As my colleague, Rory Brunner, did several days ago, I will give people a chance to laugh at the NFL predictions I made at the beginning of the season. Although I didn’t do as poorly as Brunner did, I probably wouldn’t have been able to make bank in Las Vegas had bet on my predictions.

Here is the way I thought the AFC Central Division would figure out.

Baltimore Ravens

My Prediction: First (14-2)

Finish: Second (9-7)

To quote Jim Carrey in the movie “Dumb and Dumber,” “I was way off!”

The smashmouth defense wasn’t so smashing. It allowed 16.5 points a game. Not bad, but not good either, even though the Ravens did shut out a weak Cincinnati team.

An easy win over hapless Minnesota snuck them into the playoffs, but didn’t impress too many people.

I thought Elvis Grbac would be key to helping Baltimore’s offense. Throwing more interceptions than touchdown passes, however, will not help an offense that was subpar to begin with.

They get a chance to defend their Super Bowl title, but it will most likely have to be done on the road against better teams. There probably won’t be a Super Bowl repeat this year.

Tennessee Titans

My Prediction: Second (13-3)

Finish: Tie-Third (7-9)

This is the one I loathe the most. I thought the Titans would be a team to shine. They put me to shame.

Ex-Ute Kevin Dyson’s return from an injury didn’t give the Titans wins. The offense averaged 21 points per game, but the defense allowed 24 points per game. Not a good combination.

The Titans started the season with three straight losses to Miami, Jacksonville and Baltimore. Playing from behind to start didn’t help either.

Tennessee only won three home games as well. The ability to win at home was key to a non-Playoff season.

Pittsburgh Steelers

My Prediction: Third (9-7)

Finish: First (13-3)

It can be seen that I didn’t have much faith in the Steelers. I thought they were mediocre. I take consolation, however, in knowing a lot of people didn’t have much faith in them either.

I thought there was a good chance the Steelers might make the Playoffs. I didn’t think, however, they would do it hands down, taking home field with them throughout the entire Playoffs.

I did leave a disclaimer in my prediction, though. I said: “If Kordell [Stewart] gets better, the Steelers win more games.” Well, Kordell got better and the Steelers won more games.

The Steelers won 13 games without a bus driver. “The Bus,” Jerome Bettis, was sidelined for much of the season with an injury. But Stewart took the reins of the offense and got things moving.

The “Steel Curtain” defense showed some signs of return, allowing just 13 points per game.

Jacksonville Jaguars

My Prediction: Fourth (8-8)

Finish: Tie-Fifth (6-10)

I was two games off on my prediction. I had a feeling at the beginning of the year I was being too generous, giving the Jaguars eight wins. The Jags showed me I should have followed my gut.

The Jags got a great start, winning their first two games against division powerhouses Pittsburgh and Tennessee. Then they just fell apart from there. They lost eight of there next nine games.

Cleveland Browns

My Prediction: Tie-Fifth (4 12)

Finish: Tie-Third (7-9)

I’m happy to be wrong on this one. I was happy to see the Browns win seven games, even if their fans made it to the top-10 boner list with their Dec. 16 beer bottle-throwing incident.

Even though they have substantially improved from last year, the Browns had a chance to do better. But they lost five of their last six games after starting out 6-4.

Coach Butch Davis, though, is happy with his team. They will improve each year after this. Don’t be surprised if you see the Browns sneak into the Playoffs next year.

Cincinnati Bengals

My Prediction: Tie-Fifth (4 12)

Finish: Tie-Fifth (6-10)

Well, they won their first two games and their last two games, but that was about the only thing noteworthy of their team this year.

The Bengals were 6-0 when they scored 20 points or more this year. But they were also 0-10 when they score 19 points or less. They were shut out three times.

Perhaps next year the Bengals will ask to forgo their bye week. They went into the bye with a winning record. They lost seven games in a row after it.

I called their place right, missing their final record by two games. Not bad.

So my predictions weren’t as bad as Brunner’s, but I’ve done better. Much better.

Lance welcomes feedback at: [email protected].