AFC North round-up: Baltimore Ravens have uneven start to 2020

BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 13: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates after the game against the Cleveland Browns at M&T Bank Stadium on September 13, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 13: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates after the game against the Cleveland Browns at M&T Bank Stadium on September 13, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
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CLEVELAND, OH – SEPTEMBER 17: Quarterback Joe Burrow #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals in action against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on September 17, 2020, in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – SEPTEMBER 17: Quarterback Joe Burrow #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals in action against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on September 17, 2020, in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

Cincinnati Bengals:

September record: 0-1-1

AFC North record: 0-1

Player of the month: Joe Burrow – 91/141 COMP/ATT, 821-yards, five touchdowns, one interception, 107 rushing yards, one rushing touchdown

Things don’t look so dark and gloomy for the Cincinnati Bengals right now. Sure, they’re not in contention for the AFC North currently, nor are they really seen as a playoff team, but they look much better than their 2019 counterparts. This 2020 Bengals team looks like it could be pretty dang solid.

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It starts with the play of number one overall pick Joe Burrow. Burrow has thrown no fewer than 36 pass attempts in a game so far this season, but he’s completing north of 65% of his passes. In the month of September alone Burrow completed 64.5% of his passes for 821-yards and five touchdowns against one interception. Burrow has looked the part of a franchise quarterback.

Unfortunately for Burrow, he’s been under constant duress behind what is likely the worst offensive line in football. Thankfully when he’s not getting hit his receivers are catching the football well, including fellow rookie Tee Higgins.

The defense has been as bad as we expected it to be, which is forcing the offense into awkward situations where it can’t be a balanced unit. There needs to be significant improvements there this offseason.

All in all, the Cincinnati Bengals really look like a much better team this season. The AFC North crown might not be up for grabs, but the Bengals will put up a fight against its division rivals. Don’t sleep on Cincinnati.

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