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Breakdown: As expected, the reigning AFC champions will get their share of the national spotlight with five prime-time games. The first national game will be on the road in Week 3 against the Indianapolis Colts, which should be a great matchup.

The Steelers caught a break in terms of strength of schedule. Pittsburgh finished first in the AFC North last year but has the 27th-ranked schedule this season. A major reason is the division will face the NFC West, which didn't have a team with a winning record in 2010. The Steelers also will play four games total against the Browns and Bengals, who were a combined 9-23 last season.

Super Bowl runners-up usually struggle the following season. But if Pittsburgh can get through the first month, the 2011 schedule sets up pretty favorably to make another push for the playoffs.

Complaint department: The Steelers begin with road games in three of the first four weeks. That includes a huge rivalry game at the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1 and at Indianapolis in Week 3.

Pittsburgh started 3-1 in the first month without quarterback Ben Roethlisberger last year, jump-starting a Super Bowl run. It will difficult to get off to a similar start this season. A late bye week also doesn't help. Pittsburgh will have its bye this season in Week 11.

Spacing is key: The Steelers' divisional games against the Ravens are always among the most intense and physical of the year. So the NFL did a good job of spacing out the meetings to allow both teams time to recover. The Ravens will host the Steelers in Week 1 and the rematch will be in Pittsburgh in Week 9 on Sunday night. That's two months in between meetings, which is good for both rivals.

Steelers Regular-Season Schedule (All times Eastern)
Week 1: Sunday, Sep. 11, at Baltimore, 1:00 PM
Week 2: Sunday, Sep. 18, Seattle, 1:00 PM
Week 3: Sunday, Sep. 25, at Indianapolis, 8:20 PM
Week 4: Sunday, Oct. 2, at Houston, 1:00 PM
Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 9, Tennessee, 1:00 PM
Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 16, Jacksonville, 1:00 PM
Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 23, at Arizona, 4:05 PM
Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 30, New England, 4:15 PM
Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 6, Baltimore, 8:20 PM
Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 13, at Cincinnati, 1:00 PM
Week 11: BYE
Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 27, at Kansas City, 8:20 PM
Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 4, Cincinnati, 1:00 PM
Week 14: Thursday, Dec. 8, Cleveland, 8:20 PM
Week 15: Monday, Dec. 19, at San Francisco, 8:30 PM
Week 16: Saturday, Dec. 24, St. Louis, 1:00 PM
Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 1, at Cleveland, 1:00 PM

» NFC Final Word: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 10:

Braylon Edwards returns: The Cleveland Browns should expect a motivated Braylon Edwards when they host the New York Jets Sunday. As a former first-round pick of the Browns, Edwards developed a reputation as a "bright-lights player" during his tenure in Cleveland. Despite his inconsistency, when the spotlight was on, Edwards usually was at his best. Although this isn't a prime-time game, this is a big one for Edwards, who wants revenge after being traded by the Browns. He also felt mistreated by Cleveland fans. The Browns should expect his best effort. Edwards has 25 receptions for 453 yards and five touchdowns with the Jets.

Fourth-quarter woes: If the game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots comes down to the final quarter, the advantage could be for New England. According to ESPN's Stats and Information, Pittsburgh has the NFL's No. 2 defense in the first three quarters, but is ranked last in yards allowed in the fourth quarter. Last week the Steelers led the Bengals, 27-7, on "Monday Night Football." Cincinnati scored 14 unanswered points in the fourth quarter, but an incomplete pass to rookie Jordan Shipley ended a late rally. Pittsburgh's late struggles on defense date to last season.

The Palmer rollercoaster: Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer has yet to put consecutive quality starts together. He will try to accomplish that feat against the Indianapolis Colts. In three previous outings this season when Palmer had a passer rating of 80.0 or higher, his average rating was an abysmal 60.6 in the following game. Palmer posted a respectable 88.7 passer rating against Pittsburgh and will need to perform well again to have a chance against the Peyton Manning-led Colts.

Getting Ocho involved: Bengals Pro Bowl receiver Chad Ochocinco blew up on national television last week after catching just one pass for 15 yards against Pittsburgh. His frustration boiled over toward Palmer, and Ochocinco was briefly benched. To avoid this from happening again, Cincinnati's coaching staff must find a way to get Ochocinco involved. Yes, Ochocinco is getting most of the coverage, which has freed up Terrell Owens to have a big season. But little wrinkles such as quick outs, hitches and screens are creative ways the Bengals can get Ochocinco the football.

