Rival Report: Steelers,Ravens face off while Bengals, Browns face West Coast teams
Every week, Steel City Underground previews the Pittsburgh Steelers’ AFC North rivals and the opponents those division challengers will go head-to-head against in our ‘Rival Report’. In Week 5 of the 2019-20 NFL regular season, the Pittsburgh Steelers will face-off against the Baltimore Ravens while the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns face West Coast teams.
Week 4 reset the AFC North
With a 2-2 record, Cleveland exits Week 4 with the top spot in the division. They face the San Francisco 49ers in Week 5 (that same ‘Niners team that beat Pittsburgh, 24-20, and Cincinnati, 41-17). They may own a tie-breaker with their divisional win over Baltimore, but how long will they hold onto the top spot? Meanwhile, the Ravens will face the Steelers in Week 5. Yes, Pittsburgh is a 1-3 team, but they lost to the Seattle Seahawks by two points and the 49ers by four. The Ravens won’t just lay down and let the Steelers take the second spot from them, so expect a real battle. Again, it will be a game between a young quarterback in Mason Rudolph and Lamar Jackson. As for Cincinnati, they will host an Arizona Cardinals team that is experiencing growing pains of its own. The Bengals still look to be without A.J. Green in that contest, and with their porous offensive line, things look bleak on offense.
| TEAM | W | L | PF | PA | HOME | AWAY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Browns | 2 | 2 | 89 | 91 | 0-2 | 2-0 |
| Ravens | 2 | 2 | 135 | 100 | 1-1 | 1-1 |
| Steelers | 1 | 3 | 76 | 88 | 1-1 | 0-2 |
| Bengals | 0 | 4 | 57 | 110 | 0-1 | 0-2 |
Steelers looking to build off of momentum in game with Ravens
After an impressive win on Monday night, with a 27-3 victory over the Bengals, the Steelers had a short week to prepare for a Ravens team that had been doing fairly well until the last two weeks. The defense, able to sack Andy Dalton eight times, after putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks, was finally able to get some relief due to the Pittsburgh offense – with Mason Rudolph under center – finally finding a way to move the chains and put points on the scoreboard. At 1-3, Pittsburgh is firmly in the hunt in the division race and looking to shut down the 2-2 Ravens on Sunday at Heinz Field.
“Our message all week was let’s stack one [win] and then start stacking more. That’s the plan moving forward.” – Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin
Meanwhile, the Ravens will have young signal-caller Lamar Jackson making his first-ever start against the Steelers in what has become a heated rivalry in recent years. Head coach John Harbaugh told his team this week, “You’re not a Raven until you beat the Steelers.” After facing a tough challenge in the Kansas City Chiefs and a surprise beating by the Cleveland Browns, will Jackson be up to the task? Jackson admitted that even though it was Joe Flacco that got the start in 2018 when Baltimore handed Pittsburgh a loss, he was part of the team. “We beat them,” Jackson told the media, “so I say I beat the Steelers already.”
And how does Mike Tomlin feel about the Steelers’ preparation for Jackson? “We think that it’s fundamental. I think you always have to stress leverage and responsibility football, and when you face the type of quarterback mobility that (Jackson) has,” Tomlin said this week.
“I know it’s going to be crazy. Steelers Nation is going to be pumped for the game, and we’re going to have our Flock Nation in the building. Rival game. I’m ready.” – Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson
Game Information: SUN 10/06 • 1:00 PM EDT (Heinz Field)
- TV: CBS
- Radio: SNR • WDVE 102.5 FM • WBGG 970 AM (Pittsburgh Market): 98 ROCK • WBAL 1090 AM • 101.5 FM(Baltimore Market)
- Steelers Injury Report
- Ravens Injury Report
Browns to face 49ers team that has been tough on AFC North opponents
Cleveland knew, opening the season, that their opening stretch of six games wasn’t going to be easy. All but one of the opponents they’ve faced in 2019 have a win-loss record of at least 2-2 after four weeks of play. After Baker Mayfield picked himself up after a Tyus Bowser (Ravens) sack, he was able to lead the Browns to a 40-25 victory. Keeping Mayfield upright will be key against San Francisco because Mayfield is 7-2 when he has been sacked no more than once in a game.
“[Against the Ravens] I got the ball out of my hands and into the playmaker’s hands…what we needed to do… The most important game is always the next one” – Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield
Browns head coach Freddie Kitchens told the media this week that he thinks the game with the ‘Niners will be an opportunity for his team to show that they have put in the work to be successful – even if San Francisco is 4-0 to open their season. “Kyle (Shanahan) has always done a great job in the run game and created unique ways to throw the ball down the field,” Kitchens said of the 49ers head coach. “Defensively, you are looking at five first-round draft picks up front. They are playing with great passion and energy… They are very good.”
As for his own team’s identity, Kitchens said, “You get judged at the end of every week, and it is straight pass-fail… I think our team has bought into that and has created an environment here that we just want to get better every day.”
Game Information: Mon 10/07 · 8:15 PM EDT (Levi’s Stadium)
- TV: ESPN
- Radio: ESPN 850 • 92.3 The Fan • 98.5 WNCX (Cleveland Market)
- Browns Injury Report
- 49ers Injury Report
Bengals looking for an identity, face young Cardinals team
Veteran quarterback Andy Dalton and rookie head coach Zac Taylor are in the same boat: trying to desperately help Cincinnati (0-4) find an identity as they host an Arizona Cardinals team that is in a similar situation (0-3-1). With some key injuries, Taylor says his team will still be ready to get back to work.
“I think our guys are still playing motivated,” Taylor said in his press conference this week. “We’re moving on to Arizona… They have some weapons, and they have some players on both sides of the ball, so we have to be ready for a good test this week.”
After a loss to the Steelers, the Bengals are the only winless team in a tough division. After going scoreless through the final three quarters, wide receiver Tyler Boyd was very verbal following the game. “At the end of the day I can take the losing,” Boyd told a member of the Associated Press, “but when you go out there and get embarrassed Monday night, prime time, I have too much pride to go out there and showcase what we showcased.”
Without John Ross III (who was moved to I/R), Dalton and Boyd will need Stanley Morgan, Jr. (brought up from the practice squad), and Damion Willis, to step up with Alex Erickson and Joe Mixon in order to get an offense kickstarted.
“No one knows as a group who we are… [the new guys] don’t have to do anything supernatural. Don’t do anything out of character for your ability. Just be yourself. Just go out there and execute.” – Bengals receiver Alex Erickson
“We can continue to grow as a unit, and continue to identify what our strengths and weaknesses are. We have to play to the best of our abilities. We’re better than what we’ve shown. That’s where we’re at through four weeks,” Taylor summarized in his presser. “It shows that we’re 0-4, and we haven’t capitalized on opportunities… So far, we have a good plan for Arizona, and we’re excited to put it to the test.”
Game Information: Sun 10/06 · 1:00 PM EDT (Paul Brown Stadium)
- TV: FOX
- Radio: 700WLW • ESPN 1530 • 102.7 WEBN (Cincinnati Market)
- Bengals Injury Report
- Cardinals Injury Report
