Baltimore loss means Cleveland Browns still in AFC North race
The AFC North division race is so not over and the Cleveland Browns are still in it, believe it or not.
The great American poet, philosopher and athlete Lawrence “Yogi” Berra once proclaimed, “It ain’t over until it’s over,” and the Cleveland Browns are still in the AFC North race. This is thanks to the Pittsburgh Steelers knocking down the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, 20-19, and the Cincinnati Bengals were humiliated at Paul Brown Stadium by the Chargers, 41-22.
As sad and awful as our Browns have played lately, the path to the playoffs is still laid out in front of them. They have to prove they are better than the Ravens, Bengals, and Steelers, and if they do that, they can win the AFC North outright. After a two-point conversion attempt bounced off tight end Mark Andrews’ outstretched hand, the Ravens’ goose was cooked 20-19, and Big Ben Roethlisberger was the happiest grizzly bear in Pittsburgh.
The Ravens have lost the top seed in the AFC, and truthfully it’s a miracle that they have held on so long. All season long, they have used smoke and mirrors plus Kryptonian quarterback Lamar Jackson to overcome an incredible number of injuries to key players, far more, it seems, than any other team in the AFC North.
At the moment, according to Pro Football Reference, the Ravens are the third-worst pass defense in the NFL, behind only the Detroit Lions and New York Jets, in terms of net pass yards surrendered per pass play. 7.1 yards/attempt, which includes sack yardage. They are much better run stoppers.
Now, press reports are saying Marlon Humphrey, the All-Pro cornerback, is now out for the year with a shoulder injury. This isn’t something for Browns fans to gloat about. The Ravens have performed like true champions in the face of adversity. But good grief, that pass defense has to be the worst in the NFL — on paper at least ‚— without Humphrey. Shame on the Browns if they don’t beat the Ravens on Sunday.
What will Baltimore do to compensate for the loss of the All-Pro corner? Probably nothing. Instead, the guess here is that the Ravens are going to continue to ignore Baker Mayfield as a threat and continue to stack the box against Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt, D’Ernest Johnson, and Demetric Felton, the Fab Four. That’s the true strength of the team.
Do you remember the homeless guy, the one who told Jimmy Haslam to draft Johnny Manziel? That’s who the Ravens are consulting to find someone to suit up to play defensive back on Sunday, just so you know. Heck, Homeless Guy may have to suit up himself. It’s that bad in Baltimore.
There aren’t enough praiseworthy adjectives to describe what Lamar Jackson has done for his team this season. However, the stress of leading his team in rushing yards week after week while passing more than ever before in his career is starting to take a toll.
Just as the eyeball test says that Baker Mayfield is not nearly at 100 percent, Lamar Jackson is wearing down. His offensive line is underperforming, and he is taking a beating. He is down to fourth-string for running backs, so he is not getting much help.
Consequently, the Steelers find themselves with a 6-5-1 record. They play the Browns and Ravens again, plus the sinking Vikings, Titans, and resurgent Chiefs. 10-6-1 would almost for sure get them to the playoffs.