The Cleveland Browns wasted the perfect opportunity to not only make a statement, but also stay atop the AFC North on Sunday. However, they're still right in the race, and despite the demoralizing loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, a new opportunity might be right in front of them.
Lamar Jackson suffered a thumb injury on the very first play of the Ravens' loss to the Bills. He'll undergo surgery and might miss the remainder of the season, all but ending Baltimore's Super Bowl aspirations.
With the Steelers not looking like a serious threat and the Bengals struggling against lesser teams, it's time for Andrew Berry to get in his bag. The trade deadline looms large, and he has to make some moves.
The AFC North is suddenly there for the taking if the Browns are willing to act
The Browns' record might be better than their performance, but they're not that far off. Of course, they won't solve their quarterback problems overnight, but they can at least continue to mask Deshaun Watson's deficiencies with other moves.
This team has excelled in coverage and has been much better than expected in the pass-rushing department. But they have struggled to stop the run. Watching Jaylen Warren run circles around them on Sunday all but confirmed the need for some help in the trenches.
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The Bengals had to resort to overtime to beat the 1-6 Tennessee Titans, and they just don't look like a real threat. Their improved defense is clearly overrated, and their offense is one-dimensional and overly reliant on Joe Burrow.
As for the Steelers, Sunday's game may have been the only time all season they've actually played like a playoff-caliber outfit. They had that game circled on their calendar, but it won't be long before they revert into the same ol' Steelers.
The AFC North is there for the taking. The Browns probably didn't expect to be 5-3 at this point in the season, and Berry said they would wait until the 2027 offseason to be more aggressive. But with the Ravens all but out of the equation this early in the campaign, their plans should change.
Granted, that doesn't necessarily mean using one of their two first-round picks to bolster the defense. They need as many shots at a franchise quarterback as they can afford next offseason.
That said, this team is sitting on 11 picks in 2027, including three fourth-rounders and two fifth-rounders, so they have more than enough assets to be buyers at the deadline this year.
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