Extended break: The Baltimore Ravens, who lost to Atlanta on Thursday, have extra time to rest and prepare for their next game, against the Carolina Panthers (1-7) on Nov. 21. It's almost another bye week for Baltimore, which had just three days to prepare for the Falcons. The Ravens have some issues to correct, particularly in the secondary, where cornerbacks Fabian Washington, Lardarius Webb, Josh Wilson and Chris Carr had bad moments against Atlanta. I'm curious to see what corrections and improvements Baltimore makes with its pass defense.

» NFC Final Word: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 9:

Bye-week success: Two AFC North teams are coming off byes, and statistically that bodes well for the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns. Baltimore coach John Harbaugh is 2-0 in his career following the bye week, and Browns coach Eric Mangini is 3-1. Both clubs will have tough home games Sunday: the Ravens play the Miami Dolphins and Cleveland faces the New England Patriots.

Real McCoy? Against the Patriots, the Browns will start rookie quarterback Colt McCoy for the third straight game. This is McCoy's opportunity to solidify the starting job for the remainder of the season. McCoy's three opponents (New England, Pittsburgh, New Orleans Saints) have a combined record of 16-6. He has done a solid job splitting his first two starts but wouldn't leave any questions with an upset win over the Patriots (6-1), who have the NFL's best record. Veteran backup Seneca Wallace (ankle) could dress Sunday but isn't expected to play, according to Browns coach Eric Mangini.

Healthy Ravens: Baltimore is as healthy as it has been all season and in prime position to make a run in the second half of the season. Safety Tom Zbikowski (foot) is the only major injury coming off the bye. Star safety Ed Reed (hip) will play his second game since coming off the physically unable to perform list, and receiver Donte' Stallworth (foot) will make his regular-season debut against Miami. Staying healthy is an important component of remaining a Super Bowl contender. Perhaps luck is on Baltimore's side with injuries this year.

Prime-time Steelers: The NFL and national television networks can't get enough of the Steelers and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Just a few games removed from his four-game suspension, Roethlisberger will lead Pittsburgh into the second of three consecutive prime-time games Monday night against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Steelers played the Saints last Sunday in prime time and will play host to the Patriots next week in another night game. With the Patriots looming, the road contest against the 2-5 Bengals could be a trap game for Pittsburgh.

Few sacks in Cincy: There are two primary reasons the Bengals haven't matched last year's consistency on defense, when the team was ranked No. 4 in the NFL. Cincinnati is suffering through injuries in the secondary, and the Bengals can't establish a pass rush. Cincinnati is last in the league with only six sacks in seven games. There are 10 players with higher sack totals than Cincinnati. With opposing quarterbacks having so much time to throw, recent injuries in the secondary to cornerbacks Johnathan Joseph and Adam Jones and safeties Chinedum Ndukwe and Roy Williams aren't helping matters.

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

FALLING

1. Bruce Arians, Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator: Arians did a commendable job of managing the offense during the suspension of franchise quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Pittsburgh wasn't putting up gaudy numbers but played efficient to start the year 3-1. But the Steelers are at full strength and expected to score a lot more than the 10 points they registered Sunday against the New Orleans Saints. Arians struggled with his play calling and lack of adjustments against the Saints' various blitzes.

2. Chad Ochocinco, Cincinnati Bengals receiver: The Pro Bowl receiver seems confused and frustrated with his slow start this season. Ochocinco has five games this year where he's recorded four or fewer receptions. Ochocinco believes he's not getting enough opportunities but was targeted eight times in Sunday's loss to the Miami Dolphins. He recorded three receptions for 34 yards. Although Cincinnati's playoff hopes are all but done, Ochocinco has to produce if this team has any chance of turning it around.

3. Troy Polamalu, Steelers safety: Polamalu had a rare off game against New Orleans, and this is the first time I can recall Polamalu in the "Falling" category of our Stock Watch. He had six tackles but was a step late in coverage as Saints Pro Bowl quarterback Drew Brees carved up the Steelers for 305 yards and two touchdowns. Polamalu will look to bounce back Monday against the Bengals.

