Dawgs By Nature
AFC North standings and power rankings don’t match up
Week 11 in the AFC North was interesting to say the least. The Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers dueled, the Cleveland Browns and the Cincinnati Bengals find themselves searching for answers for lost seasons for both teams. Tough conversations for specific teams in this division will need to be had, so let’s discuss.
1. Pittsburgh Steelers
Getting 2021 Tennessee Titans vibes from this team (not a compliment)
2. Baltimore Ravens
Not going to make a deep playoff run with self-inflicted wounds
3. Cincinnati Bengals
You might have to pull the plug on this season
4. Cleveland Browns
Thursday night will be interesting for many reasons
I had this game on my television for the majority of the afternoon and I came away feeling concerned with the Steelers. Two reasons:
Don’t get me wrong, a win is a win but Pittsburgh didn’t necessarily earn this win, Baltimore gave it to them. Offensively, the Steelers were inefficient for the entire game and they didn’t score a touchdown the entire game. The red-zone offense was abysmal and they went 4-16 on 3rd down (at one point they only converted once on third down).
Quarterback Russell Wilson wasn’t great, we already knew his athleticism was cooked but it was obvious today as the Ravens were able to tee off.
Defensively, Pittsburgh did what they usually do but their cornerback room is thin and the play was less than ideal. Linebacker Payton Wilson had this sick interception, great concentration and determination by not giving up on the play:
It was a game that the Steelers had no business winning but as I mentioned, a win is a win. Attention now shifts to Thursday as they will travel to take on the Browns in another divisional matchup.
Despite the result today, I still believe that the Ravens are the best team in the division.
Baltimore has had their fair share of ugly losses but this one might have been the ugliest out of them all. It felt as if the Ravens gave this game away to the Steelers more than the Pittsburgh winning it.
I don’t know what’s going on with Baltimore kicker Justin Tucker, at one point he was automatic, but now he’s missing the kicks he usually makes. He missed two in the 1st quarter alone and that’s 6 points that the Ravens needed.
As far as the penalties, the Ravens had multiple drive-killing ones. It just felt like the entire game, Baltimore couldn’t get out of their own way.
As far as the defense goes, against the pass they played arguably their best game of the season. Offensively, the unit will have better days and quarterback Lamar Jackson will have days like this. It’s...
