It was a busy week in the AFC North, where the playoff seeding picture got decidedly murkier, setting up another meaningful late season tilt between the Ravens and Steelers.
Is there any other kind?
Ravens 35, Giants 14
Thanks to a gigantic talent discrepancy, the Ravens played a loose, undisciplined game and still won handily.
QB Lamar Jackson (21-25, 290 yards, 5 TDs, 6 carries, 65 yards), despite an inexplicable fumble on the opening drive, delivered another superlative day passing and rushing, which was met with little resistance from the hapless Giants defense. RB Derrick Henry (14 carries, 67 yards) posted modest numbers, but largely wasn’t needed. WR Rashod Bateman (3 catches, 80 yards, 2 TDs) had his first career two-TD game, while TE Mark Andrews (2 catches, 24 yards, 1 TD) became the franchise leader in TDs with 48.
The Ravens enjoyed a scrimmage-like atmosphere on defense, knocking out Giants starting QB Tommy DeVito late in the first half. Replacement QB Tim Boyle led two scoring drives for the Giants, one of which was aided by 40 penalty yards by the Ravens’ defense – a point of real concern if this team expects to have a playoff impact. Standouts on defense include (LB Malik Harrison (8 tackles, 1 sack, 2 QB hits) and S Ar’Darius Washington (5 tackles, 1 INT).
Next: Steelers @ Ravens, 12/21, 4:30 pm, FOX
Bengals 37, Titans 27
The Bengals held sway in a sloppy affair featuring ten turnovers between the two teams.
Bengals QB Joe Burrow (26-37, 271 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs, 1 lost fumble) wasn’t particularly sharp, but still managed to set a career high in single-season TD passes with 36, none of which went to oft-used WR Ja’Marr Chase (9 catches, 94 yards) on this day. RB Chase Brown (25 carries, 97 yards, 1 TD, 3 catches, 16 yards, 1 rec. TD) had a busy day and often kept the team moving with key short yardage pickups.
In an interesting twist, DE Sam Hubbard caught a gimmicky short-yardage TD pass, but was injured on the play, encapsulating the day for the Bengals.
Despite surrendering late points, the defense played reasonably well, with LB Akeem Davis-Gaither (12 tackles) and S Jordan Battle (10 tackles) leading the way. CB Mike Hilton had three tackles for loss among his six stops.
Next: Browns @ Bengals, 12/22, 1:00 pm, CBS
Chiefs 21, Browns 7
It was a day of losses for the Browns, the game notwithstanding.
The Browns committed six turnovers, including three from QB Jameis Winston (16-25, 146 yards, 3 INTs) and one from backup QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson. Head coach Kevin Stefanski didn’t commit to a starter for next week. WR Jerry Jeudy still managed 11 catches for 108 yards on an otherwise forgettable day.
RB Nick Chubb (9 carries, 41 yards), already mired in a rehab season, broke his foot on his final carry, ending his season prematurely for the second consecutive year.
On defense, the Browns received nine tackles each from S Grant Delpit and LB Jordan Hicks, and actually managed to knock out Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes (sprained ankle), but was never able to gain much footing in the wake of the barrage of turnovers forcing them back on the field continually.
Next: Browns @ Bengals, 12/22, 1:00 pm, CBS
Steelers 13, Eagles 27
In a methodical, somewhat robotic performance, the Steelers offense was basically suffocated by the Eagles’ offense, who held the ball for the vast majority of the second half. Pittsburgh managed just 11 offensive plays the entire half, in which they were (obviously) shut out.
QB Russell Wilson (14-22, 128 yards, 1 TD), clearly missing deep target WR George Pickens, did his level best in his limited opportunities. TE Pat Freiermuth caught the team’s lone TD pass, and WR Calvin Austin III added five catches for 65 yards. The team ground out a paltry 56 yards rushing on 17 carries, with just five attempts in the fateful second half.
Despite leaving in the fourth quarter due to an ankle injury, Edge T.J. Watt collected seven tackles and two sacks. LB Patrick Queen added 11 tackles, and safeties Minkah Fitzpatrick and Damontae Kazee added eight tackles each – never a good sign for any secondary to have both safeties that active.
Next: Steelers @ Ravens, 12/21, 4:30 pm, FOX
Eat, drink and enjoy the holidays.
