So another regular season has come to a close.
Be happy, AFC North fans. This season represents one of the best collective outputs for a single division in NFL history. All four teams notched winning records at minimum, with three playoff teams and the AFC’s top seed included.
Special mention goes to the Bengals, who managed to post a respectable record despite a hobbled and eventually shelved Joe Burrow.
Good show, fellas. Now, here’s the hard part.
It’s likely two of these three teams will face each other in the playoffs.
Let the games begin. But of course, here’s what happened last week.
Steelers 17, Ravens 10
The Steelers managed to win a hard-fought contest against the mostly-threadbare Ravens, who rested many key starters in anticipation of their eventual playoff opponent. The loss of premier edge rusher T.J. Watt to a knee injury may sound the proverbial death knell for the Steelers in their first-round matchup against Buffalo.
Key numbers:
- 18-20, 152 yards, 1 TD, 1 lost fumble – QB Mason Rudolph
- 26 carries, 112 yards, 1 TD, 5 catches, 21 yards – RB Najee Harris
- 4 catches, 89 yards, 1 TD – WR Diontae Johnson
- 12 tackles 1 FF, 1 PD – S Eric Rowe
- 8 tackles, 2 sacks, 3 TFL – LB T.J. Watt
- 15-28, 146 yards, 1 TD – QB Tyler Huntley
- 10 carries, 48 yards, 1 lost fumble – RB Gus Edwards
- 2 catches, 31 yards, 1 TD – TE Isaiah Likely
- 13 tackles, 1 TFL – LB Del’Shawn Phillips
- 7 tackles, 1 sack, 2 TFL – LB Trenton Simpson
Key moment:
The Steelers recovered an onside kick in the game’s final minute to clinch the sloppy win.
Browns 14, Bengals 31
The Bengals notched a season-ending win at home against the purposely-undermanned Browns and backup QB Jeff Driskel. The Browns remained relatively healthy ahead of their wild card matchup in Houston.
Key numbers:
- 13-26, 166 yards, 2 TD, 2 INTs; 7 carries, 33 yards – QB Jeff Driskel
- 14 carries, 65 yards – RB Pierre Strong
- 4 catches, 68 yards, 2 TDs – WR David Bell
- 10 tackles – LB Tony Fields II
- 7 tackles, 1 sack, 2 TFL – S Duron Harmon
- 18-24, 156 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT; 2 carries, 18 yards – QB Jake Browning
- 14 carries, 111 yards, 1 TD, 1 catch, 6 yards, 1 rec. TD – RB Joe Mixon
- 5 catches, 36 yards, 2 TDs – WR Andrei Iosivas
- 4 tackles, 1 sack, 2 TFL, 2 PD – S Jordan Battle
- 5 tackles, 1 PD – LB Logan Wilson
Key moment:
Browning’s second TD pass with roughly nine minutes remaining in the second quarter provided the winning points for the Bengals.
Let the REAL games begin.
