It’s the last AFCN Wrapup of the year. Soon to be followed by the first AFCN Wrapup of 2025.
No worries. You guys are supposed to have a Happy New Year no matter what.
So, go do that.
Meantime, here’s a glance at last week. Enjoy.
Chiefs 29, Steelers 10
“That sucked, to be blunt.” – Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin
He’s not wrong. The Steelers scored a paltry ten points and were shut out completely in the fourth quarter by the defending Super Bowl champs, fully displaying the direction of the Steelers’ offense the last month. QB Russell Wilson (23-37, 205 yards, 1 INT, 6 carries, 55 yards, 1 rushing TD) appears to have lost the ‘touch’ on his deep passes even with the return of favorite WR George Pickens (3 catches, 50 yards). Wilson doesn’t appear to have many options underneath these days beyond TE Pat Freiermuth (7 catches, 60 yards), and while the Steelers’ rushing attack gained significant yards (202 combined yards, 1 TD), few of those gains were to convert third downs or do much in the red zone.
Speculation continues that star edge LB T.J. Watt may not be fully recovered from an ankle injury, as his unremarkable day (3 tackles) amply showed. Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes (29-38, 320 yards, 3 TDs), operating from a pressure-free pocket most of the time, picked on the Steelers’ coverage all afternoon, victimizing S Minkah Fitzpatrick and LB Patrick Queen (7 tackles each) in particular.
The Steelers have a final shot at clinching the division in Week 18, but only if the AFCN-leading Ravens lose at home to the Browns.
Next: Bengals @ Steelers, 1/4, 8:00 pm, ESPN
Ravens 31, Texans 2
The cliché goes “it wasn’t as close as the score made it appear.” That certainly applies to this game, where the 29-point differential seems almost kind.
The Texans looked uninspired and broken in the face of the Ravens’ rushing attack and RB Derrick Henry (27 carries, 147 yards, 1 TD, 2 catches, 18 yards), among others. QB Lamar Jackson (10-15, 168 yards, 2 TDs, 4 carries, 87 yards, 1 rushing TD) didn’t have to pass much; it simply wasn’t necessary with the team totaling 251 yards on the ground and averaging 5.8 YPC in the process. TE Mark Andrews (2 catches, 68 yards, 1 TD) led the team in receptions.
Defensively, the Ravens sacked Texans QB C.J. Stroud five times, scattering all five takedowns among the defensive line rotation. S Kyle Hamilton added a late interception, but the strength of the team was in the suffocating pressure they employed all day, effectively shutting down nearly every offensive opportunity the Texans had. Of note was S Ar’Darius Washington’s resounding red zone hit on Texans RB Joe Mixon on a fourth down attempt late in the first half, ending the Texans’ best potential scoring drive.
They didn’t see another.
Next: Browns @ Ravens, 1/4, 4:30 pm, ESPN
Broncos 24, Bengals 30 (OT)
Have to give the Bengals credit; they’ve reeled off four straight wins to claw their way back to a .500 record and an honest shot at the playoffs. It may be too late for their playoff dream to come to fruition, but they haven’t quit, following the lead of QB Joe Burrow (39-49, 412 yards, 3 TDs), whose run of excellence this season would ordinarily have him in MVP contention. Burrow isn’t the sort to air grievances in the media, but one wonders what he privately thinks of the Bengals’ atrocious defensive showing this season and some questionable coaching decisions, mostly regarding personnel.
Burrow was amply aided by, as always, his top two wideouts. WR Tee Higgins (11 catches, 131 yards, 3 TDs) was nearly uncoverable, as was WR Ja’Marr Chase (9 catches, 102 yards); when Burrow has both at his disposal, there’s few secondaries that could prevent multiple scores from them. RB Chase Brown (20 carries, 67 yards, 4 catches, 24 yards) provided strong internal rushing, converting several key third downs on a day where all of them were sorely needed. TE Mike Gesicki (10 catches, 86 yards) provided more than ample support underneath.
The defense was quite busy trying to contain Denver rookie QB Bo Nix (24-31, 219 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT, 7 carries, 31 yards), who continually rallied his team enough to force overtime in a hostile environment. CB Cam Taylor-Britt and LB Joseph Ossai each contributed eight tackles, and MLB Germaine Pratt added the team’s lone INT.
The Bengals may have to sign a kicker this week, unless they choose to trust P Cade York to handle it again (1-2 FG attempts, including a very loud miss in OT that would have clinched the win a bit sooner).
Next: Bengals @ Steelers, 1/4, 8:00 pm, ESPN
Dolphins 20, Browns 3
Sloppy is as sloppy does.
As several have observed, the Browns appear to be accomplishing little by starting obvious backup QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson, even in a lost season. “DTR” (24-47, 170 yards, 1 INT, 4 carries, 10 yards, 1 lost fumble) struggled mightily with coverages and pressure against an average Miami defense, giving no indication he’s anywhere near ready to compete on an NFL level. WR Jerry Jeudy (12 catches, 94 yards) did his level best to assist DTR, but it simply wasn’t close to enough. RB D’Onta Foreman’s 47 yards rushing led the team.
Defensively, the Browns suffered late breakdowns, presumably due to fatigue. DE Myles Garrett collected two sacks and spent a fair amount of time in the Dolphins backfield, and S Grant Delpit added nine tackles. DE Isaiah McGuire, playing extended minutes, posted three QB hits and a sack in his best day of the 2024 season.
Next: Browns @ Ravens, 1/4, 4:30 pm, ESPN
Author’s Note: Thanks for sticking around and supporting my output here. Although I get no financial gain from it, it’s fun to still be able to provide content and jaw about all things with you all, especially in difficult years such as this. You all may not be aware of this, but we’re approaching 15 years of blabbing about football and football-related activities together. I’m oddly proud of that. 😉
Be well, and enjoy your New Year’s Eve. “See you next year!”
-Rav
