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The Ravens received all the attention this offseason.
After trading for Anquan Boldin, signing Donte' Stallworth, re-signing Derrick Mason and having what was considered a very strong Draft, the Ravens were the trendy pick to roll through the AFC North and make a run at a Super Bowl.
Somehow, the team that won the division last year, the team that went 6-0 against its AFC North rivals, got overlooked.
They probably won't be overlooked anymore.
Now that the Bengals have signed wide receiver Terrell Owens, they have re-established themselves as a contender, even if they had never lost that distinction in the first place.
Owens' two-year deal with Cincinnati gives the Bengals three things: 1. A talented trio of tall, athletic, playmaking wide receivers; 2. A more balanced offensive attack than last season, when teams would mostly key on Chad Ochocinco and running back Cedric Benson and 3. The loudest, most Twitter and reality TV show-heavy group of receivers we've ever seen.
Think of the touchdown celebrations that we'll see coming out of Cincinnati this year. Commissioner Goodell, get your popcorn, and your fines, ready.
T.O. might not be a top-tier wide receiver anymore, but he's a very solid No. 2, and if Antonio Bryant happens to earn the job across from Chad Ochocinco in camp, then Owens might be the best No. 3 wideout in the league.
That group (which also contains rookie tight end Jermaine Gresham, a potentially dangerous pass catching tight end) will give quarterback Carson Palmer plenty of options in the passing game, and could pose a problem for the Ravens' beat-up secondary.
The two teams square off in Week 2, and even if cornerback Fabian Washington is healthy and can start, the Ravens might be without safety Ed Reed and second-year corner Lardarius Webb, who are both still rehabbing from injuries.
That could spell trouble for John Harbaugh's group.
Add in a young, fast Cincinnati defense that ranked fourth in the league last year, and you'll see that the Bengals are pretty well put together.
With T.O., Ochocinco and Adam "Pacman" Jones all on one roster, the Bengals might combust at any time. And it has the potential to be a spectacularly entertaining combustion.
But you can't argue that the Bengals also have the talent to seriously contend for another division title.
