The Steelers had their playoff hopes destroyed last week as they try to salvage something from the remainder of the year.
It was fun while it lasted for the fans of the black and gold. The Steelers had dreams of making it to the post-season just to have it all crumble to the ground this past week against the Baltimore Ravens. It was a game that seemed to be leaning in Pittsburgh’s favor, but they were not able to do enough to win the game.
The rest of the division played each other during week 14 and that will continue over to this week for some. The bottom feeders of the group stayed still while the better teams padded their records some more. The AFC North has two good clubs and that shows in the standings heading into week 15. The difference in talent has become more evident between the four of these groups as the playoffs get closer.
Steelers fall back to earth after a short stint of hope
Any chance of redeeming this year for the Steelers all came to an implosion on Sunday. They were taking on a battered team at home and had multiple chances to come out with a win. They did not take advantage of the situation in front of them and threw all their opportunities away. The playoffs are gone, but this club will fight for any pride that they have left.
Pittsburgh Steelers (5-8) vs Carolina Panthers (5-8), Sunday at 1 P.M. EST
Another week means another bad opponent for Pittsburgh as they are in the middle of one of their easiest stretches of their schedule. The Steelers have been doing a decent job, but they might be without Kenny Pickett at quarterback. That could sink them alone, but now they are missing some more players due to injury and that might make this game another opportunity for disappointment.
Deshaun Watson has not solved any problems for the Browns
Cleveland was under the premise that the return of Deshaun Watson would fix all their issues that they have experienced for decades. It turns out that being away from football for about two years does not help a player when he returns from said sabbatical. The Browns are playing him a hefty salary to lose most of these remaining games.
The Steelers will be seeing the Browns in a couple of weeks when the season comes to a close. Both clubs have been experiencing the same frustrations as the year went along. Injuries and question marks at the quarterback position have limited these two rosters that have been able to produce good defensive performances for most of the season.
Baltimore Ravens (9-4) vs Cleveland Browns (5-8), Saturday at 4:30 P.M. EST
Losing to the Bengals last week took away any playoff hope that the Browns tried to hold onto. Now they head home to take on another tough opponent that leads the harsh AFC North. Baltimore is coming off a huge road win against the Steelers and will look to continue their division lead further.
Lamar Jackson is a big question mark for this game, especially on a short week as he deals with injury. Baltimore’s defense is going to be another tough matchup for Watson to overcome. Cleveland will have a better shot at winning this game if Jackson cannot play, but the Ravens should be able to find a way to win.
Cincinnati continues to nip at the heels of the division leaders
There might not be a hotter team in football right now than the Bengals. They do not have the best record in the NFL, but they pose one of the biggest challenges for some of the top playoff clubs. Cincinnati has been able to take care of business down the stretch against lesser opponents and prove why they made the Super Bowl last season.
The Browns game was not a fair contest and Cincinnati took care of them without batting an eye. Expect that high quality of play to continue during their remainder of games as the playoffs creep into view. Most people should be keeping a close eye on this team as they will have another shot at making another deep run in the playoffs.
Cincinnati Bengals (9-4) vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-7), Sunday at 4:25 P.M. EST
Heading down to sunny Florida is going to present some physical challenges for Cincinnati this week. The Bengals are starting to become accustomed to the cold weather that is hitting the northern states. Going down to the hot and humid swamp of Florida is going to be a total change of pace for this group.
Tom Brady and the Buccaneers are struggling to find their footing this season. They still have a ton of motivation as their division is still up for grabs, which includes a playoff spot. The Bengals should be able to take care of this Tampa defense and cause enough trouble for Brady to fold.
The Ravens look to push their division lead further this week
Another huge divisional win for the Ravens in week 14 as they got a road victory over the Steelers. They were able to accomplish their task with a backup quarterback at the helm. That was all backed behind a great effort all around, which included a giant day on the ground that totaled over 200 rushing yards.
Pittsburgh is not the most formidable opponent, but Baltimore was able to get a gutsy win on the road in a hostile environment. They will be back on the road this week to face a similar kind of opponent in their division. Cleveland is not a great club this year and the playoffs are out of sight as the season draws to a close.
Baltimore Ravens (9-4) vs Cleveland Browns (5-8), Saturday at 4:25 P.M. EST
Will Lamar Jackson play this week? It seems unlikely on a short week as the NFL starts to enjoy a couple of free Saturdays as the college football schedule opens up. Either way, Tyler Huntley has proven to be a solid backup guy with the Ravens, and he should be able to do enough to set the Ravens up with a winning effort.
Things will likely be close as Cleveland tries their best to upset the division leaders at this juncture of the year. It will not be easy as the Ravens showed that they can struggle against a lesser opponent, just like they did last week. Their defense needs to have another great performance this week to get out of Cleveland with another win.
The Steelers have not been able to get out of the basement of the AFC North standings in a long time. The rest of the division has held them hostage there and it seems like no end is in sight.