It’s Thanksgiving Week.
Before we all break off to consume myriad (presumably) turkey and turkey-based dishes and assorted sides (and watch a surprisingly-good slate of NFL games) on Thursday, it’s worth a review of the AFC North’s successes and fortunes last weekend in this notably-weird season.
And yes, I’ll list something each team should be Thankful For (if anything). That IS what sports-and-sports-adjacent writers do this week, isn’t it?
Steelers 28, Bears 31
The now officially-surprising first-place Bears moved to 8-3 on the season, albeit without a chance to beat old NFCN nemesis QB Aaron Rodgers, who missed the game with a mildly-fractured left (non-throwing) wrist. Backup QB Mason Rudolph (24-31, 171 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT) began the afternoon by tossing an interception, but settled down enough to produce a four-point halftime lead. Rudolph was aided considerably by the Steelers’ rushing attack and RBs Kenneth Gainwell (10 carries, 92 yards, 6 catches, 30 yards) and Jaylen Warren (18 carries, 68 yards, 1 TD). Gainwell’s six receptions led the team.
The Steelers defense looked active and ample in the first half, with edge rusher T.J. Watt (5 tackles, 1 sack) providing a strip-sack of Bears QB Caleb Williams that was recovered in the end zone by LB Nick Herbig (2 tackles, 1 TD) for a touchdown. The group faded somewhat in the second half, but did provide the offense with a chance to tie or win the game late, only to be stymied by the Bears resurgent defense.
Thankful For: An relatively-easy first-half schedule, which has allowed the Steelers to retain a share of first place to this point, although their grip on it is decidedly shaky.
Patriots 26, Bengals 20
The Patriots captured their NFL-leading tenth win and ninth consecutive win Sunday against a struggling Bengals team that still somehow envisions itself a playoff hopeful.
Venerable QB Joe Flacco (19-37, 183 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT), in likely his last start for the Bengals, was steady but shorthanded, as all-pro WR Ja’Marr Chase missed the game due to a league-mandated suspension. Fellow WR Tee Higgins (5 catches, 31 yards) departed with a concussion late in the fourth quarter and is expected to miss Thursday’s game in Baltimore. RB Chase Brown (19 carries, 107 yards, 2 catches, 23 yards) was solid if unproductive in the red zone.
The struggling Bengals defense lost the proverbial handle in the second quarter as the Patriots scored 17 points to retake the lead. Led by LB Barrett Carter’s 16 tackles, the team spent most of then afternoon chasing assorted Patriots receivers, including TE Hunter Henry, who posted career bests of 7 catches for 115 yards. S Geno Stone (13 tackles, 1 INT) accounted for the Bengals lone takeaway.
Thankful For: The return of Joe Burrow? From an emotional standpoint, Burrow’s probable return Thursday from a severe turf toe injury may boost the team enough to account for a few wins, but considering the state of the defense, this team has a LOT of work in the offseason if it hopes to compete in 2026.
Jets 10, Ravens 23
It’s become apparent that the Ravens are in “survival mode” after clawing their way into a share of first place with five consecutive wins, but the wins themselves have been, to be charitable, eyesores.
In a notably drama-free affair, stout defense carried the afternoon against a rebuilding Jets team in search of any signs of progress from its trade-depleted core. LB Roquan Smith led the team with 11 tackles, followed by S Kyle Hamilton’s 10. Trade pickup edge Dre’Mont Jones (4 tackles, 1.5 sacks) supplied a welcome, consistent pass rush for a team that’s routinely struggled to put pressure on opposing QBs.
The offense was largely driven by RB Derrick Henry’s 21 carries for 64 yards and two TDs, both of which came in short yardage, where Henry’s had notable issues this season. WR Zay Flowers (5 catches, 58 yards) added a few key first down receptions from clearly-hobbled QB Lamar Jackson (13-23, 153 yards, 7 carries, 11 yards), who was revealed to have a toe injury after the game.
Thankful For: A long season, which has allowed the Ravens to regroup and bolster a defensive core that was flailing at season’s outset and beset by multiple key injuries. It’s legitimate to question how long the Ravens can continue to win with this roster.
Browns 24, Raiders 10
In a game that was never in doubt, the Browns notched a much-needed win against the hapless, hopeless Raiders.
That’s not an exaggeration. The Browns’ defense and DE Myles Garrett (5 tackles, 3 sacks, 4 TFLs) terrorized Raiders QB Geno Smith all afternoon, sacking Smith an eye-popping ten times and forcing two fumbles (1 recovered). LB Carson Schwesinger (11 tackles) continued his likely Defensive Rookie of the Year campaign, and CB Tyson Campbell added 10 tackles of his own.
Rookie QB Shedeur Sanders’ (11-20, 209 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT) season debut was adequate considering the milquetoast level of play shown by Browns quarterbacks in general this season, and, to be fair, was effective. But…it was the Raiders, after all, so a certain amount of caution is advised for fans anointing Sanders as a potential franchise savior. Rookie RB Quinshon Judkins (16 carries, 47 yards, 2 TDs) was also adequate, doing just enough to provide cover for the inexperienced Sanders in play-action scenarios. RB Dylan Sampson (7 carries, 23 yards, 2 catches, 59 yards, 1 TD) gave the team a notable spark by pulling in a screen pass for a 66-yard touchdown.
Thankful For: An excellent 2025 draft class overall. Whatever the eventual fate of rookie QBs Sanders and Dillon Gabriel, there’s little argument that the defensive pickups, particularly Schwesinger and DT Mason Graham, are boosting an already-effective defense for many future years.
Be good to yourself and your people. Eat a lot and belch freely in appreciation. As those wise old sages Bill and Ted once intoned, “be most excellent to each other.”
Happy Thanksgiving.
