As the AFC North winds its way towards season’s end and the playoffs, and lest it needs to be said again, all four teams are still alive for playoff spots.
The Ravens have clinched an appearance, with an eye towards securing the AFC North and home field advantage throughout the playoffs should they win out against two tough opponents. The Browns, at 10-5, are a near-total lock for a wild card slot at minimum even if they lose out. The Bengals and Steelers are fighting for scraps, but as last week reminded us, these scenarios can change quickly.
The playoffs come at you pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in awhile, you might miss them.
Anyway, here’s what happened last weekend.
Bengals 11, Steelers 34
To be perfectly cliché, the clock has struck midnight for Bengals backup QB Jake Browning, who turned in the worst performance of his young career. The Steelers were quite pleased and took advantage for a much-needed win and offensive resurgence.
Key numbers:
- 28-42, 225 yards, 1 TD, 3 INTs – Bengals QB Jake Browning
- 15 carries, 59 yards – the Bengals, collectively
- 5 catches, 140 yards, 1 TD – Bengals WR Tee Higgins
- 11 tackles – Bengals LB Logan Wilson
- 3 tackles, 1 sack – Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson
- 17-27, 290 yards, 2 TDs – QB Mason Rudolph
- 19 carries, 78 yards, 1 TD – RB Najee Harris
- 4 catches, 195 yards, 2 TDs – WR George Pickens
- 8 tackles, 1 TFL – LB Mykal Walker
- 3 tackles, 1 sack, 4 QB hits – LB T.J. Watt
Key moment:
Steelers QB Mason Rudolph connected with WR George Pickens for a 66-yard TD with 9:38 remaining in the third quarter. The Bengals appeared flat and looking ahead to next week afterwards.
Browns 36, Texans 22
Browns WR Amari Cooper set a franchise record with 265 receiving yards against the overmatched, injured Texans. “…it kind of seemed a little easy.” – Cooper
Key numbers:
- 27-42, 368 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs – QB Joe Flacco
- 11 catches, 265 yards, 2 TDs – WR Amari Cooper
- 30 carries, 54 yards, 2 TDs – the Browns rushing output
- 2 tackles, 2 sacks, 4 QB hits – DE Za’Darius Smith
- 7 tackles – LB Sione Takitaki
- 15-32, 149 yards, 2 TDs – Texans QB Davis Mills (replacing starter Case Keenum late in the third quarter)
- 11 tackles – Texans CB Desmond King II
Key moment:
Flacco’s last TD pass to Cooper with 2:35 remaining in the third quarter provided a comfortable margin for the Browns.
Ravens 33, 49ers 19
The Ravens defense made a statement, intercepting 49ers QB Brock Purdy on three of their first four drives. The reeling 49ers never responded.
Key numbers:
- 23-35, 232 yards, 2 TDs, 7 carries, 45 yards – QB Lamar Jackson
- 9 catches, 72 yards, 1 TD – WR Zay Flowers
- 3 catches, 56 yards – TE Isaiah Likely
- 5 tackles, 2 INTs, 3 PDs – S Kyle Hamilton
- 7 tackles, 1 INT, 2 PDs – LB Patrick Queen
- 18-32, 255 yards, 4 INTs – 49ers QB Brock Purdy
- 14 carries, 103 yards, 1 TD, 6 catches, 28 yards – 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey
Key moment:
Jackson’s second TD pass within an 18-second span late in the third quarter put the Ravens comfortably in control for the rest of the game.
See y’all next week.
