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The 2011 predictions are in.

ESPN.com provided its crystal ball by launching its NFL season previews. The Pittsburgh Steelers are the pick to repeat as AFC North champions this year. Out of a five-person panel, three picked Pittsburgh. Adam Schefter and I picked the Baltimore Ravens.

Just one person picked an AFC North team to win the Super Bowl. ESPN.com columnist Ashley Fox likes the Steelers to win it all this year. The consensus pick was the New England Patriots over the Green Bay Packers.

Do you agree or disagree with our picks?

Feel free to vote on our SportsNation poll and share your thoughts in the comment section below.

The Cincinnati Bengals completed their second preseason game on Sunday. Cincinnati lost to the New York Jets, 27-7. Here are some observations:

The Good

• Punter Kevin Huber may be an early candidate for Bengals MVP. He is having a great preseason and booted several more impressive punts Sunday against the Jets. Huber had nine punts for 424 yards, which is a stellar 47.1 average.
• Cincinnati's first-team defense made some strides this week. The offense struggled early (we will get to that later). But the defense did a decent job of keeping the game close in the first half. Cincinnati's first-team defense gave up 10 points before most of the starters were pulled. The Jets had a lengthy touchdown drive before halftime against a mix of Bengals starters and backups.

The Bad

• Cincinnati's offense does not look ready for Week 1. This unit is just too sloppy. Cincinnati's first three possessions ended like this: an Andy Dalton interception, a 17-yard loss on a fumble that forced a punt and another interception. The timing just looks off, although Cincinnati's starting offense eventually warmed up at the end and scored its first touchdown of the preseason.
• Overall, the Bengals need to start better. They have been outscored 41-10 in the first half when starters get a majority of the playing time. Yes, it's only the preseason. But it doesn't look good when Cincinnati's first team routinely fails to set the tone. The Bengals aren't the Pittsburgh Steelers or Green Bay Packers. Cincinnati is a young team that needs to show something in the preseason to gain momentum and confidence for the regular season.

The Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns will continue their preseason games Friday night. Baltimore will host the Kansas City Chiefs, while Cleveland hosts the Detroit Lions.

Here are a pair of storylines for each AFC North team:

Ravens

• Will the Ravens improve the offense line? Baltimore allowed six sacks last week against the Philadelphia Eagles. Three were against starting tackles Michael Oher and Oniel Cousins. The Ravens moved Cousins to right guard and will start rookie Jah Reid at right tackle against Kansas City. Reid is a raw prospect trying to learn on the fly. We will find out where he stands in his first NFL start.
• This game marks the Ravens debut of wide receiver Lee Evans. The veteran deep threat was acquired in a trade with the Buffalo Bills. Evans will be the starter opposite Anquan Boldin. Evans is the speedy receiver Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco has lacked the past several years. The pair will look to build chemistry in this game.

Browns

• Can Cleveland second-year quarterback Colt McCoy continue his momentum? McCoy had a near-perfect preseason debut last week against the Green Bay Packers. He was 9-of-10 for 135 yards and a touchdown. McCoy also led the offense to two touchdown drives. Detroit should offer a stern test. The Lions' defense looked stout in last week’s 34-3 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.
• Another fun matchup to watch will be Browns corner Joe Haden against Lions Pro Bowl receiver Calvin Johnson. Both are two of the best, young players at their respective positions. Johnson beat Bengals cornerback Leon Hall for a touchdown last week. Haden will try to prevent "Megatron" from having a big first half tonight.

Week 1 of the preseason is in the books. So let's see who's stock is rising and falling after the first batch of preseason games.

Falling

1. The Cincinnati Bengals: I rarely make too much of the preseason. But I didn't like the way the Bengals came out to start their 2011 season. It's a new era and a fresh start in Cincinnati. But the Bengals didn't play with much energy or effort in a 34-3 loss to the Detroit Lions. It's difficult to lose a preseason game by 31 points. Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis has a lot of work to do. I want to see how the Bengals rebound this week against the New York Jets.


