This is not an AI-packaged analysis, although it sure was tempting to use one today.
The overall standings in the AFC North didn’t change much last week, but with one more weekend shaved off the overall schedule, the urgency for the remaining two playoff hopefuls, the 8-6 Steelers and 7-7 Ravens, has ramped up considerably. Both teams face significant challenges with their respective schedules; the AFC North may very well come down to the final game between the two, providing us with some suspense and also providing validation of the league’s schedule makers.
Let’s get on with it.
Ravens 24, Bengals 0
It’s tough enough to limit the Bengals’ vaunted offense. In cycling through several QBs before all-pro Joe Burrow’s return from injury, the Bengals were able to showcase the adaptability of their receiving corps, yet also fully display the substantial warts of their bottom-feeding defense in losing most of those games, with or without Burrow. Still, a shutout was unthinkable, especially with an active Burrow, who had yet to experience one in his six-year career.
Enter the embattled Ravens, who are fighting for their playoff lives and carry some substantial warts of their own on both offense and defense (and really, special teams too).
A slow start didn’t deter the Ravens from putting in a “workman-like” performance, per the Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec. QB Lamar Jackson (8-12, 150 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT, 2 carries, 26 yards) was steady and efficient, with his lone INT coming as a result of a tipped pass by WR Zay Flowers (3 catches, 68 yards, 1 TD). RB Derrick Henry (11 carries, 100 yards) passed the 1,100-yard rushing mark for the fourth consecutive season, collecting several key first downs and showing some much-missed burst in short yardage situations.
The Bengals, as mentioned above, were shut out. The numbers, such as they are, aren’t pretty; Burrow (25-39, 0 TDs, 2 INTs) lambasted his own play after the game, particularly for the interceptions. A vociferous Ja’Marr Chase (10 catches, 132 yards) provided some momentum, but was unable to be effective in the red zone despite several trips there. RB Chase Brown (13 carries, 53 yards, 7 catches, 37 yards) gave a solid effort in the loss.
The Ravens’ defense provided the game’s biggest highlight with LB Kyle Van Noy’s (1 tackle, 1 INT) late interception on the Ravens’ 7-yard line, which he handed off to S Alohi Gilman for an eventual 84-yard TD. LB Roquan Smith (14 tackles) led the team in stops, with able help from LB Trenton Simpson (9 tackles) after subbing for injured LB Teddye Buchanan (knee).
Notable: the Ravens ran a total of 40 offensive plays (71 for the Bengals) for their 17 offensive points, resulting in a vast time-of-possession discrepancy (20:41 to 39:19). The Bengals defense, led by S Jordan Battle’s eight tackles, did manage to sack Jackson four times (two by LB Demetrius Knight Jr., two by DE Myles Murphy).
Browns 3, Bears 31
I recently looked back at some of the infamous “factory of sadness” YouTube videos, which were produced by Cleveland comedian Mike Polk a decade ago to describe the unfortunate state of the Browns at that time.
Other than the names, Polk very well could have been describing the Browns of today after an extended beatdown by the Bears, which amply showed the glaring lack of talent on the offensive roster.
QB Shedeur Sanders (18-35, 177 yards, 3 INTs, 2 carries, 24 yards) wasn’t as poor as his numbers indicate, but he’s still clearly a rookie, resulting in several hurried INTs against an excellent Chicago defense that converted them into 17 points. Rookie RB Quinshon Judkins (12 carries, 21 yards, 3 catches, -4 yards) was effectively shut down all afternoon by a penetrating Bears defensive line. WR Isaiah Bond (2 catches, 89 yards) provided the bulk of the team’s receiving yards, while TE Harold Fannin (7 catches, 48 yards) led the team in receptions.
Defensively, the Browns were again led by LB Carson Schwesinger (14 tackles), with DE Myles Garrett adding 1.5 sacks to his league-leading total of 21.5. Garrett needs another 1.5 sacks to break the single-season record.
Steelers 28, Dolphins 15
The Steelers locked the somewhat-resurgent Dolphins out of the playoffs by cruising to an easy win in chilly Pittsburgh Monday night.
Led by QB Aaron Rodgers (22-28, 253 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT), the slow-starting Steelers broke through with the first of four consecutive TDs via a direct snap to FB Connor Heyward (4 carries, 4 yards, 1 TD) midway through the second quarter. RB Kenneth Gainwell (13 carries, 80 yards, 7 catches, 46 yards) continued to provide versatility to both the rushing and passing attacks, while WR D.K. Metcalf (3 catches, 55 yards, 1 TD) added a red zone score of his own. Seldom-seen TE Pat Freiermuth (3 catches, 45 yards) posted his best statistics in over a month.
LB Patrick Queen (10 tackles, 2 TFL) again led the Steelers in tackles, and the Steelers managed to sack Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa four times among several QB hits on a day when the Steelers were missing all-pro edge rusher T.J. Watt (lung). DT Cam Heyward (5 tackles, 1 sack, 2 TFL, 1 PD) was solid all evening.
Next time.
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