. He's suffered two significant injuries to his knee and Achilles the past two seasons. Pittsburgh could've easily taken the wait-and-see approach in 2011. Instead, the Steelers invested in Polamalu through 2014. He is arguably the NFL's best defensive player when healthy.
• From a team perspective, I continue to be amazed by the work of salary-cap specialist Omar Khan. The Steelers began the offseason about $10 million over the cap and worked out large extensions for LaMarr Woodley, Lawrence Timmons, Ike Taylor and Polamalu. Key players like quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and linebacker James Harrison restructuring their contracts certainly helped.
• Continuity continues to be the key for Pittsburgh. The Steelers are keeping the team together in hopes that this core group can make another title run. Players like Hines Ward, Polamalu and Roethlisberger have been to three Super Bowls together (winning two). The team is getting older, but its window remains open.