2. Baltimore Ravens' offensive tackles: Baltimore allowed six sacks in its 13-6 preseason defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles. At least three sacks came against starting offensive tackles Michael Oher and Oniel Cousins. Pass protection has been a year-long problem in Baltimore. Oher had a great rookie campaign on the right side but has been average as a left tackle. Cousins hasn't shown much on the right side. The Ravens are now considering moving Cousins to right guard. There don't seem to be any easy answers to this issue.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers' pass defense: In Pittsburgh's first game since Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers had a field day in Super Bowl XLV, Washington Redskins quarterback Rex Grossman (207 yards, one touchdown) also did well in limited action. Should this be a concern? Bryant McFadden was out and cornerback Ike Taylor broke his thumb. Taylor is expected to miss the rest of the preseason at an already thin position. It's way too early to panic. But Pittsburgh's corners need to start covering better this summer to erase concerns of last season's Super Bowl loss.

Rising


1. Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy: There is a lot of pressure on McCoy to show growth this year as the full-time starter. He made a great first step with a near-perfect performance against the Packers. McCoy was 9 of 10 for 135 yards and a touchdown. He led two touchdown drives -- one against Green Bay's starters and the other against the Packers' second unit. This should give McCoy and the first-team offense things to build on in the preseason.

2. Browns coach Pat Shurmur: The Browns looked solid and played with energy in Shurmur's head-coaching debut. Shurmur was solid in his dual role as head coach and offensive coordinator. The Browns looked prepared and the offense moved the ball. His play calling went a long way to giving McCoy and his younger players confidence.

3. Ravens linebacker Paul Kruger: Kruger had his best game as a Raven, albeit in the preseason. He recorded five tackles and a sack against Philadelphia. Kruger was active and looks much better now that he's lost the extra bulk. Baltimore tried converting him to a full-time defensive end in 2010, which didn't work. Now, the Ravens hope Kruger can provide more quickness and speed-rushing on the outside.

CLEVELAND -- The Pat Shurmur era began for the Cleveland Browns Saturday night with a 27-17 preseason victory over the Green Bay Packers.

Here are some observations:

The Good

• Browns quarterback Colt McCoy was sharp. He led two touchdown drives for the first-team offense in the first half. McCoy made several nice throws, including a rope over the middle to tight end Benjamin Watson and a 27-yard touchdown pass to receiver Josh Cribbs. This was a very good start for McCoy's 2011 season. He finished 9 of 10 for 135 yards and a touchdown. "I thought he was pretty sharp," Shurmur said of McCoy. "He executed well. He was pretty efficient with his throws."
• Cleveland's pass rush looked improved. Defensive ends Jayme Mitchell and Marcus Benard were among the Browns who recorded sacks. Cleveland had five sacks total. Brian Smith's sack and forced fumble in the third quarter also led to a 43-yard fumble return for a touchdown by linebacker Titus Brown.
• Overall, it was a solid coaching debut for Shurmur. The offensive play-calling made sense and gave that side of the ball confidence. The Browns also came out with energy and effort, which is what you look for this time of year. These are good things the Browns can build on in the preseason.

The Bad

• Cleveland's first-team defense still needs work. The Browns drew a tough assignment with Green Bay's offense. They held the Packers to a three-and-out on the opening drive. But Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers got hot and led a seven-play, 73-yard drive on his second try. Cleveland's second-team defense also gave up 10 points in the second quarter against Green Bay's second-team offense.
• Browns backup quarterback Seneca Wallace was inconsistent. He threw for 99 yards, one interception and had a 55.8 passer rating. Wallace is a nine-year veteran and knows this West Coast offense well. He also went against Green Bay's backups Saturday night and didn't have his best game.

CLEVELAND -- Browns second-year quarterback Colt McCoy got off to a fast start to his 2011 preseason. McCoy led Cleveland's first-team offense to two touchdown drives in the first half Saturday night against the defending champion Green Bay Packers.

Cleveland's first touchdown -- a pretty, 27-yard pass to receiver Josh Cribbs -- was against Green Bay's starting defense in the first quarter. The Browns' second touchdown was against the Packers' backups in the second quarter. McCoy played three offensive drives total and finished 9-of-10 for 135 yards and a touchdown.

Green Bay counterpart Aaron Rodgers also played well in limited action. He had two drives and finished 6-of-8 for 74 yards and a touchdown. Rodgers connected with Packers receiver Greg Jennings for a 21-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter.

The Packers lead the Browns, 17-14, at halftime.

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

• The Cleveland Browns are ready for their 2011 preseason debut against the Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers.

Morning take: The AFC North is 0-3 in the preseason. Although it doesn't count, maybe the Browns can get the division's only victory this week.

• Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor will be out at least two weeks with a broken thumb.

Morning take: Pittsburgh's primary goal is to avoid injuries. Fortunately for the Steelers, Taylor likely will be ready for the season opener against the Baltimore Ravens.

• The Cincinnati Bengals continue to have a rough offseason following Friday's 34-3 preseason loss to the Detroit Lions.

Morning take: I spent last night trying to convince Bengals fans on Twitter that it's just the preseason. But "Bengaldom" is looking for hope and didn't get much solace in last night's performance.

• The Ravens' offensive line is looking for redemption.

Morning take: This has been a major issue for Baltimore since last season. The Ravens didn't do anything in the preseason opener to show the problem is solved.

The 2011 NFL preseason will begin Thursday night with several games, including the Baltimore Ravens of the AFC North against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Here are four preseason storylines this weekend:

1. Cleveland Browns unveil new offense, defense against Super Bowl champs

Analysis: Cleveland could not pick a better measuring stick for a preseason opener. The Browns will debut their new West Coast offense and 4-3 defense against the Green Bay Packers. Green Bay is the NFL's top preseason team, according to ESPN.com's Power Rankings. Many eyes will be on Cleveland second-year quarterback Colt McCoy. The 2011 season is huge for McCoy to prove he's the future of the franchise. His season-long journey starts Saturday at Browns Stadium.

2. Andy Dalton era begins for Cincinnati Bengals

Analysis: Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis made Carson Palmer wait a full season to make his first NFL start. But Lewis believes his team is ready to be led by a rookie quarterback in 2011. Second-round pick Andy Dalton will get his first career start for the Bengals Friday against the Detroit Lions. Lewis said the young offense will play longer than expected for a preseason opener.

3. Baltimore Ravens LB Sergio Kindle makes debut

Analysis: Kindle was Baltimore's prized draft pick in 2010. But a fractured skull last summer ended his rookie season. Kindle will make his debut one year later against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Ravens hope Kindle stays healthy and improves their pass rush. Baltimore had just 27 sacks in 16 games last season.

4. Pittsburgh Steelers evaluate young players

Analysis: The reigning AFC champions do not have anything to prove in the preseason. Pittsburgh's opener is more for evaluating young players. The Steelers took advantage of the preseason last year. They gave plenty of reps to inexperienced players Ziggy Hood, Emmanuel Sanders and Antonio Brown. By midseason, this trio contributed to Pittsburgh's Super Bowl run. This year the Steelers want extended looks at rookies such as defensive end Cameron Heyward, offensive tackle Marcus Gilbert and cornerback Curtis Brown to see if they can eventually earn spots in the rotation.

LATROBE, Pa. -- Distractions and controversy? What distractions and controversy?

The opening of training camp was business as usual for the reigning AFC champion Pittsburgh Steelers. Despite offseason incidents that ranged from Hines Ward's arrest to Rashard Mendenhall's misuse of Twitter to James Harrison ripping commissioner Roger Goodell and teammates, players quickly deflected any issues and seemed genuinely happy to get back to work.

The Steelers believe their off-the-field problems are a thing of the past, and the team is ready to move forward and attempt to make another title run in 2011.

"Any time we come to training camp, our goal is the Super Bowl," Ward said. "Anything less than the Super Bowl is a down year for us. Having experienced and tasted a loss in the Super Bowl is not a good feeling. So, hopefully we can get back there and come out on the winning side."

The Steelers have a lot of work to do before the start of the regular season. Here are some early questions:

THREE HOT ISSUES

1. How will the Steelers get under the cap?

According to the new collective bargaining agreement, the Steelers have until Thursday to get under the $120 million salary cap. Despite a flurry of roster moves last week, Pittsburgh remains about $7 million to $10 million over, which is where the team started this summer.

The Steelers made several key salary cuts, including veteran receiver Antwaan Randle El and offensive tackles Max Starks and Flozell Adams. But the re-signings of in-house free agents such as cornerback Ike Taylor have basically nullified those moves.

Expect more tough decisions to be made this week.

"We have to find ways to get under [the cap] and in compliance," Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert said. "We're going to look at every and all possibilities."

There is some good news for the Steelers.

The new CBA allows teams to use three $1 million exceptions in 2011, and Colbert says he will use them all. Teams have this onetime flexibility to add an extra $3 million to the cap, which essentially brings the Steelers' number up to $123 million. This could allow Pittsburgh to retain some veterans it otherwise would lose.

