It’s the last runup to Election Day, and right now, the AFC North is every bit as jumbled as the current race for POTUS.
The top of the standings show Pittsburgh with a one-game lead, yet most pundits are predicting the Ravens, despite their obvious defensive problems, will ultimately prevail in the division race. The Bengals are still inexplicably mapping out routes to the playoffs, and the Browns are within four games of the division lead with nine games to play.
This could get ugly.
Eagles 37, Bengals 17
The Eagles scored 20 unanswered points in the second half to seal a win against the stumbling Bengals. Eagles QB Jalen Hurts (16-20, 236 yards, 1 TD, 10 carries, 37 yards, 3 rushing TDs), aided as always by the Eagles’ patented “Tush Push”, outscored the Bengals by himself with a nice assist from RB Saquon Barkley (22 carries, 108 yards). The Bengals’ defense was clearly exhausted by the fourth quarter and was pushed all over the field in protection; Hurts was not sacked and was hit only once officially, allowing him to operate as he chose all afternoon. CB Cam Taylor-Britt and LB Germaine Pratt led the team with 9 tackles each.
Offensively, the Bengals weren’t much better. Missing WR Tee Higgins, QB Joe Burrow (26-37, 234 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT) did his level best to move the football, but the lack of a short-yardage attack (58 total rushing yards) ultimately doomed the Bengals. WR Ja’Marr Chase led the team with 9 catches for 54 yards and a TD, followed by TE Mike Gesicki (7 catches, 73 yards).
Next: Raiders @ Bengals, 11/3, 1:00 pm, FOX
Ravens 24, Browns 29
The Browns look born again with new starting QB Jameis Winston, who passed for 334 yards and 3 TDs against a hapless Ravens secondary missing two starters that still managed to blow several opportunities.
Four Cleveland receivers had at least five catches, led by WR Cedric Tillman’s 7 for 99 yards and 2 TDs, while RB Nick Chubb had a surprising 16 carries for 52 yards, showing he’s indeed ready to handle an increased workload going forward. Winston (27-41) wasn’t perfect, but was lucky, as four Ravens defenders dropped potential interceptions at various times, including during the Browns’ final scoring drive on a miscue by S Kyle Hamilton. The Browns scored the winning points on the next play, leaving the Ravens to ponder their secondary’s ineptitude and why it remains the team’s biggest problem and possible impediment to a successful season.
Hamilton and fellow S Eddie Jackson led the team with 10 tackles each.
Ravens QB Lamar Jackson (23-38, 289 yards, 2 TDs, 8 carries, 46 rushing yards) contended as well as he could with Cleveland’s improving pass rush, but had little help from the rest of the offense, led by WR Zay Flowers’ 115 receiving yards and TE Mark Andrews 5 catches and lone TD. RB Derrick Henry (11 carries, 73 yards, 1 TD) wasn’t given many opportunities to produce, which was inexplicable in a close game.
Next for Ravens: Broncos @ Ravens, 11/3, 1:00 pm, CBS
Next for Browns: Chargers @ Browns, 11/3, 1:00 pm, CBS
Giants 18, Steelers 26
QB Russell Wilson continued to shake off the rust in his second start, completing 20 of 28 passes for 278 yards and a TD, managing to hold off the Giants for the last four minutes of the game and complete the win. RB Najee Harris (19 carries, 114 yards) posted his third consecutive 100-yard rushing day. Wilson completed passes to 8 different receivers and managed his lone TD pass to WR Calvin Austin III, who also added a punt return TD.
Defensively, the Steelers harassed Giants QB Daniel Jones (24-38, 264 yards, 1 INT) into a crucial late pick with 1:19 remaining in the game, eliminating any remaining chance the Giants might have had. Edge rushers T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith each had two sacks, including a late forced fumble by Watt to stymie a late Giants drive.
Next: Bye
See you next week.
