This may be the worst collective AFC North entry since the division was created.
If that seems overly harsh, it’s because you haven’t looked at the standings lately. Three teams sport losing records. And one will shortly, if Sunday’s results are any indication.
Kudos to the Nosferatu-adjacent Bengals, who managed to make a late push for relevance despite one of the worst defenses in the NFL.
Here’s what happened.
Steelers 27, Ravens 22
In another entry decided by one score, the Steelers – with some marked help from the officials – managed to hold on against a stumbling Ravens team that seems destined to be eliminated, perhaps mercifully, from playoff contention shortly.
The Steelers and QB Aaron Rodgers (23-34, 284 yards, 1 TD) finally managed to show a bit of an aerial passing attack with offseason acquisition WR D.K. Metcalf (7 catches, 148 yards) on an afternoon where the rushing attack completely stalled (34 total rushing yards). Rodgers completed passes to nine different receivers – including himself, on a controversial tipped ball/reception that was originally ruled an INT by Ravens LB Teddye Buchanan.
The Ravens offense, slow starters all season, stayed consistent in that regard by posting a lone FG among their first four drives. QB Lamar Jackson (19-35, 219 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 7 carries, 43 yards, 1 TD) showed flashes of his former MVP level of play, but remained clearly hobbled and hesitant, absorbing two sacks on broken plays while scrambling fruitlessly in the backfield. RB Derrick Henry (25 carries, 94 yards) paced a rushing attack that delivered 217 total yards, and WR Zay Flowers (8 catches, 124 yards) remained Jackson’s most-consistent target this year.
The Ravens defense was again undone by an unreliable secondary that gave up several long completions and key third downs. Against a suspect Steelers offensive line, the Ravens generated no sacks and produced little pressure against Rodgers, whose entire existence is predicated on releasing the ball quickly. LB Roquan Smith led the moribund unit with 10 tackles.
Conversely, the Steelers made enough defensive stops in the fourth quarter to fend off the little offense the Ravens were able to put forth, albeit aided by a late reversal of an go-ahead touchdown catch by Ravens TE Isaiah Likely. The team was led in tackles by emerging veteran LB Cole Holcomb (9 tackles), with CB James Pierre pulling in the team’s lone INT.
Titans 31, Browns 29
Despite a much-improved showing from rookie QB Shedeur Sanders (23-42, 364 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT, 3 carries, 29 yards), the Browns fell late to the woeful Titans. Sanders led the team in both rushing and passing on a day when the somewhat-reliable rushing attack faltered. TE Harold Fannin Jr. (8 catches, 114 yards, 1 TD) was a steady outlet all afternoon among Sanders’ eight total targeted receivers.
The normally-vaunted Browns defense surrendered 184 rushing yards (161 to RB Tony Pollard alone) while limiting the Titans’ passing attack to 117 yards. LB Carson Schwesinger (13 tackles) again led the team in stops, aided at points by LB Devin Bush (9 tackles, 1 INT). DE Myles Garrett added a sack and two QB hits to his season totals, as the world continues to watch his pursuit of the single-season sack record of 22.5.
Bengals 34, Bills 39
In a wild, snowy affair, the Bills outlasted the resurgent Bengals on the strength of Bills QB Josh Allen’s 40-yard scramble for a TD and CB Christian Benford’s late, tipped INT for a TD.
Bengals QB Joe Burrow (25-36, 284 yards, 4 TDs, 2 INTs) played very well despite the slippery conditions, a leaky defense and little help from an anemic rushing attack (62 total yards). WR Tee Higgins (6 catches, 92 yards, 2 TDs) was open often, yet spent two spells in the “blue tent” for concussion evaluation and is now in concussion protocols, meaning he’s likely unavailable this week. Seldom-seen TE Mike Gesicki (6 catches, 86 yards, 1 TD) posted his best numbers of the season.
The Bengals defense, or what passed for it, mostly consisted of safeties Geno Stone (9 tackles, 1 sack) and Jordan Battle (9 tackles) chasing down assorted Buffalo rushers and receivers in the defensive backfield and beyond. Not to sugarcoat the obvious, but this unit has been wholly subpar all season and will require a complete overhaul if this incarnation of the Bengals hopes to ever succeed and not continue to waste the career of Burrow, who deserves better than to have to continually score 35 points to have a chance.
Next time…
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