
Tag: afc north


North lead at stake, Lamar Jackson, Ravens set sights on Steelers
Week 11 arrived and with it the start of the AFC North schedule for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
As luck would have it, the Steelers open division play with a showdown for first place when they host the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. Pittsburgh certainly has confidence with seven wins in the past eight meetings with Baltimore.
The Ravens (7-3) are 2-1 against AFC North opponents and looking to unseat first-place Pittsburgh (7-2).
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin isn’t the least bit concerned about a schedule that calls for the Steelers to play four straight division opponents and six of eight against the AFC North to end the regular season.
“I don’t care,” Tomlin said on Wednesday. “I’ll play them whenever they schedule us. We’ve got no control over the schedule. Our goal is to beat everybody, but specifically week to week, we get singly focused on this week’s opponent, and so I’d be making it up if I told you I cared about the schedule of when we face people. I don’t.”
After the tussle with the Ravens, Pittsburgh goes on the road to play the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals before hosting the Browns.
The Steelers have thrived no matter the opponent in recent weeks, winning four straight games and averaging 30.8 points during the span.
Russell Wilson has been the starter for the past three victories, including a 28-27 road win over the Washington Commanders last week.
Baltimore swept two division shootouts against the Bengals — including a 35-34 home win last week — and lost to the Browns.
While some pointed to a “soft” schedule as fuel for the Steelers’ fast start, Baltimore began the season with losses to the Kansas City Chiefs and Las Vegas Raiders.
The Ravens have won seven of their past eight games with a red-hot offense scoring 28 or more points in all but one contest while averaging 34.4 during that stretch.
Lamar Jackson-led Baltimore tops the NFL in both scoring offense (31.8 points per game) and total offense (440.2 yards per game). The Steelers are in second in scoring defense (16.2).
Pittsburgh linebacker Patrick Queen spent the previous four seasons as Jackson’s teammate. Now he has to figure out how to slow him down.
“He wants to win,” Queen said of Jackson. “He’ll do whatever it takes to win, and he knows what it takes. So just from my perspective, just going against him, just being able not to tackle him in practice, finally get a chance to actually tackle him, that should be fun.
“He’s just a great competitor, he’s a great athlete. He can do whatever he wants on the field as we all know. So for me, it’s just going against the best.”
There is one mark Jackson isn’t highly fond of: He is 1-3 all-time as a starting quarterback against the Steelers. Jackson is highly motivated to reverse the trend.
“It’s a new year, I’m looking forward to the game,” Jackson said. “I’m just focused right now, I’m having fun. I hate everybody in the league — well, every team in the league — when I’m going against them.”
Whereas the Ravens are introducing Derrick Henry to the division rivalry, this will be the first time the Steelers deploy Wilson at quarterback against Baltimore.
Henry leads the NFL in rushing yards (1,120), rushing touchdowns (12) and yards per carry (6.09).
Pittsburgh acquired Wilson after he was released by the Denver Broncos in the offseason.
“They’re a very good offense. Russ brings a lot to the table, kind of playing the way he plays,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said of Wilson. “We’re getting ready to play our best defensive game on Sunday.”
Ravens star safety Kyle Hamilton (ankle) missed practice Wednesday. His availability will be firmed up later in the week. Outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy (illness) also missed the session.
Steelers standout linebacker Alex Highsmith (ankle) was injured against the Commanders and is ruled out for Week 11.
Also sitting out Wednesday for Pittsburgh were running back Najee Harris (ankle), receiver Van Jefferson (quadriceps), tight end MyCole Pruitt (knee) and cornerback Donte Jackson (hamstring).
–Field Level Media

AFC North: 2024 Outlook, Preview, Predictions
AFC North division preview
2024 predicted order of finish, record
Cincinnati Bengals (11-6)
A healthy Joe Burrow should have Cincinnati back in the playoff hunt for the third time in four seasons. The contract dispute with wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase could be a distraction. The Bengals have enough talent to overcome that challenge.
Baltimore Ravens (11-6)
Two-time MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson and newly-signed four-time, Pro Bowl running back Derrick Henry will be a formidable duo in the run game. The defense will be solid but the biggest question is with the offensive line, which has three new starters.