RISING

1. Baltimore Ravens: Despite the bye week, the Ravens moved into first place in the AFC North as the rest of the division went winless in Week 8. Baltimore (5-2) has the same record as Pittsburgh (5-2) but owns the head-to-head advantage after the Ravens' road win on Oct. 3. Baltimore isn’t playing its best football, but the team has quietly won four of its last five games. The Ravens are well-rested and in solid position to make a playoff push in the second half of the season.

2. Emmanuel Sanders, Steelers receiver: It looks like the Steelers found their kick returner. Sanders proved his performance against Miami wasn't a fluke, as he had two more solid returns of 41 and 38 yards against New Orleans. Sanders fumbled twice (losing one) in the past two games, so ball security is an area he needs to improve. But the rookie receiver has added a spark to Pittsburgh's special teams.

3. James Harrison, Steelers linebacker: Harrison bounced back from his least productive game of the season against Miami and recorded five tackles, a sack and three additional hits on the quarterback against New Orleans. Harrison gave the Saints problems with his relentlessness, and he was one of only two Steelers to record a sack. Pittsburgh cornerback Bryant McFadden also got a sack and forced a fumble by Brees.

Here are some notes and observations from Week 8 in the AFC North:

• Even Troy Polamalu occasionally has bad games. The Pittsburgh Steelers' do-it-all safety had his worst game in years during Sunday's 20-10 loss to the New Orleans Saints. Polamalu and Saints Pro Bowl quarterback Drew Brees were involved in a chess match, and Brees won most of those matchups by catching Polamalu out of position several times for big gains. Polamalu struggled to get a read on Brees and was a step or two late on big plays. Polamalu also missed tackles he usually makes in what was a rare, subpar performance by his standards.
• The Superdome was the loudest stadium I've heard all season. The raucous atmosphere definitely bothered Pittsburgh (5-2), which had won its first three road games this season. The communication on offense was shaky because of the crowd noise, and the defense eventually succumbed to the pressure of trying to carry the team for four quarters.

"We better get used to these kind of environments; it comes with the territory when you're trying to be world champs," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. "We've got to play good people in their place and play better than that moving forward."

• I'm baffled as to why the Steelers failed to successfully attack New Orleans' blitzes. Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger is one of the NFL's best quarterbacks at beating pressure packages. The play calling was one step behind. The Steelers didn't run many screens, couldn't execute hot routes and didn't take many shots deep against single coverage. That would have made New Orleans think twice about bringing extra defenders. But Pittsburgh's offense never figured it out. So credit the Saints for continuing to bring the heat.
• Expect the spotlight to be on the future of coach Marvin Lewis with the Cincinnati Bengals playing their first national game on "Monday Night Football." This topic has been somewhat quiet in Cincinnati since the start of the regular season. But with the Bengals' postseason hopes in dire straits, the chatter will certainly pick up. How will this impact the locker room? Will the Bengals play hard, knowing Lewis could be coaching out his final nine games under contract? Or will they pack it in? We will find out how Cincinnati responds, starting on Monday against Pittsburgh.
• That brings us to our next point: what team is more capable of playing spoiler, Cincinnati (2-5) or the Cleveland Browns (2-5)? Both teams are heading in opposite directions. The Bengals have the talent to be dangerous, but their execution has been awful during their four-game losing streak. Cleveland plays more efficiently with less talent and also could be a tough out. Keep an eye on both division teams.
• Here is an odd stat: Punter Reggie Hodges (one carry, 68 yards) is Cleveland's second-leading rusher behind tailback Peyton Hillis. Hodges' fake punt last week against the Saints was Cleveland's longest running play this season. But it's also another indicator of the Browns' lack of depth at running back. Last month, Cleveland traded Jerome Harrison and released James Davis. Cleveland hopes it gets help from new acquisition Mike Bell, who didn't show much in his Browns debut but hopes to improve after the bye.
• Receiver Donte' Stallworth (foot) is expected to return this week. He should add needed speed to the Baltimore Ravens' offense. When healthy, Stallworth is one of the fastest players in the division. Outside of receiver Anquan Boldin, Baltimore hasn't had enough long passing plays this season. Boldin has seven receptions of 20 yards or more, which is solid. But receivers Derrick Mason and T.J. Houshmandzadeh have combined for just six 20-plus-yard receptions in seven games.

