The playoff window is tightening for some AFC North teams and expanding for others, although Sunday reminded us that no path to the playoffs is easy or convenient. Still, all four AFC North teams remain mathematically alive for berth, with one (Ravens) clinching a spot if not a division title. There’s something to be said for a division sporting four teams with .500 or better records in Week 16; regardless of the final tally, the AFC North is, by most measures, the strongest division in the NFL.
Take pride or something.
Anyway, here’s what happened.
Vikings 24, Bengals 27
Bengals QB Jake “Cinderella” Browning refuses to let the proverbial clock strike midnight, leading the Bengals to three fourth-quarter touchdowns en route to another improbable win.
Key numbers:
- 29-42, 324 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT – QB Jake Browning
- 10 carries, 47 yards, 1 TD, 3 catches, 14 rec. yards – RB Joe Mixon
- 4 catches, 61 yards, 2 TDs – WR Tee Higgins
- 12 tackles, 0.5 sacks – LB Germaine Pratt
- 5 tackles, 1 INT – DT B.J. Hill
- 23 carries, 132 yards, 1 TD, 3 catches, 25 rec. yards – Vikings RB Ty Chandler
- 7 catches, 84 yards – Vikings WR Justin Jefferson
Key moment:
WR Tee Higgins delivered an acrobatic TD catch with 39 seconds remaining in regulation, sending the game to overtime.
Steelers 13, Colts 30
The Steelers continued their recent free-fall by losing to the Colts in ugly fashion, raising more questions about long-time head coach Mike Tomlin’s future with the team.
Key numbers:
- 16-23, 169 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs – QB Mitch Trubisky
- 2-3. 3 yards – QB Mason Rudolph
- 10 carries, 40 yards, 5 catches, 28 yards – RB Jaylen Warren
- 4 catches, 62 yards, 1 TD – WR Diontae Johnson
- 3 tackles, 2 sacks – LB T.J. Watt
- 18-28, 215 yards, 3 TDs – Colts QB Gardner Minshew
- 17 carries, 88 yards – Colts RB Trey Sermon
Key moment:
The second half, which turned a 14-13 nailbiter into a relative blowout. The Steelers lost all momentum, and it showed.
Bears 17, Browns 20
The Browns outlasted a hapless Bears team, due mostly to a torrid fourth quarter from QB Joe Flacco.
Key numbers:
- 28-44, 374 yards, 2 TDs, 3 INTs – QB Joe Flacco
- 18 carries, 29 yards – Cleveland’s entire rushing output
- 10 catches, 104 yards, 1 TD – TE David Njoku
- 4 catches, 109 yards, 1 TD – WR Amari Cooper
- 6 tackles, 1 sack, 2 TFLs, 1 INT, 2 PD – LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah
- 19-40, 166 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs, 7 carries, 30 yards – Bears QB Justin Fields
- 7 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 1 TFL – Bears DE Montez Sweat
Key moment:
Flacco’s 51-yard TD pass to Cooper with 3:08 remaining tied the game and put the Browns in position to pull out another wild finish.
Ravens 23, Jaguars 7
On a sloppy offensive night, the Ravens’ defense controlled and eventually dominated a road opponent.
Key numbers:
- 14-24, 171 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 12 carries, 97 yards – QB Lamar Jackson
- 9 carries, 73 yards – RB Keaton Mitchell
- 5 catches, 70 yards, 1 TD – TE Isaiah Likely
- 7 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 PD – S Kyle Hamilton
- 1 tackle, 1 sack, 4 QB hits – DT Justin Madubuike
- 25-43, 264 yards, 1 TD, 4 carries, 41 yards, 2 lost fumbles – Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence
- 11 tackles – Jaguars S Andrew Wingard
Key moment:
Lawrence’s lost fumble with 7:37 remaining in the fourth quarter – he was concussed and removed from the game following the play – eliminated any comeback hopes the Jaguars had.
See y’all next week.