Cleveland Browns (10-7)
Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett leads one of the NFL’s toughest defenses, which allowed a league-best 270.2 yards per game last season. The Browns will need more production from quarterback Deshaun Watson, who was limited to six starts in 2023 because of a shoulder injury.
Pittsburgh Steelers (9-8)
Russell Wilson was named the starter for the opener. His grasp on the job is tenuous after an uninspiring training camp. The Steelers will be stout defensively with linebackers T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith and offseason acquisition Patrick Queen from Baltimore.
Three AFC North MVP candidates
Bengals QB Joe Burrow
Recovered from a season-ending wrist injury he suffered in November against the Ravens, Burrow is one of the most talented quarterbacks in the NFL. In 2022-23, he threw for 4,475 yards and 35 touchdowns with 12 interceptions over 16 games. He also completed 68.3% of his pass attempts (414-of-606), leading the Bengals to back-to-back division crowns for the first time in franchise history.
Ravens QB Lamar Jackson
Jackson is the 11th player in NFL history to win MVP multiple times. He threw for 3,678 yards and 24 touchdowns with career highs in completion percentage (67.2) and yards per completion (8.0) over 16 regular-season games. He also led the Ravens with 821 yards rushing, averaging 5.5 yards per carry and five scores. Jackson is poised for another solid year despite the uncertainty with the offensive line.
Browns DE Myles Garrett
Only two defensive players – Alan Page in 1971 and Lawrence Taylor in 1986 – have won the NFL MVP award. Garrett is a game-wrecker who can help carry the Browns to victories. Last year, he was named the AP Defensive Player of the Year after finishing with 14 sacks – tied for third-most by a Browns player in a season. Garrett also had six quarterback hurries, 16 quarterback knockdowns, and 30 quarterback hits.
2024 AFC North breakout players
Ravens TE Isaiah Likely
The third-year player from Coastal Carolina had six touchdown receptions in the final seven games when Mark Andrews was sidelined with an ankle injury. After an impressive training camp, look for Likely to be more involved and have a huge season.
Ravens ILB Trenton Simpson
The second-year player from Clemson replaces Patrick Queen, who signed with the Steelers this offseason. Simpson is a stout, physical player, who tied rookie safety Beau Brade with a team-high 19 tackles in three preseason games.
Bengals RB Chase Brown
The Canadian will get plenty of opportunities to carry the ball with the departure of Joe Mixon, who was traded to the Texans. Moss averaged 4.1 yards per carry last season and is a solid blocker and pass catcher.
Bengals CB DJ Turner II
The talented defensive back is effective in coverage and will get plenty of opportunities as opponents throw the ball to keep pace with the Bengals’ explosive offense. Turner has some struggles as a rookie, but he’s poised to take the next step in his young career.
Browns S Grant Delpit
The fourth-year player will play a key role in the dominant Browns defense. Delpit had 80 tackles, a career-high 1.5 sacks, three passes defensed, one interception over 13 games last season, and can build on those numbers if he can stay healthy.
Browns WR Jerry Jeudy
After being traded from the Broncos, a change of scenery should benefit Jeudy, a 2020 first-round pick from Alabama. Jeudy has shined in training camp and is a perfect compliment to fellow wideout Amari Cooper and tight end David Njoku.
Steelers LB Nick Herbig
The 2023 fourth-round from Wisconsin is pushing to make a bigger impact after a dominant performance in training camp. Last season, Herbig played in all 17 games, finishing with three sacks and two forced fumbles, and has gotten better this offseason.
Steelers CB Joey Porter Jr.
The son of a former Steelers linebacker already made his mark as a rookie, playing in 17 games and allowing 24 receptions over 807 snaps. Porter is a hard worker and can eventually emerge as one of the league’s top defensive backs.
Week 1 Outlook
Ravens vs. Chiefs, Thursday, Sept. 5, 8:20 p.m. ET
A rematch of last season’s AFC Championship game when the Chiefs emerged with a 17-10 victory en route to their second straight Lombardi Trophy. The primetime opener is not short on star power with a pair of two-time MVPs – quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson. The Chiefs will unveil their Super Bowl LVIII banner and feed off the energy of a raucous crowd. Mahomes has gone 4-1 head-to-head against Jackson. However, Kansas City will be challenged to contain the Ravens newly signed running back, Derrick Henry, a four-time Pro Bowler. The Ravens inexplicably ran the ball just 16 times in the AFC Championship despite having the NFL’s top ground attack. Baltimore coach John Harbaugh won’t make that same mistake this time.
