Heyo.
After the 18th and final week of the 2024 regular season, the Ravens and Steelers clinched playoff berths and traded the top spot in the division, eventually settling on the Ravens. Despite their notable late-season surge and eye-popping offensive numbers, the Bengals were unceremoniously booted from playoff contention by virtue of the Broncos’ decisive win Sunday. And the Browns were awarded the second overall pick in April’s draft.
Is anyone really happy?
Browns 10, Ravens 35
The Browns’ QB choices were rather limited coming into the game, but starting the woeful Bailey Zappe at QB may not have been head coach Kevin Stefanski’s finest decision if they were hoping to steal a win…or perhaps a stroke of genius if they were trying to lose (I cannot affirm or deny this assertion). Zappe (16-31, 170 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs) was barely serviceable. The Browns generated a total of 230 yards on offense, with the only notable contributions coming from WR Jerry Jeudy (6 catches, 63 yards) and TE Jordan Akins (6 catches, 60 yards, 1 TD). In a word…ugh.
The Ravens weren’t much better initially. The NFL’s most productive offense scored just seven points in the first half, turning the ball over on downs three times in that stretch. QB Lamar Jackson (16-32, 217 yards, 2 TDs, 9 carries, 63 yards) righted the proverbial ship in the second half, but expressed displeasure in the team’s overall performance. RB Derrick Henry (20 carries, 138 yards, 2 TDs, 2 catches, 23 yards) was excellent after a lackluster first half, and WR Rashod Bateman (5 catches, 76 yards, 1 TD) led the team in catches after the exit of WR Zay Flowers due to a knee injury.
The Browns played solid defense for the bulk of the first half, particularly in short yardage, but was largely steamrolled in the second. DE Sam Kamara led the team in tackles with six, followed by five players with five tackles each. DE Myles Garrett was held to two tackles and no sacks. Conversely, the Ravens played solid defense throughout, led by MLB Roquan Smith’s 10 tackles and Edge rusher Odafe Oweh’s 10th sack. Shout out to behemoth DT Michael Pierce for his remarkably agile late interception.
Next for Ravens: Steelers @ Ravens, 1/11, 8:00 pm, Prime Video
Next for Browns: A long, tumultuous offseason
Bengals 19, Steelers 17
Given the NFL’s head-scratching scheduling, the Bengals, with their win, were unable to know their playoff fate until the next day. As we know, things didn’t quite pan out as they’d hoped.
Bengals QB Joe Burrow (37-46, 277 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT) wasn’t his usual self, but still managed to do enough against a tough Pittsburgh defense to pull out the win. WR Ja’Marr Chase (10 catches, 96 yards, 1 TD) completed the WR “triple crown” for the season, leading all WR in receptions, yards and TDs. TE Mike Gesicki (8 catches, 68 yards) provided several key third-down receptions.
The Steelers offense produced one of its worst outings with 193 total yards. QB Russell Wilson (17-31, 148 yards, 1 TD) and his patented “moonball” managed only 119 yards overall, with usual recipient WR George Pickens snaring just one catch for no yards, a dubious stat line that’s even more troubling when shown images of Pickens jawing with fans between drives. RB Najee Harris (12 carries, 36 yards, 1 TD, 4 catches, 20 yards) led all Pittsburgh rushers, and TE Pat Freiermuth (8 catches, 85 yards, 1 TD) led all Pittsburgh receivers.
Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson (5 tackles, 3.5 sacks) was nearly unblockable on the day, forcing many incompletions and scrambles amid his multiple takedowns. Bengals LB Akeem David-Gaither’s 12 tackles led all defenders. The Steelers’ perennial pass-rushing threat, Edge rusher T.J. Watt, was held stat-less on the day, capping a disappointing end to a solid season. The Steelers were improbably led in tackles by CB Cory Trice Jr. with 11.
Next for Steelers: Steelers @ Ravens, 1/11, 8:00 pm, Prime Video
Next for Bengals: A long, tumultuous offseason
Let the real games begin.
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