AFC North Week 9 Wrapup

Given the vast amount of oft-unfounded assumptions that emanate from sports media every Tuesday during the NFL regular season, we shouldn’t be surprised to see utter reversals of grand pronouncements.

Post-Week 7: “The Chiefs may well be the best and most-complete team in the NFL!”

Post-Week 8: “The Chiefs may well be the witnessing the end of their legacy with this depleted roster and lack of weapons!”

Both comments are attributed to ESPN’s Mike Greenberg, host of ESPN’s “Get Up”, a milquetoasty offering for lackadaisical sports fans struggling through their morning coffee.  Greenberg has never met a bombastic cliche he couldn’t express with “extra gusto” (added hyperbole), which is his unfortunate term for his ritual over-embellishment of nearly everything that crosses his desk.

The AFC North and subsequent trade deadline has done little to quell Greenberg’s polar-level swings, as Week 9 offered much to be overexuberant and hyperbolic about.

Let’s examine it without extra gusto, shall we?

Ravens 28, Dolphins 6

QB Lamar Jackson (18-23, 204 yards, 4 TDs) returned to the starting lineup for the suddenly-jubilant Ravens, now winners of their last two games after a disastrous 1-5 start.  RB Derrick Henry (19 carries, 119 yards) added to his lofty career totals.  And TE Mark Andrews (2 catches, 22 yards, 2 TDs) demonstrated his fascination with the number 2.  The Ravens generated a total of 354 yards of offense; a vast improvement over their underwhelming offensive output since Week 2.

The offensive turnaround was hardly surprising against a woeful Dolphins team that’s shedding players and locker room cohesion by the day, having jettisoned GM Chris Grier a few days before this game, with head coach Mike McDaniel a real possibility to be dismissed before season’s end.

The Ravens’ much-maligned defense had little trouble, forcing the end of drives on nine of 11 Miami possessions, including three turnovers and a failed fourth-down conversion.  The team collected two sacks and recovered two fumbles, with standout games from MLB Roquan Smith (12 tackles) and CB Marlon Humphrey (6 tackles, 2 PD, 1 FR) in an outing that also featured rookie S Malaki Starks’ first career interception.

Colts 20, Steelers 27

The Steelers’ defense managed to find the 2024 version of Colts QB Daniel Jones, whose miraculous comeback season was rudely marred by six turnovers and little protection from the Steelers’ rejuvenated pass rush.

The defense was led by LB Payton Wilson’s 14 tackles and CB Joey Porter Jr.’s (8 tackles, 1 sack, 4 PD) finest day as an NFL player thus far.  LB Alex Highsmith added four tackles and two sacks.  The team did allow 342 yards passing, albeit on 50 attempts from Jones, mostly in the second half as the Steelers built a significant lead.

Offensively, the Steelers didn’t need to do much, as they were handed short fields via turnovers all afternoon.  QB Aaron Rodgers (25-35, 203 yards, 1 TD), was efficient despite shaky protection, relying on RB Jaylen Warren (16 carries, 31 yards, 2 TDs) and WR Calvin Austin III (5 catches, 56 yards) as bailout, dump-off options as needed.  TE Pat Freiermuth (3 catches, 27 yards, 1 TD) provided the team’s lone TD reception.

Bears 47, Bengals 42

In the day’s wildest finish, the Bears managed a wholly-improbable TD pass with 17 seconds remaining to seal a comeback victory over the confounding Bengals, who have now scored 80 total points over two consecutive games, only to lose both in decisively heartbreaking fashion.

QB Joe Flacco (31-47, 470 yards, 4 TDs, 2 INTs) notched a career high in passing yards, aided by WRs Tee Higgins (7 catches, 121 yards, 2 TDs) and Ja’Marr Chase (6 catches, 111 yards) all afternoon.  RB Chase Brown (11 carries, 37 yards, 8 catches, 75 yards) put in a solid all-around effort, leading the team in both rushing yards and receptions.  WR Andrei Iosivas (5 catches, 66 yards, 1 TD) added some crucial third down receptions when called upon.

The defense was decidedly less effective.  S Jordan Battle led the team with 12 tackles, all of which were five yards or more beyond the line of scrimmage.  Rookie LB Barrett Carter added 10 tackles, and LB Joseph Ossai (three tackles, 1 sack, 1 PD) recovered an onside kick attempt, which was the impetus for the Bengals to grab a late lead, setting up the Bears’ remarkable finish.

This marks the sixth time in the last two seasons that the Bengals – owners of the worst defense statistically in the NFL – have scored at least 30 points and lost.

Next time.