AFC North Standings – Steelers remain perfect entering Week 9
By Mike Morris
As he watched the Steelers dismantle the Cleveland Browns last month, CBS analyst Tony Romo predicted the Steelers would beat the Titans, Ravens, and Cowboys and return to Heinz Field undefeated.
The Steelers are two-thirds of the way done proving him right. Robert Spillane and Alex Highsmith intercepted Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson, the former running the ball back for a touchdown. The defense also forced and recovered a fumble as Pittsburgh survived a dramatic last-play heave from Jackson to down the Ravens 28-24 at M&T Bank Stadium.
The Baltimore Sun gives us this week’s schadenfreude-inducing headline: “The Ravens gave a game away. Now the Steelers could be the least of their problems”:
"As the Pittsburgh Steelers stormed the field Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium, finally able to breathe after a tense and controversial final minute, finally free of the Ravens after a rough-and-tumble afternoon that epitomized this rivalry’s appeal, Minkah Fitzpatrick looked into the stands and waved goodbye. Then the safety blew a kiss, in case his message wasn’t clear.More from Still Curtain5 Steelers players who likely played their final game with the teamSteelers plan to have Matt Canada return as OC for the 2023 seasonSteelers news: Coaching decisions on hold, Titans snatch John Leglue, and moreAn in-depth review of Steelers Kenny Pickett’s rookie seasonShocking trades that the Steelers could make this offseasonAfter a 28-24 loss, there might be no coming back. The Ravens are now two games behind the unbeaten Steelers in the AFC North. They are now without their top offensive lineman. They are now dealing with an error-prone quarterback and an unhappy No. 1 wide receiver. They are still a good team, but every week they become a little more vulnerable, a little more ordinary."
Of course, well wishes go out to injured left tackle Ronnie Stanley. Otherwise, that was a thoroughly enjoyable read. Go on, read it again. I’ll wait.
The win keeps Pittsburgh undefeated heading into Sunday’s game with the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium.
Elsewhere in the division, the Bengals won, because anything is possible in the year 2020. Cincinnati beat the Tennessee Titans 31-20 behind 249 yards and 2 touchdowns from Joe Burrow. Filling in for the injured Joe Mixon, Giovani Bernard ran for 62 yards on 15 carries. I’m of the mind that beating the Titans is passe and SO last week, but I suppose imitation is truly the sincerest form of flattery.
light. Related Story. Steelers report card: Grading Pittsburgh’s win over the Ravens
It’s November and the Cleveland Browns are still a winning football team at 5-3, but the loss column got a little fatter with the visit of the Las Vegas Raiders. Baker Mayfield put up a pedestrian 122 yards on 12 completions (25 attempts), but, if you wish to be weaselly with the statistics, he was averaging a first down on every throw. Lies, damn lies, and statistics. The Browns lost 16-6, with all of their points coming from kicker Cody Parkey, the double-doink guy. Not great!
The division-leading Steelers are at Dallas on Sunday, the second-place Ravens are at Indianapolis, and the third-place Browns and fourth-place Bengals are on bye weeks.