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

• Are the reigning champion New Orleans Saints (4-3) having the same hangover as the 2009 Pittsburgh Steelers?

Morning take: So far it looks that way. New Orleans has injury and consistency issues, which were the same problems Pittsburgh faced a year ago.

• The no-huddle has revived the Cincinnati Bengals' offense.

Morning take: This is the best way to utilize Cincinnati's weapons. I'm not sure the Bengals could go no-huddle all the time, but it should be a part of most game plans.

• The Baltimore Ravens surprisingly are having issues stopping the run.

Morning take: This is something you took for granted in Baltimore. It's early, but a No. 17 ranking versus the run might be a legitimate concern.

• The Cleveland Browns are 2-5 but have things to build on at the bye week.

Morning take: Although the record hasn't improved much, the Browns are better than they were a year ago. Still, Cleveland needs to win more in the second half of the season to further show progress.

» NFC Final Word: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 8:

Big-play Ben: Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has a chance to make a lot of big plays in Sunday's prime-time matchup against the New Orleans Saints. According to ESPN's Stats and Information, Roethlisberger leads the NFL in passer rating (140.1) and yards per attempt (11.1) against the blitz, which consists of five or more rushers. Roethlisberger is not afraid to hold the ball an extra second or two against pressure to allow his receivers to get downfield. Four of Roethlisberger's five touchdowns passes this year have come against the blitz. The Saints and defensive coordinator Gregg Williams are a blitz-heavy team, which could play into Roethlisberger's hands Sunday.

Winning the turnover battle: It's no secret why the New York Jets (5-1) and the Steelers (5-1) are two of three teams tied for the NFL's best record. They are No. 1 and 2, respectively, in turnover ratio. The Jets are plus-10 in six games and the Steelers are plus-9. Pittsburgh adopted a conservative offense, which took care of the football in Roethlisberger's absence while wreaking havoc on defense. The Steelers are plus-2 in turnover ratio in Roethlisberger's two starts.

Banged-up Bengals: The Cincinnati Bengals are hurting entering their must-win game against the Miami Dolphins, most notably in the secondary. Starting cornerbacks Johnathan Joseph (ankle) and Leon Hall (hamstring) both missed practice time this week, as did safeties Chinedum Ndukwe (knee) and Roy L. Williams (knee). Adam Jones (neck) also was put on injured reserve. Quarterback Carson Palmer missed Thursday's practice with a hip injury, but Bengals coach Marvin Lewis says he expects Palmer to play Sunday.

Red zone woes: The Bengals have been gaining yards but have stalled in the red zone. Cincinnati is ranked No. 8 in total offense but in the bottom third (No. 24) in red zone efficiency, which has made a huge difference in its 2-4 start. The no-huddle has helped between the 20s, but the unit has to toughen up and stop settling for field goals. During Cincinnati's three-game losing streak, the team converted touchdowns on only four of 10 trips to the red zone.

Bye-week thoughts: As the Baltimore Ravens enter the bye week, star safety Ed Reed (hip) will continue to get healthy after an impressive return in last week's win over the Buffalo Bills. Reed recorded two interceptions against Buffalo, and according to ESPN's Stats and Information, only two players have more multi-interception games (nine) than Reed: Hall of Famers Ronnie Lott and Paul Krause. The Cleveland Browns must find a way to score more points before taking the field Nov. 7 against the New England Patriots. The Browns are No. 28 in scoring at 16.9 points per game. The defense has played hard, and Cleveland is 2-0 when scoring 23 points or more.

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

• Pittsburgh Steelers starting defensive end Brett Keisel (hamstring) believes he will be ready for Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints.

Morning take: This would be huge for Pittsburgh, considering fellow defensive end Aaron Smith (triceps) is out for an extended period. The Steelers could use Keisel's experience.

• The Cincinnati Bengals are hurting in the secondary.

Morning take: Starting cornerbacks Leon Hall (hamstring) and Johnathan Joseph (ankle) are both banged up, and Adam Jones (neck) is on injured reserve. Cincinnati needs its best players for Sunday's must-win game against the Miami Dolphins.

