Ravens’ Rivals: Takeaways around the AFC North heading into week 12

As the Ravens get ready to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers on Tuesday night, here are some key takeaways from the Steelers, Browns, and Bengals.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Just keep winning

When it rains it pours; at least that’s how the wins have come in 2020 for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers defeated an inferior Jacksonville Jaguars team 27-3 last Sunday to improve their record to 10-0.

Despite being undefeated, Pittsburgh has been in plenty of close games this year; Sunday was not one of them. Jacksonville started backup quarterback Jake Luton for the third straight week, and predictably he struggled mightily against Pittsburgh’s talented defense. Luton finished the game with a 43% completion percentage, only 151 yards, zero touchdowns, and four interceptions. Pittsburgh’s Minkah Fitzpatrick and Terrell Edmunds both had two interceptions.

Pittsburgh’s defense has playmakers all over, and they have consistently been great all year. However, the Steelers’ passing game this year has been consistently tremendous. Before the season, I wouldn’t have predicted the Steelers to have a top-15 receiving core, but it’s apparent now they have one of the best groups in the league. Rookie, Chase Claypool has scored 10 touchdowns in 10 games this year.

Diontae Johnson is finally breaking out the way most people thought he would before the season. Johnson had a game-high 12 catches for 111 yards. The Steelers are starting to hit their stride on offense at the perfect time. Their run game still needs to improve if they want to go 16-0, but it has been solid this season.

Pittsburgh will host the Baltimore Ravens on Tuesday night. This delay comes after the game was first pushed back from Thanksgiving night to Sunday, following more than a few positive COVID-19 cases in the Ravens’ organization.  If the Steelers can beat the Ravens for a second time this season, expect to hear the perfect season chatter really pick up.

Cleveland Browns: Welcome to second place: 

I might sound like a broken record at this point, but Cleveland has continued to do what they do best: run the football. In his second game back from injured reserve, Nick Chubb led the Browns with 114 yards in the Browns 22-17 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. The Browns didn’t do anything particularly special, but they did enough to beat a reeling Eagles team.

Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz threw two interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown by Sione Takitaki. The Browns’ defense also had five sacks, with Olivier Vernon getting three of those.

Cleveland improved to 7-3, which moves them up to second place in the AFC North following the Ravens’ two-game losing streak. Cleveland hasn’t necessarily had impressive wins, but since they are playing a relatively easy schedule this year, they haven’t had to be that impressive.

The Browns still have to face the Jaguars, Jets, and Giants all of whom they should beat, netting them to 10 wins and a likely playoff spot. At the same time, if the Browns want to be considered serious contenders they will have to beat the Titans, Ravens, or Steelers, who remain on their schedule as well.

Cleveland will travel to TIAA Bank Field, where they will play the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Cincinnati Bengals: Punt the season

The Cincinnati Bengals lost their week 11 matchup against the Washington Football Team 20-9, and that wasn’t close to the bad news of the day. Quarterback Joe Burrow suffered a season-ending hit that knocked out of the game in the third quarter and had to be carted off the field with a torn ACL, MCL, and other knee issues.

Luckily for all NFL fans, Burrow is expected to make a full recovery in time for the 2021 season. However, for this year, the Bengals now fall to 2-7-1 on the season, and should probably just be worried about getting their younger guys more reps and playing for draft position.

One of the major criticisms of the Bengals this year has been the lack of protection for Burrow, so don’t be surprised if the Bengals look for offensive lineman early in the draft. Burrow finished his rookie season with 2,688 passing yards,13 touchdowns, and five interceptions, living up to the hype of the number one overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft. Burrow showed good chemistry with fellow rookie receiver Tee Higgins, which should give Bengals fans hope for the future.

Now backup quarterback Ryan Finley will takeover without star running back Joe Mixon, who was just placed on IR with a foot injury. The Bengals will play the New York Giants at home on Sunday at 1 p.m.