AFC North Week 7 Wrapup

It was a light week for the AFCN, which featured one Thursday divisional contest and a “they’d better win that one” game for the Browns.

Rather than dwell on the natural reduction of ink I’ll apply here this week, let’s just get into it.

Here’s what happened.

Steelers 31, Bengals 33

Oh, that prescient Mike Tomlin.

In accordance with the Steelers’ head coach’s expressed concerns about the Bengals and Browns transacting for (now-Bengals) veteran QB Joe Flacco a few weeks ago, Flacco (31-47, 342 yards, 3 TDs) used a simplified game plan and some of the NFL’s best wideouts to take down the Steelers and expose several flaws in their beleaguered defense.

As the cliche goes, Flacco went early and often to WR Ja’Marr Chase (16 catches, 161 yards, 1 TD), who bailed the Bengals out of several third down scenarios and was essentially uncoverable all evening.  Fellow WR Tee Higgins (6 catches, 96 yards, 1 TD) was almost as impressive on deep attempts, all of which was set up by the effectiveness of the rushing attack and RB Chase Brown (11 carries, 108 yards).  Flacco only used five receivers throughout the game.

The Steelers offense was nearly as effective, if less surprising.  QB Aaron Rodgers (23-34, 249 yards, 4 TDs, 2 INTs) was on point for most of the contest, amply aided by TE Pat Freiermuth (5 catches, 111 yards, 2 TDs) and RB Jaylen Warren (16 carries, 127 yards, 4 catches, 31 yards).  Rodgers’ two second quarter INTs proved detrimental overall, leading to 10 Cincinnati points.

Defensively, neither team stood out, although the Bengals managed to stop the Steelers’ offense just enough to eke out the two-point victory.  Bengals rookie LB Barrett Carter led the team with 12 tackles, and S Jordan Battle pulled in his third INT of the season, all in the absence of 2024 sack leader Trey Hendrickson.  Steelers S Deshon Elliott led Pittsburgh with nine mostly-downfield tackles (seven on Chase alone), and the defense notched two sacks.  LB Cole Holcomb provided his best Steelers effort (7 tackles) since suffering a gruesome knee injury in 2023.

Dolphins 6, Browns 31

It was a rookie showcase for the Browns Sunday, as four key statistical measures were topped with them.

In taking down the hapless, turnover-prone Dolphins, Browns rookie QB Dillon Gabriel (13-18, 116 yards) was efficient and mistake-free, if not terribly productive.  The bulk of the offense ran through rookie RB Quinshon Judkins (career-high 25 carries, 84 yards, 3 TDs) and rookie TE Harold Fannin Jr. (team-high 4 catches, 36 yards), both of whom are regular stat-toppers for the Browns these days.

There was little on defense the Browns couldn’t do. Struggling Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa tossed three INTs among his 23 attempts before being mercifully pulled for backup QB Quinn Ewers.  The Browns racked up four sacks and were again led in tackles by rookie LB Carson Schwesinger. The unit produced six fumbles, recovering two, which served to give Gabriel, Judkins and the rest of the offense short fields on several drives. Yes, it was the Dolphins, but the swarming, collective nature of this defense and the fact it’s a largely young group should give the rest of the AFC North fits for several years…if they can retain the roster.

Next time.