Bengals vs, Patriots, Sunday, Sept. 8, 1 p.m. ET
Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow returns to the lineup after suffering a season-ending wrist injury 10 games into the 2023 season. If Burrow can stay healthy, the Bengals have enough talent to make a deep playoff run. Patriots coach Jerod Mayo named Jacoby Brissett the team’s starting quarterback over rookie Drake Maye, the third overall pick in the draft. Brissett has 48 career starts and played 27 snaps in this year’s preseason, going 5-of-14 for 36 yards with an interception (14.6 rating). New England could struggle to keep pace with the Bengals’ high-powered offense.
Browns vs Cowboys, Sunday, Sept. 8, 4:25 p.m. ET
Deshaun Watson is trying to get his career back on track in Cleveland after dealing with injuries last season that limited him to six games. Watson has a strong group of wide receivers with Amari Cooper and newly acquired Jerry Jeudy. However, Cleveland will be without four-time Pro Bowl running back Nick Chubb, who is still recovering from a knee injury. Cleveland should have a fearsome defense, led by Defensive Player of the Year, Myles Garrett. The unit will keep the pressure on Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, whose future in Dallas is uncertain because of an unresolved contract issue.
Steelers vs. Falcons, Sunday, Sept. 8, 1 p.m. ET
The Russell Wilson era begins for the Steelers … how long will it last? Wilson was underwhelming in the preseason and coach Mike Tomlin could hand the offense over to Justin Fields. Pittsburgh will have a formidable pass rush with T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith to pressure Atlanta’s offensive line. The new-look Falcons will rely on quarterback Kirk Cousins to get the franchise back on track. Atlanta general manager Terry Fontenot caused a stir when he signed Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract in March and then used the eighth overall pick in the draft to select another quarterback — Michael Penix Jr.
–Field Level Media

Ravens climbing AFC futures odds board
Futures odds shifts are beginning to spotlight a rising contender in the AFC: the Baltimore Ravens.
The Ravens jumped to +800 to win the conference at 5-3 following the Cincinnati Bengals’ loss to the Cleveland Browns in an AFC North duel on Monday night that capped Week 8 in the NFL. Cincinnati is 4-4 and the Browns are 3-5.
Baltimore had been +1400 in July to win the AFC at FanDuel and BetMGM.
As of Tuesday morning, odds pointed to the Ravens as a near lock to win the division at -320 at FanDuel, -360 at Caesars Sportsbook and -380 at DraftKings. On Aug. 3, the Ravens were +165 to win the North, narrowly ahead of the Bengals (+210) and Browns (+235).
Lamar Jackson has approached his 2019 MVP form and the Ravens upgraded their defense on Monday with the trade deadline acquisition of inside linebacker Roquan Smith from the Chicago Bears.
Baltimore is still well back of the favorites to win the Super Bowl, at +1600 at most books at +1800 at DraftKings.
That second tier with the Ravens at most sportsbooks includes the Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers and Minnesota Vikings.
The top tier includes AFC favorite Buffalo, now at +320 to win the Super Bowl ahead of the Philadelphia Eagles (+500) and Kansas City Chiefs (+700) at Caesars.
BetMGM, Caesars and FanDuel all have elevated the projected win total for the Ravens.
Caesars has the Ravens over-under on wins set at 11 (-110) and FanDuel is at 10.5 (-150). BetMGM and DraftKings adjusted the Ravens up to 11 (-115).
Jackson’s MVP odds are steady. At Caesars, he’s +1300 and a distant fourth behind Bills quarterback Josh Allen (+125), Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (+350) and Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (+375).
FanDuel has Jackson at +950 behind the same three quarterbacks. He’s +1000 at DraftKings.