2. Has Pittsburgh fixed its pass defense?

The last memory Steelers fans have of their defense is Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers carving up the secondary for 304 yards and three touchdowns in Super Bowl XLV. Since then, Pittsburgh hasn't made any significant additions to the secondary, leaving many to wonder whether this problem is fixed.

Because Pittsburgh is fielding the same players in the secondary, it's difficult to imagine the pass defense being better than it was last season. The Steelers re-signed veteran corners Taylor and William Gay and drafted rookies Curtis Brown and Cortez Allen.

"You can't worry about what people think outside the locker room, because we've been so successful on the field," Taylor said of the criticism. "So it really doesn’t matter. Everybody has their own opinion. It comes with the territory."

Expect many teams to spread the Steelers out this season by using three- and four-receiver sets. That will force backups such as Gay or some of the young corners to play important roles on the defense.

3. How thin is Pittsburgh's offensive line?

Pittsburgh's offensive line could be the thinnest group in the league.

Outside of second-year center Maurkice Pouncey, who is a stud, the rest of the line is littered with questions. Jonathan Scott plays the important role of left tackle and was inconsistent last year. Guards Ramon Foster and Chris Kemoeatu are decent run-blockers but struggle in pass protection. And right tackle Willie Colon is coming off an Achilles injury that forced him to miss the entire 2010 season.

Cutting Starks and Adams severely hurt the talent and depth of this group. Those were two of the most experienced linemen Pittsburgh had. Cap issues make it unlikely the team will sign another starting offensive lineman in free agency.

"You can't go into it and expect to have veteran depth at every position," Colbert admitted. "It just doesn't work out financially. You have to trust some of your young guys."

BIGGEST SURPRISE

It's only the first weekend of camp, but backup cornerback Keenan Lewis has been a pleasant surprise. Lewis is gaining valuable experience working with the first-team defense. Taylor signed a four-year contract in free agency and isn't allowed to practice with the team until later this week.

Despite a rocky two years in Pittsburgh, Lewis is a good athlete. He has good size and quickness and is making fewer mental mistakes, which is key. The competition for the important nickel role in the secondary will be intense this summer, and Lewis could have the inside track.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

With the lengthy NFL lockout, someone was bound to show up out of shape. Backup running back Jonathan Dwyer was that person for the Steelers.

I expected to see more from Dwyer, a sixth-round pick in 2009. But he struggled mightily during the conditioning evaluations and hasn't done much in the practices. The Steelers' running back corps is deep, and Dwyer is definitely on the roster bubble.

OBSERVATION DECK

• I like the swagger this year of Pittsburgh's "Young Money" crew of receivers. Last year, Mike Wallace was going into his first year as a starter, and Emmanuel Sanders and Antonio Brown were rookies just trying to fit in. But you can see that last year's success, particularly in the second half of the season and the playoffs, has helped this group and improved confidence. Instead of getting yelled at by Ward, Wallace is on top of everything so far in practice and is even helping Ward tutor other receivers. Sanders and Brown look much more comfortable in their roles and are displaying the same quickness and competitiveness they showed last year.
• Pouncey already looks scary-good in his second season. In my seven years covering the NFL, I've never seen a center who moves as well and fluidly as Pouncey. Last week, longtime NFL writer Damon Hack of Sports Illustrated and I were sitting next to each other watching Pittsburgh's conditioning evaluation. We were amazed with how easily Pouncey, who is listed at 304 pounds, was running 100-yard sprints, while the rest of the linemen were lagging far behind. Pound for pound, Pouncey is easily one of the top athletes on the Steelers.
• Linebacker Lawrence Timmons appears to have added considerable muscle in his upper body. Timmons, who is in a contract year, said he trained mostly in Florida this summer. Timmons also is one of the best pure athletes on the team. The key will be for him to maintain his quickness and acceleration while also adding strength.
• The fact that the Steelers tried hard to recruit big receiver Plaxico Burress says a lot about the status of Limas Sweed. The former second-round pick enters this training camp on thin ice and is down to his last shot. Sweed is coming off a season-ending Achilles injury and had issues with drops before that. Pittsburgh is taking the approach that anything it gets from Sweed is considered a bonus. He is currently the No. 5 receiver.
• Keep an eye on rookie seventh-round pick Baron Batch. The running back has showed good explosiveness through the hole and the ability to pass-protect, which is very valuable. He has been a pleasant surprise in camp so far.
• Overall, Pittsburgh's situation at running back is getting crowded. Mendenhall, Isaac Redman and Batch were all impressive during the first weekend of training camp. The Steelers also re-signed veteran backup Mewelde Moore. There were rumors about Tiki Barber being interested in the Steelers, but I don't see it. Pittsburgh has considerable depth at that position.
• Finally, another sleeper who is actually having a good camp is backup tight end and de facto fullback David Johnson. What the third-year veteran lacks in athleticism he makes up in effort. Although not his specialty, he's made several nice receptions in practice and remains one of the best run-blockers on the team. The Steelers are still in the market for a No. 2 tight end after the departure of Matt Spaeth to the Chicago Bears.

