Week 12 of the NFL brought mixed results around the AFC North division. It created some shockwaves across the standings as two teams won and the other two lost. It has made for some big differences across the board. All four clubs remain tight in the division, but things are starting to take shape. It is going to be a race to the finish line.
Both the Steelers and Ravens were able to win their respective games this past weekend. They will need to find different ways to top one another each week if either wants to finish first for the AFC North crown. The Browns are still in the hunt, but they are coming off a tough loss on the road against the Broncos. Cincinnati seems like a lost cause the rest of the way.
The Bengals sit at a losing record after another tough AFC North loss
Back to a losing record for the Bengals after a season-altering loss against the Steelers on Sunday. It seemed like a prayer was sent up to the Heavens only for it to be swatted back down to earth. Cincinnati lost Joe Burrow for the remainder of the season due to injury. That will derail most clubs' seasons, and it seems like it will happen to them.
Other than a couple of plays that set their offense up to succeed, the Bengals were not able to do much against the Steelers' defense. Their only hope will be a solid defensive effort to keep them in games that can set up their offense to make plays going forward. This past game sunk them back to a losing record, which they took forever to dig out of earlier this year.
The good news is that Cincinnati gets an extra day of rest and preparation this week. The bad news is that they go on the road to take on the Jacksonville Jaguars. They are a team that has been struggling with consistency over the past couple of weeks but is a young and skilled group. The Bengals are going to have their hands full on both sides of the ball.
Cleveland dropped a tough loss and might be without Myles Garrett
It was a tough setback on the road for Cleveland after their big win a week prior over the Steelers. They entered the weekend in second place in the AFC North standings. That has quickly fallen apart as the Browns were not able to go into Denver and take care of the Broncos. The Browns have a great defense, but their offense continues to struggle.
Without Deshaun Watson and Nick Chubb have caused their offense to break. There is only so much a coach can do, and the players are not doing great. Dorian Thompson-Robinson went out of the game early due to injury and that forced P.J. Walker back into the lineup. Neither quarterback played well when they entered the game.
Myles Garrett's health will be the big takeaway this week as he deals with a shoulder injury. If he is out the remainder of the year then Cleveland's season could be seen similar to the Bengals. No matter what players are available due to health concerns, this week will not be much easier. They will travel across the country to take on the LA Rams.
It might not be seen as the toughest opponent, but the Rams offense has been able to put up points this year, and have been better on defense. With the number of injuries currently affecting the Browns lineup, this one could be close and even a potential loss for Cleveland. Playing across the country also makes this situation tougher.
Things are looking up for the Steelers after a big divisional win
After a tough loss at the hands of Cleveland a week earlier, the Steelers were able to rebound with a massive win on the road in Cincinnati. It was a game that ended in a close score, but Pittsburgh was able to dominate in almost every category besides the scoreboard. Perhaps the biggest thing to come out of this game was the impressive performance by the Pittsburgh offense.
Kenny Pickett finally looked the part as the future quarterback for the black and gold in this one. He was reading the field well and both Eddie Faulkner and Mike Sullivan combined for an impressive duo performance to run the Steelers offense. Matt Canada is gone, and after one week it seems like he was the sole problem. Don't get too high though on the hype as there is plenty left to show.
Week 13 brings the flopped Arizona Cardinals to town. They are still playing for respect with the remainder of their schedule, but they seem like a club looking to lose games and get into the top-tier draft positioning. The Steeler's defense will have their work cut out for them with Kyler Murray and James Conner coming to town.
The recipe for success is simple against Arizona, stop both Murray and Conner from running the ball and keep pressure on the quarterback. The Steelers offense needs to keep their run game going on the ground and Pickett has to translate last week's performance over to this game. Finish drives with touchdowns this week and they should roll over Arizona.
Baltimore remains on top of the division standings into Week 13
Right now, the Ravens hold onto the top spot in the AFC North division standings. Pittsburgh is close behind them, but Baltimore controls their destiny at the moment. They are coming off a nice victory over the LA Chargers. It was a game that saw the Ravens dominate for the most part. They have been the most consistent AFC North team to date.
Other than a couple of losses in the division, Baltimore has been able to win some contested games. Despite their winning ways, the Steelers are breathing down their necks and should be able to inch closer to the division title. If Pickett and the Steelers keep on their current trajectory from this past game then they should be able to win plenty of games down the stretch.
The Ravens have a tougher schedule overall compared to the Steelers between now and the conclusion of the regular season. That is going to make things tighter in the AFC North standings. Baltimore does get to enjoy a bye week this upcoming weekend. They get to rest and turn their focus to the following week.
It seems that every year brings different injuries to this club, but this season has not been as tough as years prior. They are dealing with significant injuries still, but Lamar Jackson is healthy and leading them to the playoffs. There is plenty of football left, but one would imagine that the Ravens are still the favorites to win the AFC North division.