Here's a look at each AFC North team (in order of finish in 2002):

	Head coach Bill Cowher
	2002 record 10-5-1
	2002 finish AFC divisional loser

Pittsburgh Steelers
Overview: It's hard to call the Steelers underachievers when they won the new AFC North and had a 10-5-1 record, but they were. Bill Cowher and offensive coordinator Mike Mularky did an amazing overhaul of the offense, going from a power-running team to an efficient passing team under the direction of Tommy Maddox. The Steelers finished the season sixth in offense with 372 yards a game. They averaged 26.4 points per game, and Maddox was the Comeback Player of the Year.

Now, the downside. What happened to the defense? Over a two-year period, the Steelers locked up their top, young defensive players to huge contracts. Cornerbacks Dewayne Washington and Chad Scott received $4 million a year. Linebackers Jason Gildon and Joey Porter and defensive end Aaron Smith received around the same amounts if not a little more. Despite all that money, the Steelers finished 20th against the pass, allowing 216 yards a game. They still finished seventh overall because they are so solid at stopping the run. But teams such as Oakland and New England simply ignored their run-stopping skills and passed against them with consistent success.

The good news is that the core of the defense is young and growing, and that the Steelers remain the most talented team in the division. They've become an explosive offense with great receivers -- Hines Ward, Plaxico Burress and quick-study Antwaan Randle El.

Biggest Needs: The Steelers won't re-sign left tackle Wayne Gandy, so they have to decide if Marvel Smith is good enough to move to the left side of the line. With Kordell Stewart scheduled to be released in the next week, the Steelers have to re-sign Charlie Batch as the backup quarterback. They will let Batch test the market and try to re-sign him. Help is needed in the secondary, particularly at safety.

Biggest Decisions: Cowher's biggest decision is getting more speed at the safety positions. Quarterbacks destroyed them because of their inability to cover much from that position. That could mean that safety Lee Flowers might not be back. Brent Alexander will stay and speedier Mike Logan might get more playing time. But the safety position has to improve in coverage.

Cap Room: The Steelers are $1.6 million over the salary cap, but the release of Stewart's $6.3 million will put them under.

	Head coach Butch Davis
	2002 record 9-7
	2002 finish Wild-card loser

Cleveland Browns
Overview: After four years of building, the "new" Browns enjoyed their first taste of the playoffs. Now, the problems begin. For the first time, this slow-building expansion team has to become concerned about the salary cap. They have a major quarterback controversy that coach Butch Davis must handle soon. Backup Kelly Holcomb is more popular with the fans. Franchise quarterback Tim Couch is the most talented, but injuries allowed Holcomb to be part of the season-finale victory over the Falcons that got the Browns into the playoffs. Davis has to handle this decision correctly or he could split the locker room.

There could be major changes ahead for a defense that finished 21st. First, Davis replaced popular coordinator Foge Fazio with former Cowboys coach Dave Campo. Davis is contemplating changing the entire linebacking corps, and he could make some changes in the secondary. More is expected out of a defensive line that is loaded with high-priced talent. Defensive end Courtney Brown is coming off microfracture knee surgery. More is expected from talented defensive tackle Gerard Warren. Adding Orpheus Roye and Kenard Lang, the Browns have one of the highest paid defensive lines in football.

Perhaps the best news in the season was that William Green finished like a top running back, averaging about 100 yards a game after the team's bye week. Green is the first serious running threat since the Browns took the field four years ago. He offers great hope for the offense.

Biggest Needs: Replacements at linebacker. Davis could release linebackers Jamir Miller and Dwayne Rudd, but he should keep Earl Holmes in the middle. Rudd could be replaced by Kevin Bentley, but they might be searching for another outside linebacker. If the Browns release cornerback Corey Fuller, it's not a certainty that play-making third corner Anthony Henry is ready to be a full-time starter. Help is needed on the offensive line, and a pass-catching tight end wouldn't hurt either.

Biggest Decisions: Davis has to make the right call at quarterback. Couch had bad luck last season. Injuries hit him at the wrong time, but Holcomb did so well off the bench that he benefited from a more talented offense. The expectation for the Browns this year is to make the playoffs, and they must have the right quarterback leading them.

Cap Room: The Browns are $23.2 million over the cap, but they will save $18 million by cutting Miller, who has a $14 million roster bonus.