Pittsburgh Steelers Pro Bowl linebacker James Harrison had a lot to say in an explosive interview with Men's Journal.

But how accurate were Harrison's statements? Let’s examine in another edition of "Fact or Fiction."

Harrison on Steelers tailback Rashard Mendenhall: He's a "fumble machine."

Fiction: Mendenhall carried the ball 324 times last season, which was fourth most in the NFL. Of those 324 carries, he lost just two fumbles, which Mendenhall astutely pointed out via Twitter. Mendenhall's biggest fumble came in the Super Bowl, and many -- including Harrison -- remember that play vividly. But in terms of numbers, Harrison is inaccurate.

Harrison on Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's two interceptions in Super Bowl XLV: "Hey, at least throw a pick on their side of the field instead of asking the D to bail you out again."

Fiction: Roethlisberger's first interception was to Packers safety Nick Collins, who returned it 37 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter. The defense never saw the field after that turnover. Roethlisberger's second pick in the second quarter was to safety Jarrett Bush at Green Bay's 47 yard-line. The ball was near midfield and on the Packers' side, which isn't horrible field position.

More Harrison on Roethlisberger: "Or hand the ball off and stop trying to act like Peyton Manning. You ain't that and you know it, man; you just get paid like he does."

Fact: Roethlisberger is not Manning, who has amazing statistics and is a sure-fire, first-ballot Hall of Famer. Roethlisberger will never be able to catch up in terms of numbers. But Roethlisberger does have twice the Super Bowl rings ( 2 to 1) and a much better playoff record (10-3) than Manning (9-10). In terms of money, Manning's most recent contract expired after last season but paid an average of $14.2 million per year. Roethlisberger's contract pays an average of $12.7 million per year. So that's fairly accurate, as well.

Harrison on Steelers safety Troy Polamalu: "He's the one guy in football I respect absolutely, 'cause he's spiritual and lives it like he talks it. You know, he gets more flags than anyone on our team but never gets fined for nothin'."

Fact: Polamalu is one of the genuinely good guys in sports and he's very spiritual. Polamalu also is soft-spoken but has criticized the NFL several times without getting fined. The most famous was when he said the NFL was becoming a "pansy league." But many players do not get fined for their comments. Will that be the case for Harrison?

According to former Pittsburgh Steeler and ESPN analyst Merril Hoge, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger spoke with teammate James Harrison this morning and is "fine" with the linebacker's recent comments. Here is the latest via ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Harrison bashed Roethlisberger's Super Bowl performance in an explosive interview with Men's Journal, saying he's not Peyton Manning but gets paid like it. Roethlisberger threw two costly interceptions in February's loss to the Green Bay Packers.

According to Hoge, Harrison told Roethlisberger in their conversation that his words were misconstrued and he didn't mean to be critical of the quarterback.

Pittsburgh Steelers Pro Bowl linebacker James Harrison provided plenty of material Wednesday. So as we continue to dissect his bashing of various targets, here are some additional thoughts:

• Steelers safety Ryan Clark on Wednesday mostly deflected Harrison's comments via Twitter by saying, "Locker room stuff gets handle in the locker room not twitter." Clark also said the Steelers' players know Harrison speaks his mind, no matter the topic.
• NFC North colleague Kevin Seifert astutely pointed out that Harrison had just one tackle in Pittsburgh's Super Bowl XLV loss to the Green Bay Packers. Harrison wasn’t a factor in the game, but he criticized both running back Rashard Mendenhall and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Vote here if you think that’s justified or out of bounds.
• Harrison's comments that the New England Patriots were stealing the Steelers' signals in a 2004 playoff game are interesting. It's well-documented that the Patriots, and particularly quarterback Tom Brady, have been dominant against the Steelers post-Spygate. That most recently includes a 39-26 thrashing of the Steelers last season at Heinz Field. With Brady under center, the Patriots are 3-0 against the Steelers since the playoff game in 2004.

