AFC North race Browns win over Ravens Bengals OT loss to 49ers tightens division battle from top to bottom
AFC North race Browns win over Ravens Bengals OT loss to 49ers tightens division battle from top to bottom
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Does anyone want to win the AFC North? It certainly doesn't look like it after the division went 1-3 in Week 14 competition. Through 14 weeks, the division's four teams are separated by just Patrick Roy Men Jersey 1.5 games, with several intra-division games on tap during the season's final four weeks.Two weeks ago, the were 8-3 and vying to earn the AFC's lone playoff bye. But road lo ses to the and have brought Baltimore back to the field as it relates to the rest of the division. While they are still atop the division, the Ravens' 2021 season is at a cro sroads. left Sunday's 24-22 lo s to the Browns with a high ankle sprain; Jackson will now undergo tests to determine the severity of his injury. Making things more bleak is the fact that the Ravens' remaining four games include a home game against and the, a road game against Cincinnati, a home game against the 8-4 and a home regular-season finale against the Steelers. Baltimore will probably have to win at least two of their remaining four games to either clinch the North and/or a playoff berth.If there was a bright spot for the Ravens on Sunday, it was the play of second-year QB and rookie receiver. Huntley threw for 270 yards and ran for 45 yards while engineering four scoring drives. Bateman's first 100-yard game as a Raven included a balletic 36-yard reception that set up Huntley's fourth-quarter touchdown pa s to . If Jackson has to mi s time with his injury, Huntley has proved that he can have succe s moving the Ravens' offense.With the win, the Browns improved to 7-6 and moved from fourth to second place in the division. The Browns were clearly energized following their Week 13 bye. They came out fast on both sides of the ball and took a 10-0 lead before Jackson left the game with his injury. Cleveland received a solid performance from , who had considerable succe s getting the ball to second-year wideout , who finished the day with 90 yards on five receptions. Mayfield's health is still a concern, along with some of his decision-making, but the fact that the Browns won on a day where their running game was not at its best is a positive sign. Cleveland's defense gave up some big plays, but it made its share of big plays, too. recorded his first career touchdown off of a strip-sack of Huntley in the first half. Takk McKinley's forced fumble of Huntley prevented the Ravens from scoring on their first po se sion of the second half. sack of Huntley on the Ravens' final po se sion helped Cleveland's defense force a turnover on downs.Two of Cleveland's final four games are against divisional foes. The Browns will face the slumping Raiders at home next Sunday before playing at the Packers and Steelers in what will likely be final home game at Heinz Field. Cleveland will finish the regular season with a home game against Cincinnati. The Browns routed the Bengals 41-16 in Cincinnati back in Week 9.The AFC's top-seeded team seven weeks into the 2021 season, the are just 2-4 since their 41-17 win over the Ravens. The Bengals appeared to have their mojo back after defeating the and Steelers following their Week 10 bye. But Cincinnati has followed those games up with home lo ses against the and . Sunday's 23-20 overtime lo s to the 49ers was especially rough, as Cincinnati endured several self-inflicted errors before taking a three-point lead in overtime. But the Bengals had no answer for , whose receptions of 8, 21 and 9 yards in overtime helped set up the 49ers' game-winning touchdown. Cincinnati is arguably the division's best team, but turnovers and an overall lack of execution at times has contributed to the Bengals' recent slide. The Bengals coughed the ball up twice on special teams on Sunday, while Cincinnati's offense was just 1 of 5 Sergei Boikov Kids Jersey in the red zone. Cincinnati received another strong outing from quarterback , who threw for 348 yards and two touchdowns while helping the Bengals rally back from a 14-point deficit.The Bengals have arguably the division's toughest remaining schedule. They're at 7-6 Denver next Sunday before hosting the Ravens in Week 16. The Bengals will then host the two-time defending AFC champion before facing Cleveland in Week 18. Given their remaining four games, a win on Sunday would go a long way in the Bengals po sibly clinching their first playoff berth in six years.No AFC North team has had a stranger season than the Steelers. Pittsburgh started 1-3 before a four-game winning streak put the Steelers in position to supplant the Ravens for first place in the North. But a tie against the began a downward spiral for the Steelers, who are just 1-3-1 over their past five games. A young offensive line and a porous run defense has largely contributed to the Steelers' recent slide. But despite their mediocre 6-6-1 record, the Steelers are only 1.5 games back of the Ravens with four weeks to go in the regular season. Despite their weakne ses, the Steelers have reasons for optimism. Reserves , and have provided a lift in recent weeks. is on pace to have the best rookie season of any Steelers running back in franchise history. is a bona fide No. 1 receiver. Pittsburgh finally found heir apparent in rookie . is having his best season to date, while Cam Heyward and continue to play at Pro Bowl levels.The Steelers have also gotten solid play from Roethlisberger, who barring the unexpected is playing the final regular-season games of a career that will one day be enshrined in Canton, Ohio. While most of his mobility is gone, the 39-year-old is putting up numbers that rival his career averages. In 12 games, Roethlisberger has completed 65.3% of his pa ses for 3,066 yards with 19 touchdowns and just seven interceptions. He's thrown 15 touchdowns and just three interceptions over Pittsburgh's last eight games that includes his 308-yard, three-touchdown performance in Thursday night's 36-28 lo s to Minnesota, a setback that the Steelers nearly tied after falling behind 29-0.Pittsburgh would realistically have to win three of their final four games to make the playoffs. The Steelers will host the 9-4 in Week 15 Gabriel Landeskog Men Jersey before traveling to Kansas City the day after Christmas. If they split those games, the Steelers' contests against Cleveland and Baltimore would e sentially be playoff games, which would be an extremely fitting way for Roethlisberger to close out his regular-season career. Who will win the North is anyone's gue s. Each team has its own unique strengths and weakne ses. One thing that is almost certain is that the North won't be decided until Week 18, when the four teams face each other in two games that will ultimately determine a champion.
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