Baltimore Beatdown
The Pittsburgh Steelers returned from their Week 5 bye with a 23-9 divisional win over the Cleveland Browns. For the first time this season, the Steelers are now the betting favorites to win the AFC North following their win on Sunday.
Aaron Rodgers was efficient against the Browns, completing 21 of 30 passes for 235 yards and a pair of touchdowns while avoiding being sacked at all by Cleveland’s dangerous front. One of Rodgers’ touchdowns went to wide receiver D.K. Metcalf, who led the team with 95 receiving yards. The Rodgers-Metcalf connection has been strong for the Steelers in the duo’s first five games together.
Pittsburgh’s defense made life hard for rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel while also limiting the Browns’ rushing attack to just 65 yards on the day. The Steelers sacked Gabriel six times, with two each from cornerback Jalen Ramsey and outside linebacker Nate Herbig.
The Steelers have a quick turnaround this week as they travel to take on the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday Night Football, with a chance to extend their AFC North lead.
The Bengals had a new, but all-too-familiar face at quarterback this week, as veteran Joe Flacco made his Cincinnati debut after being traded from the Browns. The 40-year-old quarterback led the Bengals to an attempted comeback late in the game against the Green Bay Packers but was ultimately unsuccessful, losing 27-18.
Flacco finished the game 29 of 45 for 219 yards and two touchdowns while being sacked just once. He connected with superstar wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase 10 times for 94 yards and a touchdown while also finding Tee Higgins five times for 62 yards. Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki left the game with a pectoral injury and has since been placed on injured reserve. Star defensive end Trey Hendrickson also exited with a back injury.
Hendrickson has been a rumored trade target for teams around the NFL ahead of the trade deadline, though reports indicate that the Bengals are unwilling to move him. Cincinnati will need rookie first-rounder Shemar Stewart to step up on Thursday against Pittsburgh if Hendrickson is unable to go.
The Baltimore Ravens dropped their fourth game in a row with a 17-3 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. At 1-5 now, the Ravens are no longer the favorites to win the division.
While Baltimore showed more fight this week against the Rams than they did in last week’s 44-10 loss to the Houston Texans, mistakes were once again the talking point. Quarterback Cooper Rush threw another interception — his fourth in two games as the starter — while wide receiver Zay Flowers put the ball on the ground twice, though the second one ended up as a charged fumble against Rush instead. Rush was replaced by third-string quarterback Tyler Huntley late in the game.
One positive takeaway for the Ravens was the improved showing by Zach Orr’s defense — albeit aided by a few mistakes from...