This just in: Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison ripped NFL commissioner Roger Goodell for the 100th time. This time, Harrison used his strongest language to date in an explosive interview with Men's Journal magazine.

"Up until last year, there was no word of me being dirty -- till Roger Goodell, who's a crook and a puppet, said I was the dirtiest player in the league," Harrison said. "If that man was on fire and I had to piss to put him out, I wouldn't do it. I hate him and will never respect him."

Is Harrison asking for a suspension? Don't bet on his getting suspended.

The NFL certainly won't like these comments. But players have been outspoken about Goodell before -- particularly the Steelers -- and the league didn't hand out suspensions. Players lashing out is nothing new and, if anything, a fine is probably the stiffest penalty Harrison could face.

Harrison's biggest issue will be the fallout from his own locker room. The Pro Bowl linebacker has some disparaging remarks for starting Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and tailback Rashard Mendenhall, who was described by Harrison as a "fumble machine." (Update: Harrison talked to Roethlisberger about the comments.)

When asked about Roethlisberger's two picks in the Super Bowl, Harrison was still upset about them.

"Hey, at least throw a pick on their side of the field instead of asking the D to bail you out again," Harrison said. "Or hand the ball off and stop trying to act like Peyton Manning. You ain't that and you know it, man; you just get paid like he does."

Roethlisberger took the blame immediately after the Super Bowl loss to the Green Bay Packers, saying Pittsburgh could have won if he had played better. Mendenhall also showed remorse for his game-changing fumble in the Super Bowl. But Harrison is the first teammate to publicly rip Roethlisberger and Mendenhall for their performances.

Harrison has never been described as a bad teammate. But these kinds of comments can potentially divide a locker room. It's worth noting that Harrison's criticisms were of players on Pittsburgh's offense. He spoke very highly of defensive teammate Troy Polamalu.

"He's the one guy in football I respect absolutely, 'cause he's spiritual and lives it like he talks it,'" Harrison said of the Pro Bowl safety. "You know, he gets more flags than anyone on our team but never gets fined for nothin'. He's so polite and talks so softly that he could tell Goodell to kiss his [expletive], and Goodell would smile and say thank you."

It's evident that Harrison keeps it all-the-way real. There are no frills with him, and if you ask an honest question, you always get an honest answer. Sometimes too honest.

As a result, Pittsburgh now has a major in-house issue to deal with once the lockout ends.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is one of the NFL's best at managing egos, and he will be required to work his magic once again. Teams cannot have contact with players until a new collective bargaining agreement is reached. So this issue will linger for the Steelers until players report to training camp.

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker LaMarr Woodley believes Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco will never win a Super Bowl "in this lifetime."

Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Dhani Jones says Flacco can't handle pressure and makes too many bad decisions.

NFL Network analyst Jamie Dukes says Flacco doesn't work hard enough.

In other words, there has been no shortage of offseason jabs at Flacco, who has become the biggest punching bag in the AFC North during the NFL lockout. The list of detractors questioning Flacco's ability to take the Ravens to the next level appears to be growing every month.

But there is hope for the talented, fourth-year quarterback. Flacco, 26, is still young and entering his prime. So now is the time to put all of those concerns to rest.

With that in mind, here are five ways Flacco can silence his many critics in 2011:

No. 1: Flacco must beat Pittsburgh and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger

Analysis: There are no more excuses. Flacco has to beat his biggest rival in a big game. Flacco has two career wins against Pittsburgh but both come with an asterisk. Roethlisberger missed those games due to a concussion in 2009 and a suspension at the beginning of the 2010 season. Flacco is 0-6 in his career against the Steelers with Roethlisberger under center, which includes an 0-2 record in the playoffs. The good news is Flacco doesn't have to wait long for another shot. The Ravens host the Steelers in Week 1, and Woodley has already upped the ante for Flacco, who must perform well. A big win against Pittsburgh early could set the tone for the Ravens, who need to move on from last year's heartbreaking playoff defeat. It also would lift a huge burden off Flacco and could begin to change his reputation as a quarterback who struggles in big games.

