Long slog to get here, eh?
At the halfway point of the 2019 season, little has turned out as we expected. We anticipated the Steelers being in the mix for an AFC North lead; it now appears they’re possibly an 8-8 team at best, as the absence of starting QB Ben Roethlisberger has led to a marked reliance on the Pittsburgh defense to win games. The Browns, to be kind, don’t appear as good as we’d anticipated, for myriad reasons. The Bengals…well, their decline was predicted by most publications, including my former residence (in other words, me). Few had the Ravens being in the proverbial “driver’s seat” of the division, but here we are, due largely to the athletic prowess of second-year QB Lamar Jackson. Speaking of which…
On the heels of his latest dominant primetime performance, Jackson’s apparently entered the MVP conversation. While there’s no denying Jackson’s physical gifts, the game seemed to be more of an indictment of the Patriots’ defense than a boost of his game or stature, as Jackson didn’t really show us anything new – timely rushing and passing by reacting to defensive gaps or lapses. Jackson gets credit for learning where to pick his spots, but he’s far from a finished product – a prospect that should scare the league a little. But is he the league MVP? We’ll have to finish another eight games to answer that question. Speaking of which…
The Bengals will get their first regular-season look at rookie QB Ryan Finley this week, and while they’re hoping he retains the starting job, it seems his promotion is part of the puzzling Bengals personnel plan, which is to say there probably isn’t a plan at all. Finley will make his first start Sunday against the aforementioned Ravens at home, at tall task for any rookie quarterback, but potentially disastrous for a team with a poor offensive line and, outside of returning star wideout A.J. Green, middling skill position players. The Ravens don’t have much of a pass rush, but expect to see Finley on the run for a good part of the day while he acclimates. Speaking of which…
After eight games, the Browns aren’t acclimating well to first-year head coach Freddie Kitchens, who received notice that he’s being retained despite rumors to the contrary. Firing Kitchens does little for the Browns right now, as the on-field problems run deeper than Kitchens’ play calling, and the defense, under the purview of former Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks, has routinely underperformed. Wilks’ defense, outside of phenom DE Myles Garrett, has been effectively pushed all over the field; the Browns currently rank fifth in points allowed and sixth in yards allowed, so who’s the real culprit here? Speaking of which…
The Steelers, as mentioned above, are winning on defense, and while it buys them time for backup QB Mason Rudolph to develop, it bodes well for this defense – one with eight first-round picks currently starting on it – going into next season, when presumably the offense will regain its effectiveness. Trade pickup S Minkah Fitzpatrick has been key to Pittsburgh’s staying afloat this season, and while the rest of the team has been spotty, his solid, consistent play has bolstered a maligned defensive backfield more than any other addition has lately. The Steelers aren’t quite in a position to challenge in the playoffs, but getting there isn’t quite the impossibility it once seemed.
Enjoy the week!
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