The AFC North is the most demanding division in the NFL.
The season began with four potential 2024 playoff teams and countless storylines. As HBO's “Hard Knocks” takes a look at this historic division throughout the season, fans can now take a closer look Ravens and Steelers are chasing a division title.
For the first time since their debut, the award-winning documentaries take a behind-the-scenes look at an entire NFL division. made the announcement back in June.
HARD KNOCKS: IN SEASON WITH THE AFC NORTH will chronicle the battle for the AFC North crown over the final six weeks of the nfl season and a playoff run for the division winner and all AFC North Wild Card teams. The 18-time Emmy® Award-winning series will deliver its signature all-access coverage by following the Mike Tomlin-coached Pittsburgh Steelers, who have never been featured on “Hard Knocks” in the series' history, and coach John Harbaugh's Baltimore Ravens, coach Zac Taylor's Cincinnati Bengals and coach Kevin Stefanski's Cleveland Browns. Quarterbacks Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, Deshaun Watson, Russell Wilson and Justin Fields will share the Hard Knocks spotlight with Derrick Henry, Ja'Marr Chase, Myles Garrett, TJ Watt and a host of other AFC North star players.
The hunt for the championship.
The HBO original series In the season with the with the Ravens, Bengals, Browns and Steelers premiering tonight at 9 p.m. ET .
– Sport on Max (@SportsonMax)
Watch ET/PT on HBO and stream at max. The following Tuesdays will air through the end of the nfl regular season and continue through the NFL playoffs in January 2025. HBO has released the first trailer a few weeks ago, and it looks as intense as the action.
Baltimore was the first team to participate in the original “Hard Knocks” training camp series in 2001. Since then, the Bengals have appeared twice, in 2009 and 2013, and the Browns in 2018, while the Pittsburgh Steelers will make their debut. Storylines to watch include Patrick Queen's arrival in Pittsburgh and the renewed Steelers-Ravens rivalry.
Contract disputes in Cleveland, Deshaun Watson's return and subsequent injury, Russell Wilson's debut, Justin Field's arrival and Joe Burrow's return are just the tip of the iceberg of storylines and intriguing subplots, and we look at seven things to watch.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – NOVEMBER 07: Justice Hill #43 of the Baltimore Ravens is hit by BJ Hill #92 of the Cincinnati Bengals during the first quarter at M&T Bank Stadium on November 07, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
In 2023, the AFC North became the first with all four teams having a winning record. We'll keep an eye on how intense the rivalry games are.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – DECEMBER 1: Derrick Henry #22 of the Baltimore Ravens passes the ball in the first quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at M&T Bank Stadium on December 1, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
The examined the behind-the-scenes look at this program and published an interesting report on Eagles Week.
The trial began in earnest the week before what ultimately happened on Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium.
In total, there are about 14 people with boots on site each day at Owings Mills and each of the other teams' locations, with squad sizes as high as 20 during division games. By the time an episode airs, they've ultimately touched about 150 people of varying abilities without anyone on site necessarily noticing.
“We work very hard to remain invisible,” Cossrow said. “The teams invariably gain a lot of respect because they see them when they get there and they are still there when they leave.”
The math is also “a little scary,” he added, when it comes to how much film it will take to fill each episode – about 200 to 300 hours per hour of “Hard Knocks” – and the turnaround is about 100 % extremely close to 48 hours.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – DECEMBER 1: Saquon Barkley #26 of the Philadelphia Eagles runs the ball for a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on December 1, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Most teams show up at Hard Knocks to avoid a fine. After the Joe Schoen debacle with that On national television we will see which team is the most private with information and revealing organizational secrets.
Oct. 8, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) is blocked by Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker TJ Watt (90) in the first quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports
The cast is a who's who of MVP candidates, star running backs, diva wide receivers and standout defensive players. For Baltimore, it's about Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry and others. The Bengals have Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Pittsburgh is the backdrop for the quarterback relationship between Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, the mercurial George Pickens and a defense led by TJ Watt. All eyes and ears in Cleveland will be focused on Jameis Winston and Myles Garrett while Deshaun Watson is away from the team.
Oct. 27, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski shakes hands with general manager and principal partner Jimmy Haslam before the game against the Baltimore Ravens at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory attribution: Scott Galvin-Imagn Images
Kevin Stefanski and Zac Taylor are good people, but all eyes will be on John Harbaugh in Baltimore and the lovely Mike Tomlin in Pittsburgh. Which of the four head coaches will look like a star?
September 15, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta walks the field before the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory attribution: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
It is the NFL's most competitive division, and although the Ravens and Steelers have been the division's most consistent teams, Cincinnati is the youngest team to reach a Super Bowl. Pittsburgh is the model of consistency in the NFL, Baltimore is not far behind. The Browns and Bengals leave a lot to be desired in terms of their front office approach.
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA – NOVEMBER 17: Patrick Queen #6 of the Pittsburgh Steelers reacts after a fumble in the second quarter of a game against the Baltimore Ravens at Acrisure Stadium on November 17, 2024 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
All matchups are intense, but Baltimore vs. Pittsburgh offers the most criticism, and in this version of the rivalry, Patrick Queen switched sides. We'll watch Queen enjoy life in the Steel City.