No. 2: Flacco must perform well in the playoffs

Analysis: Advancing to the AFC title game as a rookie was one of the best and worst things to happen to Flacco. He did something few rookie quarterbacks have accomplished. But it also raised the bar much higher for Flacco than it is for your typical young quarterbacks. Flacco is 4-3 in the playoffs but played well in only one of those seven games. Other than Baltimore's wild-card victory over the Kansas City Chiefs last January, the Ravens have carried Flacco in the postseason. In Flacco's four playoff wins, Baltimore's defense held opponents to just 10 points per game, while Flacco did enough to manage the offense. If Flacco wants to become a great quarterback, that needs to change. The Ravens' defense cannot pitch a near-perfect game every time in the postseason (see recent playoff losses to the Indianapolis Colts and Steelers). There will be times Flacco has to carry the team with his arm in a big game. Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers last season was a perfect example of how a hot quarterback makes a world of difference in the postseason.

No. 3: Thrive against the AFC North

Analysis: There is a reason Woodley and Jones were blunt in their criticism of Flacco. Based on what happened on the field in recent seasons, they both have the right to speak on Flacco's struggles. The Steelers and Bengals have been two of Flacco's biggest nemeses early in his career. Flacco is a combined 5-9 against his two AFC North rivals and has thrown 11 touchdowns and 16 interceptions in 14 career games. Regardless of whether you believe Jones and Woodley should have made their comments public, the numbers back up their claims. Flacco has to play these teams at least four times per year and needs to perform better against AFC North competition.

No. 4: Bring back the deep ball

Analysis: Some teams have figured out how to defend Flacco and the Ravens' offense, because Baltimore hasn't thrown the deep ball much the past couple of seasons. Derrick Mason and Anquan Boldin are both possession receivers, and when they're not open, Flacco often checks down to running back Ray Rice. The offensive pattern has become predictable and drawn the ire of media and fans in Baltimore. Despite a lot of talent, the Ravens finished a disappointing 22nd in total offense last season. Flacco has one of the prettiest deep balls in the league, and it will be up to offensive coordinator Cam Cameron to find more ways to play to Flacco's strengths. The Ravens have lacked a deep threat in the past but hope rookie second-round pick Torrey Smith brings the speed they've been looking for to keep defenses honest. Including playoffs, Flacco only had one 300-yard passing game all last season, and it came against the 2-14 Carolina Panthers.

No. 5: Win a Super Bowl

Analysis: Winning a Super Bowl is the great equalizer. Baltimore's roster is stacked, which is why there is so much pressure and Super Bowl talk surrounding Flacco. Quarterbacks always get most of the credit for the team's success or most of the blame for its failure. So Flacco could silence everyone -- Woodley, Dhani Jones, media and fans -- by finally winning the big game. Even getting the Ravens to the Super Bowl would do wonders for Flacco's reputation.

If Flacco follows these five not-so-easy steps, he will have a much quieter offseason in 2012. Can Flacco accomplish some, or all, of these goals this upcoming season?

Stay tuned.

Now I'm back from my brief vacation, here are the most interesting stories Tuesday in the AFC North:

• Baltimore Ravens tailback Ray Rice was ranked No. 56 in the NFL.com's top 100.

Morning take: This feels low, but it’s difficult to say for sure until the other 55 players above Rice are revealed. Rice is one of the most dynamic and versatile running backs in the NFL.

• The Pittsburgh Steelers are choosing to mostly rest during the lockout.

Morning take: It's an interesting approach for an older team that has it together. Pittsburgh (along with Green Bay) had the longest season in 2010 and hopes the extra off period helps.

• Cincinnati Bengals kicker and former Ohio State Buckeye Mike Nugent shares his thoughts on Jim Tressel's resignation.

Morning take: Nugent arrived at Ohio State the same year as Tressel in 2001. Nugent turned out to be the most reliable kicker during Tressel's tenure.

• Are the Cleveland Browns doing the right thing by collecting quantity over quality in the draft?

Morning take: The Browns aren't thinking that way. In their minds, they acquired more picks with the intention of getting good players in lower draft slots. It comes down to the confidence of the front office to get the job done.