	Head coach Brian Billick
	2002 record 7-9
	2002 finish 3rd in AFC North

Baltimore Ravens
Overview: After a Super Bowl season and another playoff run, general manager Ozzie Newsome and coach Brian Billick decided to take all the salary cap hits in one year. The Ravens had to go young and hope for the best. Their best was better than anyone thought.

They won seven games and flirted with the possibility of making a wild-card run. With salary-cap problems behind them, the Ravens can build toward another playoff run. Billick stressed that this is one of the few teams that will have 90 percent of its roster back in training camp next year. And the Ravens have plenty of room to make a few free-agent strikes for more playmakers. Billick did a remarkable job developing some young offensive talent. Tight end Todd Heap had a Pro Bowl season. Jamal Lewis bounced back from major knee surgery in 2001 and had 1,327 yards and a 4.3 yard average. Billick tried to develop Chris Redman at quarterback in the first half of the season, but when Redman's back started to bother him, the job went to Jeff Blake and the offense started to roll.

There are a lot of holes on offense and defense. It will be a two-year building process, but the Ravens have plenty of good assets to build with. Hall of Famer Mike Singletary will work with middle linebacker Ray Lewis. Outside linebacker Peter Boulware is coming off a Pro Bowl season. The team will designate cornerback Chris McAlister with the franchise tag, and help will come along the defensive line.

Biggest Needs: The Ravens need a lot. They need more help at cornerback. Their biggest needs are more bulk on the defensive line for their 3-4 scheme. Another impact wide receiver is needed. There was a juggling act at right tackle that has to be resolved. If the right quarterback is available at the right price, the Ravens will have to take a look.

Biggest Decisions: What to do at quarterback. Billick knows he can win with Blake, who is unsigned. He would love to develop Redman into the long-term starter, but there isn't enough yet to judge how good he will be.

Salary Cap: The Ravens have 33 players under contract and $27.318 million of cap room.

	Head coach Marvin Lewis
	2002 record 2-14
	2002 finish 4th in AFC North

Cincinnati Bengals
Overview: Baby steps. New coach Marvin Lewis is trying to get the prehistoric Bengals management to move its operations into the 21st century. Team president Mike Brown advised Lewis to be patient because the organization hasn't tried a lot of things Lewis wants to do to upgrade the franchise. There will be an extensive offseason program. Lewis talked Brown into making changes on his coaching staff. That's a franchise first. The Bengals added the talented scouting eye of Bill Tobin to work with his son, Duke, to update an understaffed scouting department. Lewis' main job is trying to rebuild league-wide credibility for a team that hasn't made the playoffs since 1990. That won't be easy.

The Bengals might have to make some calculated free-agent strikes to convince players that Cincinnati is now a good place to play. Lewis made a wise move in placing the transition tag on linebacker Takeo Spikes, who wanted out of Cincinnati. Lewis couldn't lose his best defensive player. Some positive things are being sorted out on offense. Corey Dillon remains one of the league's top runners. Chad Johnson emerged into an exciting, big-play receiver. In the second half of the season, the Bengals might have found the right role for Peter Warrick, who seems to be a better fit as a slot receiver instead of a No. 1 target.

The Bengals finished 2-14, so Lewis can't expect to turn them into an instant winner. Years of being out of the playoffs created the attitude that emotions and confidence fade after the first few losses. Lewis' main mission is wiping away this "Woe is me" attitude.

Biggest Needs: There are plenty. Lewis needs a run-stopping defensive tackle. One more outside linebacker would help. Opponents had a 99.9 quarterback rating against the Bengals, completing 63.2 percent and 30 touchdown passes. The whole defensive unit could be revamped, but that can't be done in one year. More help is needed on the interior offensive line. The Bengals need a lot.

Biggest Decisions: Lewis' toughest decision will be what to advise for the draft. The Bengals could select Carson Palmer with the first pick, but they seem to want to shop his talents in trades. Cincinnati has been a graveyard for top young quarterbacks. Ask David Klingler and Akili Smith. Jon Kitna is the starter, but it might be hard to pass a top quarterback such as Palmer.

Salary Cap: The Bengals have $9.019 million of cap room.

John Clayton is a senior writer for ESPN.com.