The Steelers were the only team in the AFC North division to lose in week 11 so they need to rebound here.
The Steelers were the only team that lost in their division and that will not help them going forward. It was a close game that saw this depleted roster climb out of a deep hole and gain a lead. Their valiant efforts were not rewarded and that game against the LA Chargers ended in defeat.
There were just too many key players out of the lineup on the defensive side of the football for this team to ever really have a chance in week 11. The close score was promising and somewhat of a surprise. Ben Roethlisberger looked impressive so that will give some hope for this tough stretch-run of 2021.
The Bengals were able to take care of business and dominate the reeling Las Vegas Raiders. The Ravens were able to overcome injuries and illness to squeak out a win in Chicago. The Browns won but it was a very close game against the Detroit Lions that should start some concerns for fans moving forward.
Cincinnati Bengals (6-4)
The Bengals had a nice win against the troublesome Las Vegas Raiders. It was a dominant victory that saw Cincinnati return to form. They need to keep that consistency as this regular season begins to wind down.
They were sliding before this win came about. They will now turn their attention to another big game as they face the Steelers. This will be a huge game for the Bengals but an even more meaningful one for Pittsburgh.
This visiting team will be starving for a win but they could be without major players. That injury and illness list will get a close look as the week goes on. That will affect the outcome of this matchup.
Cleveland Browns (6-5) vs Baltimore Ravens (7-3), Sunday at 8:20 P.M. ET
The Browns are coming off another tough win that saw them almost get upset. The Detroit Lions have been on the upswing over the last couple of weeks but they shouldn’t be giving these AFC North clubs many issues. Cleveland won but it was a very ugly outcome.
Baker Mayfield still looks injured and continues to get worse by the week. They are not playing their best football at the moment and that will be an issue going down the stretch. These last playoff spots and division standings will be decided over these last handful of weeks.
They will now head on the road to face a tough foe, the Baltimore Ravens. Lamar Jackson should be back after missing their last game with an illness. That will make another big issue for the Browns defense to be concerned about.
The health of the road squad has become concerning each week and that will affect them going forward. If they play like they did last week then this will not be a close game. Mayfield’s play has been suspect and he is getting ready to face one of the better turnover-driven defenses in the NFL. That is going to be a big factor in this game.
Cleveland Browns (6-5) vs Baltimore Ravens (7-3), Sunday at 8:20 P.M. ET
This is going to have huge playoff ramifications when this season ends. The Ravens will secure the AFC North division with a win here at home without officially completing the task. It will be a tough division lead to lose if they can find a victory here.
They played gutsy last week with a backup quarterback against the Bears. It was a tough road game under odd circumstances but they were able to find a way to win the game. Good teams always find ways to win football games and Baltimore has been doing that most of 2021.
The good news for this home club in this fight will be having Lamar Jackson back. He makes a huge impact on the field whenever he is in the lineup. He should be able to take advantage of the injuries on the Browns team and score points. They have a depleted unit that Jackson should be able to scramble and make explosive plays against.
The biggest issue for Baltimore is they will be playing a team with all the fight in the world. The Browns have their backs up against a wall and they need this win. If they lose, then their playoff hopes start to dwindle. These division matchups are very important right now.
Pittsburgh Steelers (5-4-1) vs Cincinnati Bengals (6-4), Sunday at 1 P.M. ET
The Steelers are heading into this week with another bunch of unknowns. They should have some players back from injury and illness in week 11 but the big question will be who? They lost to the Chargers because this defensive unit was without the likes of T.J. Watt, Joe Haden, and Minkah Fitzpatrick.
Keep a close eye on that injury report from their practices this week. This team showed a lot of character as they came back against the Chargers. That is not easy to do especially without a wide array of starters in the lineup.
They now head on the road to try and get revenge against the Cincinnati Bengals. They came into Heinz Field earlier in the season and defeated the black and gold and now it is time to repay the favor. It is going to be a tough game of AFC North football that the away team needs to win.
Getting out of the stadium with a victory on Sunday will be tough but not impossible. The Bengals still have a great offense but they have started slowing down since the Steelers saw them last.
If the visiting club is healthy, then they should be able to win this game. That offensive output was very impressive against LA but if they can continue that going forward with a healthy defense, this will be a tough team to beat.
The AFC North is still wide open for positioning for some of these teams to make the playoffs. The Steelers need to get going to stay in competition.