The AFC North is prepared for its close-up.
The division finest identified for heated rivalries and star quarterbacks will probably be featured on the in-season version of HBO’s “Onerous Knocks” TV sequence this season. It is the primary time the Emmy Award-winning sequence has chronicled a whole division.
Final season, the AFC North’s 4 groups — the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers — all completed with successful information.
With quarterbacks Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, Deshaun Watson and Russell Wilson, who was traded from the Denver Broncos to Pittsburgh within the offseason, there are many storylines within the North together with a status for tight, testy video games.
“Onerous Knocks: In Season with the AFC North” will debut Dec. 3 and run by means of the remainder of the common season and playoffs.
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Final season, the AFC North turned the primary division to have each crew end with a successful file because the 1935 Western Division. The Ravens, Steelers, Browns and Bengals mixed for a file of 43-25 final season, which was the very best win proportion (.632) of any division in 2023. No different division mixed for greater than 35 wins final yr.
“We do not suppose — we all know — that is the very best division in soccer,” Bengals coach Zac Taylor stated in a press release. “I perceive why it is a beautiful decide for ‘Onerous Knocks’ and it is an honor to be a part of a division that individuals suppose so extremely of. We’ve an thrilling crew with lots of actually gifted gamers and good crew guys. They’re gamers that the league is worked up about, so this publicity is a optimistic.”
Jackson is coming off a second MVP win however got here up wanting a primary Tremendous Bowl journey. Burrow performed simply 10 video games final season earlier than present process wrist surgical procedure. Watson is getting into a make-or-break third season in Cleveland, and Wilson is hoping to restart his profession with Justin Fields in his shadow.
The Ravens had been the primary crew featured on the unique “Onerous Knocks” in 2001. The Bengals’ coaching camp was featured in 2009 and 2013, and the Browns’ camp in 2018.
This would be the Steelers’ first look on the favored present that takes followers deep contained in the locker room, huddle and interior workings of NFL groups.
On “The Adam Jones Podcast” earlier this month, Ravens coach John Harbaugh stated he doesn’t watch “Onerous Knocks.”
“Every thing’s placed on,” Harbaugh stated. “You bought to place a microphone and a digicam in your face, folks aren’t the identical. In the event that they need to convey ‘Onerous Knocks’ in right here, it would not hassle me one bit, simply because I do know what I might inform our guys is, ‘All proper, here is what we will do. We will simply be us. We will say what we are saying. We will do what we do. We will deal with it the best way we deal with it as a result of we have nothing to be ashamed of.'”
Harbaugh added that his crew wouldn’t “placed on a present” for anybody and made the purpose that the Ravens would have “ultimate enhancing energy” on the present.
The sequence has expanded to focus on the league’s offseason, coaching camp, common season and postseason. The New York Giants’ offseason would be the first chronicled, and the Chicago Bears will probably be featured in coaching camp as they attempt to break in rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, the No. 1 decide on this yr’s draft.
ESPN’s Jamison Hensley and The Related Press contributed to this report.