–Field Level Media

Ravens Steelers Pick, Game Wednesday
Team preview: Cincinnati Bengals
<p> It wasn’t all that long ago when the Cincinnati Bengals were viewed as one of the most poorly run franchises in the NFL. While that may have been the perception, it was never actually true. I have known some of the Brown family for close to 30 years and I have nothing but the utmost respect for them and their organization.</p> <p> The Bengals may do things a little differently than many NFL clubs, but the fact of the matter is that they have been extremely stable for over a decade. Marvin Lewis is going into his 12th year as head coach and while Cincinnati hasn’t been to a Super Bowl, they have become consistent playoff contenders. The Bengals have been in the playoffs in each of the last three seasons as well as four of the last five years. That is consistency.</p> <p> <strong>Quarterback</strong></p> <p> Andy Dalton gets some unnecessary heat from people who don’t really know what they are talking about. In each of his first three seasons as an NFL quarterback, Dalton has led the Bengals to the playoffs. There are not many NFL quarterbacks past or present who can put that on their resume.</p> <p class="co_image co_image_right inline_right"> <img alt="Andy Dalton" src="http://cdn.cloudfiles.mosso.com/c1910342/media_center/images/rendered/blog/wysiwyg/ad-4536.jpg" />Dalton threw for a career-high 4,293 yards and 33 touchdowns last season.</p> <p> Yes, Dalton has failed to win in the postseason, but is that all on him? The last time I looked, it was a team game.</p> <p> Dalton is still a young player with lots of upside. He will keep getting better and as he improves, so will the Bengals.</p> <p> Behind, Dalton reside two interesting players. This spring, the Bengals signed Jason Campbell, who is now in his tenth year. While Campbell hasn’t had great success in the league, he gives the Bengals a veteran presence at the most important position.</p> <p> In the fifth round of the draft, the Bengals selected A.J. McCarron from Alabama. Getting McCarron in the fifth round was an outright steal for Cincinnati, as the former Crimson Tide signal-caller has the talent to be a winning starter in the league. As McCarron develops, it will put pressure on Dalton to play well. Competition makes everyone better.</p> <p> <strong>Running back</strong></p> <p> While the Bengals don’t have a proven “bell-cow” type of back, they have a group of runners that many clubs would love to possess.</p> <p> Last year’s second round pick in Giovani Bernard is the ideal rotation back. He lacks the size to play every down, but he averaged better than four yards a carry running with the ball and caught 56 passes. Bernard has excellent big play ability.</p> <p> BenJarvus Green-Ellis might be nearing the end of his career, but he is still a reliable inside runner who can move the chains. The guy that excites me is rookie Jeremy Hill, who just may have been the most complete running back in the 2014 draft. Hill is a “bell cow” type of back and when he gets a little experience, he and Bernard will give the Bengals one of the best running back tandems in the league.</p> <p> <strong>Receivers and tight ends</strong></p> <p> The Bengals’ receiving unit is excellent. They are led by fourth-year pro A.J. Green, who is one of the premier receivers in the game. Green caught 98 passes a year ago.</p> <p> Marvin Jones came on strong in his second year to become a very solid complement to Green. He finished with 51 receptions and 10 touchdowns last season. The third receiver is Mohamed Sanu, who is very talented, but has to become more consistent.</p> <p> The tight end duo is as good as there is in the league. Jermaine Gresham has the size and blocking skills to play at the “Y” position and is athletic enough to split out. Second-year man Tyler Eifert can be a future Pro Bowl-type of player. He has wide receiver speed and athleticism to go along with excellent size and strength.</p> <p> <strong>Offensive line</strong></p> <p> You can’t talk about the Bengals offensive line without first talking about their line coach. Paul Alexander has been with the Bengals for over 20 years and is one of the most highly respected line coaches in the NFL. He does an outstanding job developing players.</p> <p> The line will look a little different in 2014 as Anthony Collins signed with Tampa Bay as a free agent and long-time center Kyle Cook was not brought back.</p> <p> Team leader Andrew Whitworth will replace Collins at left tackle. Whitworth has experience playing on the left side. At right tackle is the big and very consistent Andre Smith.