Browns looking up at Steelers, Ravens in AFC North Race

The Browns are still in the AFC North race, but it’s not going to be easy. Did anyone think it was going to be?

The Cleveland Browns are looking up at the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC North. The AFC North still seems to get very little respect in the national media despite the fact that all four teams have won more games than they have lost, and they have the winningest record in the NFL.

There’s actually a certain rationale to this argument. The Ravens, it might be argued, are doing it with smoke and mirrors, with Lamar Jackson as the head magician on the team. Their roster has been thinned by injuries since pre-season, and they deserve great credit for playing with heart all year long, but how long can they continue to win close games?

They beat Minnesota in overtime with Lamar Jackson once again leading the team in rushing yards as well as finding time to throw for three touchdowns. Jackson is the toughest quarterback in the NFL, but can he take 10 times as many hits as everyone else for 17 games? By the way, Mr. Jackson, you need to sign the extension now.

As for the Steelers, they are 4-1 in the past five games as their young offensive line has come together. They are still not very good, but we have been trying to tell the national media that the line does not have to be that great to protect a water buffalo who gets the ball airborne in under 2.5 seconds.

Old quarterbacks tend to get worse at the end of the season, but it’s not the end of the season yet. Versus Chicago, the refs did an outstanding job of robbing the lowly Chicago Bears. Rookie quarterbacks do not get the benefit of helmet-to-helmet calls, so you might as well try to give Justin Fields a concussion.

It’s in the rules someplace.

Similarly, Cassius Marsh needs to learn that journeyman linebackers are absolutely not allowed to be smart alecks. Who do you think is going to get embarrassed on national television? Art Rooney, Jr., or Cassius Marsh? You may have two guesses. Anyway, the Steelers topped the Ravens as the luckiest team in the NFL in Week 9.

As for the Cincinnati Bengals, many pessimistic Browns fans disagreed with the suggestion that the Steelers were a threat to win the division and until last week despaired that the Bengals were the class of the division. For some fans, the season seemed to be lost when Odell Beckham, Jr. has put on waivers, and the Browns would surely lose to the Bengals.

Last week, it was interesting to discuss whether the Browns defenders were up to the task of overcoming the rebuilt Bengals offensive line. Joe Burrow was impressive once he got the ball in the air, but he didn’t always make it that far. Five sacks turned out even better than expected, and, under duress, some passes went to the wrong color jerseys.

Although Joe Mixon had some success on the ground, the Browns held the Bengals ground game in check. Suffice it to say that the Bengals are now sharing the AFC North Basement with the Browns at 5-4.

Even if the Browns lose to New England, 5-5 is not out of the question for a playoff run. At the beginning of the season, this writer believed that New England was going to jell around their rookie quarterback and edge the Buffalo Bills by the end of the season, while the Browns would battle the Steelers for the AFC North division title.

Both scenarios are still possible if the Ravens come to earth the second half of the season. If the Browns take care of business one game at a time, this is still a very viable season.

Thursday Night Football requires Browns fans to root for the Miami Dolphins. Yech. It’s one thing if the fan base hates their quarterback, but in Miami, even the coaching staff and front office seem to hate Tua Tagovailoa. That makes it hard to believe they have a chance to defeat the Ravens, who always play with great heart.

The Ravens figure to take a commanding lead in the division at 7-2, but you know what they say. The NFL is the place where anything can happen and usually does. Browns fans should not give up hope if the Ravens win, however. The Ravens are due for a dry stretch because they are thin and they are putting too much of the load on Lamar Jackson.

Jackson is definitely the greatest dual-threat quarterback in the history of the NFL and may be able to part the Red Sea, but understand that he is on a pace to totally shatter the records he set in his MVP season, including passing attempts, passing yards, sacks, interceptions, rushing attempts and rushing yards. If there is anyone who can do it, he can, but there is an equally strong argument that this is unsustainable for a 17-game season.

A weaker offensive line and the loss of three quality running backs may catch up with the team and cause an implosion at some point.

Remember that the Browns need to play the Ravens twice. It’s all laid out in front of them. How badly do they want it?