Handicapping the AFC North race

Per usual, the AFC North should be a closely contested division in 2016. The Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals are essentially evenly matched teams. Their respective schedules could decide which teams earn a playoff bid, home-field advantage in the playoffs and who becomes the division champions.

Based strictly off opponents win-loss records last season, CBS Sports ranks the Ravens as having the most difficult schedule of the divisional contenders. The Ravens slot in as the 19th most difficult in the NFL, with the Steelers sitting at 25th hardest and the Bengals at 27th. However, using only the 2015 results do not paint a complete picture. Many scheduling quirks,…