• Here are five questions for the Baltimore Ravens during the bye.

Morning take: Defending the pass is the biggest issue the Ravens need to address. That includes getting to the quarterback and defending better on the back end.

• Seneca Wallace believes the Cleveland Browns should choose one quarterback once everyone is healthy.

Morning take: We agree, because continuing to switch quarterbacks sends the wrong message. Does rookie quarterback Colt McCoy give the Browns the best chance to win?

The Cleveland Browns enter their bye week not knowing who the starting quarterback will be for the rest of the 2010 season. Their choices are rookie Colt McCoy, who started the past two games, or veterans Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace, who are both recovering from ankle injuries.

Here is what head coach Eric Mangini of the Browns (2-5) had to say about his quarterback decision Monday heading into their Nov. 7 game against the New England Patriots (5-1):

(On how the quarterback situation will evolve next week)

Mangini: With the decision as we get Seneca back and Jake back, which we may have a chance for one or both against New England, then I’ll just sit down and think about it. I’ll talk to Brian (Daboll), I’ll talk to Mike (Holmgren); I’ll definitely get his input. He's been through these decisions quite a few times. It's got to get to the point where it really is a decision as opposed to where we're at now, where we just got a couple games under our belts.

(On potentially playing a rookie quarterback against New England)

Mangini: It's also what I don't know now who else is going to be available. I know it's New England and I know Colt's available and I know (Brett Ratliff is) available. But I'm not sure whether Seneca (Wallace) or Jake (Delhomme) is going to be available -- If both will or one will be. We got part of the puzzle, we just don't have all of it.

(On if Seneca Wallace was healthy to play against New England)

Mangini: How healthy is he? Is he 100 percent? Is he perfect? You come back from injury there's ranges. He can play. He could be the two. He could be the one and be completely healthy, and he could be the one and be at 80 percent. So there are a lot of mitigating factors to your hypothetical.

(On if there is a benefit of playing McCoy through and developing him)

Mangini: For us, it's going to be who we think can give us the best chance to win that week. The play time that he's gotten has been great and the things that he has shown have been really positive. But we're going to always try to play the guy that we think is going to give us the best shot to win on Sunday.

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

• Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed (hip) is still unsure if he will play Sunday against the Buffalo Bills.

Morning take: After putting Jared Gaither on injured reserve, a roster spot is waiting for Reed if he wants to play. But Reed also has the luxury of sitting Sunday and getting two more weeks to heal.

• The running game of the Cincinnati Bengals could be pivotal against the Atlanta Falcons.

Morning take: The Bengals need to leave Atlanta with a win any way they can. If a ball-control offense is the way to go, Cincinnati tailback Cedric Benson needs a big day.

• The Cleveland Browns are sticking with struggling cornerback Eric Wright as the starter.

Morning take: As we mentioned earlier this week, Wright is in a slump and giving up too many big plays. This is a big game for him against the New Orleans Saints, because the Browns will re-evaluate everything during their bye week.

• Pittsburgh Steelers backup defensive end Nick Eason will start in place of the injured Brett Keisel (hamstring) against the Miami Dolphins.

Morning take: Eason and Evander Hood have been in the rotation all season as backups. Look for both to share plenty of reps at defensive end Sunday.

» NFC Final Word: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 7:

Ben Roethlisberger hits the road: The Pittsburgh Steelers' franchise quarterback, coming off a four-game suspension for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy, made his 2010 debut in Week 6 in the comfort of his home stadium. Roethlisberger described the ovation he received from Steeler Nation at Heinz Field as "amazing." But he will get the opposite treatment on the road, starting Sunday against the Miami Dolphins. Will Roethlisberger get heckled and, if so, how will he handle it? Will it affect his play? Roethlisberger has to hear the criticism for an extended period, because the Steelers will be away from home the next three weeks and don't return to Heinz Field until Nov. 14 against the New England Patriots.

Upset linebacker: Steelers Pro Bowl linebacker James Harrison was so disgruntled by his $75,000 fine this week that he was excused from practice Wednesday and briefly contemplated retirement. Now he's back and vows not to change his aggressive playing style despite increased scrutiny by the NFL on big hits. We will see how much or how little Harrison adjusts Sunday against Miami. Any big hit the league deems illegal could cost him a lot of money, as the NFL already set the bar for Harrison this week at $75,000. Or he could be suspended. The Week 6 big hits by Harrison gave Cleveland Browns receivers Josh Cribbs and Mohamed Massaquoi concussions.

