AFC North Week 2 Wrapup

The NFL Universe has a weird way of sorting things out.

Week 2 saw a Ravens rebound of sorts, a key Bengals injury, an expectations correction for the Steelers, and…the Browns.

Rather than waste words here, let’s see what happened.

Browns 17, Ravens 41

In a tale of two halves, the Ravens firmly took control in the fourth quarter, scoring 21 unanswered points, and reestablished their beleaguered defense as credible in the process.

The Browns’ unheralded, underrated defense was solid early, holding the Ravens to 10 points in the first half, with the lone touchdown a result of a Ravens punt block by special teamer Jake Hummel, giving them possession on the Browns’ 24-yard line and capped by a QB Lamar Jackson pass to WR Tylan Wallace a couple of plays later.  Jackson (19-29, 225 yards, 4 TDs) only rushed for an uncharacteristic 13 yards on two carries, as he and RB Derrick Henry (11 carries, 23 yards) consistently saw stout eight-man fronts from the Browns defense all day, forcing a reliance on the pass.  Browns DE Myles Garrett (5 tackles, 2 TFL, 2 QB hits) collected 1.5 sacks, including a key third-quarter sack in the red zone to force a Ravens FG attempt.  Ravens WR Devontez Walker pulled in two receptions for 26 yards; both for TDs.  (It should be noted that all three of Walker’s career NFL catches have resulted in touchdowns.)  Ravens WR Zay Flowers had seven catches for 75 yards, and fellow WR Deandre Hopkins added two catches for 61 yards and a TD.

The Browns’ ineffective offense was the key culprit in their loss, as veteran QB Joe Flacco (25-45, 199 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT), never the most mobile player, was a victim of poor protection all day.  Flacco was sacked four times, including a late strip sack by Ravens LB Tavius Robinson that resulted in a fumble recovery by LB Roquan Smith (15 tackles, 3 TFL, 2 QB hits), who subsequently outran the Browns for a TD.

The game marked the debut of Browns’ RB Quinshon Judkins (10 carries, 61 yards, 3 catches 10 yards). Other Browns contributors on offense included loquacious WR Jerry Jeudy (4 catches, 51 yards), WR Cedric Tillman (2 catches, 22 yards, 1 TD) and TE David Njoku (4 catches, 40 yards).

Browns rookie QB Dillon Gabriel (3-3, 19 yards, 1 TD) supplied the Browns’ second touchdown in “garbage time”.

Bengals 31, Jaguars 27

Bengals QB Joe Burrow is again injured.

In what’s becoming a recurring pattern, Burrow (7-13, 76 yards, 1 TD) was driven from the game in the second quarter with a severe case of turf toe, requiring surgery that will likely sideline him for at least three months, and probably the season.  Backup QB Jake Browning (21-32, 241 yards, 2 TDs, 3 INTs) managed to provide the winning points on a late QB sneak for a TD despite his mistakes, moving the Bengals to 2-0 on the season.  Browning was helped considerably all afternoon by WRs Ja’Marr Chase (14 catches, 165 yards, 1 TD) and Tee Higgins (3 catches, 56 yards, 1 TD) on a day when RB Chase Brown (16 carries, 47 yards) did little to assist.  The late, clinching drive was the result of a failed, head-scratching fourth down conversion attempt by the Jaguars, setting up the Bengals to cover 92 yards for the winning points – which they did.

The Bengals’ defense wasn’t particularly good in surrendering 271 passing yards, but they also managed to pick off Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence twice to end promising drives, one each by CB Dax Hill (team-leading 9 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 INT) and S Jordan Battle (4 tackles, 1 INT). DE Trey Hendrickson added the team’s lone sack.

Seahawks 31, Steelers 17

The Steelers, leading 14-7 at halftime, surrendered 28 second half points to lose in resounding fashion, marked by rookie RB/KR Kaleb Johnson’s miscue on a kickoff return he let bounce untouched, which was subsequently recovered in the end zone for an improbable Seattle TD. While not the decisive play, it highlighted some costly mistakes by the Steelers.

QB Aaron Rodgers, coming off a 4 TD, no INT game the previous week, completed 18 passes for 203 yards, 1 TD and two INTs in his Steelers home debut, with his lone TD pass going to former Seahawks WR D.K. Metcalf (3 catches, 20 yards, 1 TD).  RB Jaylen Warren (14 carries, 48 yards, 4 catches, 86 yards) was easily the Steelers’ most effective offensive contributor, leading the team in both rushing and receiving yards.  TE Pat Freiermuth added three catches for 31 yards on an otherwise subpar day for nearly the entire offense.

The normally-stout Steelers defense allowed 105 rushing yards to Seattle RB Kenneth Walker III and 295 passing yards, although they did pick off Seahawks QB Sam Darnold twice, once by LB Nick Herbig (3 tackles, 1 INT) and once by CB Jalen Ramsey (6 tackles, 2 PD, 1 INT).  Second-year LB Payton Wilson led the team with 10 tackles.

On to next week.  See you then.