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Cleveland Browns, Steelers share AFC North basement as Ravens, Bengals win

By Elliot Kennel

Oct 17, 2021; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski looks up at the scoreboard during the first quarter against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 17, 2021; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski looks up at the scoreboard during the first quarter against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 17, 2021; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase (1) makes a catch against Detroit Lions cornerback Jerry Jacobs (39) during the third quarter at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /

Bengals win Kitty Bowl, 34-11

The Cincinnati Bengals are a team on the rise. But the buzz in the media was that a young team might not have the moxie to win on the road as a favorite. Would they be able to handle adversity without a crowd on their side? That question was totally answered as they obliterated the Lions, 34-11.

The Ja’Marr Chase experiment continues to pay enormous dividends for the Bengals as the kid once again led the team with 97 receiving yards. Remember when the national media absolutely ripped the Bengals for not drafting iconic tackle Penei Sewell with the draft pick? Well, the Detroit Lions took him when the Bengals did not, and all the sportswriters patted them on the head for being so clever.

Well, Sewell has been okay. So far he has allowed only four sacks, and a modest 23 QB pressures, and committed just five penalties. His Pro Football Focus grade is 61.5.

Did the national media realize that the Bengals had already had free agent Riley Reiff to play left tackle for them? What were they supposed to do, cut the guy they had just signed so that they could draft this premier tackle in the same position? Reiff’s grade is 62.0 thus far, and he has allowed three sacks with 10 pressures and only one penalty. He has graded significantly better than Sewell.

So, Lions fans can continue to gloat if they wish, but their team has not won any games, and it doesn’t seem likely that the Bengals would be interested in trading Ja’Marr Chase to the Lions for a second chance at Sewell. Just a hunch.

This author has no vested interest in criticizing players on the Detroit Lions, but if you would like to read more about Sewell, Daniel Kelly at NFLdraftdiamonds.com has some opinions.

By the way, let’s keep an eye on running back Chris Evans. The report here on Evans is that he has every attribute of being a star running back. He is 5-foot-11, 211 pounds, and ran 4.44 in the 40-yard dash at his Pro Day workout. He wasn’t a favorite of coach Jim Harbaugh at That School Up North. Does that upset you? They also had Donovan Peoples-Jones and didn’t notice that he could play.

The Lions figured that they could cover Evans with a linebacker, and the result was a touchdown.

Overall Joe Burrow was 19 for 29 for 271 yards and three touchdowns versus Detroit. The Bengals rushed 36 times for 142 yards, an average of 3.94 yards per carry.

Trey Hendrickson has been their sack leader all season long so far, and he added a sack of Jared Goff, as the battle of big cats was won decisively by the Bengals.

In Pittsburgh, a voice in the wilderness has been warning you that Big Ben and the Steelers were still dangerous. They are no longer the sole occupants of last place in the AFC North as they are now joined by the 3-3 Browns.

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