Bye-week blues: For many teams, the bye week is an opportunity to regroup and then play their best football. But that hasn't been the case recently for the Cincinnati Bengals. During the Marvin Lewis era, Cincinnati is only 2-4-1 in games following the bye. The Bengals have several issues that need to be addressed heading into Sunday's important game against the Atlanta Falcons. Cincinnati cannot afford to fall to 2-4 in a deep AFC.

Quarterback dilemma: Browns rookie quarterback Colt McCoy will get his second career start Sunday, against the New Orleans Saints. Coming off a relatively good debut against Pittsburgh, McCoy could make it tough on Browns coach Eric Mangini with another good performance. The plan was not to play the third-round pick at all this season. But a pair of severe ankle sprains to Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace forced McCoy into action last week. If McCoy pulls off the major upset and beats the Saints, the job is his. Otherwise, the Browns will have to evaluate their quarterback situation during the bye.

Finish strong: The Baltimore Ravens are disappointed in their overtime loss to the New England Patriots. But the Ravens have a golden opportunity to head into the bye week 5-2 with a win Sunday against the lowly Buffalo Bills (0-5). There is some pressure at home on Baltimore, as it cannot have a letdown against arguably the NFL's worst team. There is already conversation this week of whether the Bills could beat an UFL team, which is embarrassing, but also could inspire Buffalo to bring its best effort at M&T Bank Stadium.

Here are the latest happenings Monday evening in the AFC North:

• Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh said there is no trade talk for tailback Willis McGahee. Earlier Monday, we listed McGahee and Cleveland Browns defensive lineman Shaun Rogers as two possibilities to watch in the division.
• The NFL will review the hit Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison put on Cleveland receiver Mohamed Massaquoi.
• Browns running back Peyton Hillis doesn't believe Harrison should be fined.
• Here is a Cincinnati Bengals report card coming off the bye week.

We had another strong Week 5 predicting games in the AFC North. If the Cincinnati Bengals (2-3) were a little smarter late in the game, it would have been a perfect week.

But we are going to strive for perfection once again. Here are the AFC North blog's picks (all times are ET):

Cleveland Browns (1-4) at Pittsburgh Steelers (3-1), Sunday at 1 p.m.

Skinny: I've never been more confident in a prediction in two seasons picking AFC North games. With rookie quarterback Colt McCoy starting and Ben Roethlisberger set to return, this won't be pretty.

Pick: Steelers, 31-7

Baltimore Ravens (4-1) at New England Patriots (3-1), Sunday at 1 p.m.

Skinny: Although giving Tom Brady and Bill Belichick two weeks to prepare is worrisome, Baltimore's physicality and no Randy Moss will make the difference.

Pick: Ravens, 24-21

Last week: 2-1

Overall: 10-5

Comment: I'm winning a lot more than I'm losing. Let's keep it that way.

Here are the latest happenings Wednesday evening in the AFC North:

• Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh said it will be safety Ed Reed's call when he returns to practice from his hip injury.
• The Cleveland Browns are not expecting a rusty Ben Roethlisberger when they face the Pittsburgh Steelers.
• Pittsburgh's defense will have to defend the Wildcat, led by Browns receiver Josh Cribbs.
• The Cincinnati Bengals have plenty of work to do during the bye week.

There are plenty of great NFL games in Week 6. But one I'm really looking forward to is Sunday's battle between the Baltimore Ravens (4-1) and New England Patriots (3-1).

It's a matchup of two AFC contenders that don't like each other due to some recent high-stakes games. Last year Baltimore knocked New England out of the playoffs in the wild-card round.

But in this week's "Take your pick," we ask our community which team will win on Sunday? Can the Ravens take advantage of Randy Moss leaving New England and win their second straight game in Gillette Stadium? Or will quarterback Tom Brady and the Patriots, coming off the bye week, knock off the Ravens with two weeks to prepare for this game?

It should be tough one. So take your pick and share your thoughts below, or to our division inbox and AFC North Twitter. We will run the best responses throughout the week.