</p> <p> Third-year player and former first-round pick Kevin Zeitler struggled a bit last year, but was suffering from foot problems. The good news is that Zeitler is healthy and should improve. The other guard should be Clint Boling, assuming he is recovered enough from late-season ACL surgery. If he isn’t ready to go, Mike Pollack and rookie Russell Bodine should line up at guard and center. Another player to keep an eye on is free agent signee Marshall Newhouse, who has started games at Green Bay and played with Dalton at TCU.</p> <p> <strong>Defensive line</strong></p> <p> The Bengals have had one of the better defensive lines in the NFL for the last few years. The unit is led by defensive tackle Geno Atkins who, until last year when he suffered a knee injury, had become a Pro Bowl talent. Atkins is still young and will improve, which is not good news for Bengal opponents.</p> <p class="co_image co_image_right inline_right"> <img alt="Geno Atkins" src="http://cdn.cloudfiles.mosso.com/c1910342/media_center/images/rendered/blog/wysiwyg/atkins.jpg" />Geno Atkins anchors a defensive line that lost Michael Johnson during free agency.</p> <p> The other inside player is nine-year vet Domata Peko, who is a consistent run stopper and a team leader. On the outside, the Bengals lost a top player in free agency when Michael Johnson signed with Tampa Bay. However, the Bengals were figuring on his loss and are well stocked at the defensive end position.</p> <p> The two ends who will most likely start the season are Carlos Dunlap and Wallace Gilberry. Dunlap is a solid pass rusher who also does a good job getting his hands up to bat down passes at the line of scrimmage. Gilberry doesn’t have the greatest physical traits, but he plays hard and has the skills to play inside and out.</p> <p> Two young reserves who will challenge for playing time are Margus Hunt and rookie Will Clark. Hunt is in his second year and is an exceptional athlete, but raw. He is expected to show a great amount of improvement. Clark is a natural pass rusher with bend who needs to learn how to play the run a little better. Both young guys have a lot of upside and will see a lot of action in the D-Line rotation.</p> <p> <strong>Linebackers</strong></p> <p> On paper, when you look at the pedigree of the Cincinnati linebackers, they don’t look that impressive. Two of the starters were undrafted college free agents.</p> <p> Vontaze Burfict had character concerns and a slow 40-time coming out of college, which is why he was not drafted. Since coming into the league, Burfict has played with a chip on his shoulder and has become a top outside linebacker. He was invited to the Pro Bowl following last season.</p> <p> Emmanuel Lamur, an undrafted free agent who is a gifted athlete, is the starter at the other outside spot going into camp. He will be challenged by Jason Dimanche, a third former undrafted free agent, and Sean Porter
, who missed his rookie season due to injury.</p> <p> In the middle is veteran Ray Maualuga. Maualuga is a natural Mike linebacker and has very good instincts. His backup will most likely be Ray Vincent, who always plays well when called upon.</p> <p> <strong>Secondary</strong></p> <p> At the corner position, age is beginning to become a concern. Terrence Newman is in his mid-30s and Adam Jones is 31. While they still play solid football, the Bengals have to get younger at the position. To do that, Cincinnati drafted Darqueze Dennard, who is a talented press corner, in the first round. Dennard will challenge to start as a rookie and, worst case scenario, he is the nickel corner.</p> <p> Leon Hall is coming off an Achilles injury and should be ready to go at the beginning of camp. With his return, the Bengals will have four solid corners. Dre Kirkpatrick, who was a first round pick in 2012, has to come on. He has been a disappointment to date and this might be his final chance to prove he is worth keeping.</p> <p> Reggie Nelson is an outstanding free safety who has the knack of coming up with big plays. At strong safety, George Iloka is coming off his best year. He has a physical presence about him and is always around the ball. His main problem is dropping too many potential interceptions. The Bengals signed Danieal Manning during free agency. He can play either strong or free and has very good ball skills. He is also a top kickoff returner.</p> <p> <strong>Outlook</strong></p> <p> The other day <a href="http://footballpost.wpengine.com/Team-preview-Baltimore-Ravens.html" target="_self">when I wrote up Baltimore</a>, I said the Ravens will come on strong after an off year in 2013. While I believe that, the Bengals will give Baltimore all they can handle. The key will be how much better Dalton plays at quarterback.</p> <p> While I feel the Bengals are a lock to be a wild card playoff team, steady improvement by Dalton could give the Bengals the AFC North title. The head-to-head matchups with the Ravens will be the key. If one of those two teams sweeps the series, that team will win the division.</p> <p> <strong>Follow Greg on Twitter:</strong> @<a href="http://www.twitter.com/greggabe" target="_blank">greggabe</a></p>