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 9 of the 2019-20 NFL regular season, the Cleveland Browns will be on the road to face the Denver Broncos, the Cincinnati Bengals have a bye, and the Baltimore Ravens host the New England Patriots.

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The Browns are singularly focused on Broncos

If you ask head coach Freddie Kitchens and Cleveland quarterback Baker Mayfield, the loss to the New England Patriots is behind them; they’re singularly focused on their next opponent: the Denver Broncos. After a tumultuous post-game and busy week, with a 2-5 record and a three-game losing streak on the tongues of those wanting responses, the Browns made it clear the only game that is important is the one this Sunday.

“We have to have a singular focus,” Mayfield said this week. “The only thing we need to be worried about right now is doing our job… We have to win one game at a time.”

That was calm compared to how Mayfield responded when Tony Grossi (of The Land on Demand, ESPN Cleveland and Fox Sports Ohio) questioned the young signal-caller about the final drive before halftime against New England when the Browns opted to not leave time for the Patriots to extend a lead. Grossi has gone head-to-head with Mayfield in the past, suggesting in his coverage of the Browns that Mayfield was not a number one overall pick due to being a “prima donna.”

Mayfield’s defense to walking out at the press conference?

say that I’ve gotten complacent. My sense of urgency is at an all time high. And if I offend anybody along the way… that’s too bad

— Baker Mayfield (@bakermayfield) October 30, 2019

Browns fans, who have enjoyed the passion that Mayfield has shown on the field – even when the team and the quarterback himself have not done especially well – were mixed on the reaction but generally supportive. The Browns aren’t concerned about questions the media may have on how they are planning their games. “This is a group effort, and everybody has to understand that… ,” Kitchens said. “Everybody in our locker room has to understand that we are all accountable to the things that have been happening.”

The Broncos are also 2-6 on the season. Quarterback Joe Flacco had his own mini-meltdown when he was critical of what he felt was conservative play-calling by Denver offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello. “I just saw a quarterback that had lost a game and he was very frustrated with how it went,” Scangarello said on Thursday. “He’s a competitor and that stuff bothers him.” With Flacco receiving a diagnosed herniated disk, requiring six weeks of rest per Broncos head coach Vic Fangio, there is an upcoming decision as to whether Flacco will remain on the 53-man roster or be placed on injured/reserved.

The Broncos claimed fourth-year quarterback Brandon Allen off of waivers from the Los Angeles Rams on Sept. 1 after rookie Drew Lock was forced to IR due to a sprained right thumb. Allen will get his first NFL start on Sunday.

Both teams desperately want a win on Sunday. Players from both teams expressed the sense of urgency they feel, including Mayfield. “The margin of error is already very slim,” Mayfield said, “Little details and doing our job is very important.”

Game Information: Sun 11/03 · 4:25 PM EST (Empower Field at Mile High)

• TV: CBS
• Radio: ESPN 850 • 92.3 The Fan • 98.5 WNCX (Cleveland Market)
• Browns Injury Report

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Ravens look to upset Patriots at home

The New England Patriots may be unbeaten headed into Week 9 but the Baltimore Ravens are counting on the speed and agility of Lamar Jackson to give the NFL’s leading defense fits. The Ravens are also hoping that they can outpace Tom Brady with steady defensive pressure. Sunday night will be an interesting matchup.

“He’s a very talented player with a great skill set that’s unique,” Patriots head coach said of Jackson. “That will be a big challenge for us.”

Jackson currently leads the league with a 6.94 yards per carry average and is the only quarterback in NFL history to pass for at least 1,600 yards and run for at least 500 yards through his first seven games in a season.

Coming off of a bye week the Ravens expect Jimmy Smith (knee), Patrick Onwuasor (ankle), and Marquise Brown (ankle) to be available Sunday night. With a 9-2 record after a bye under head coach John Harbaugh, the Ravens will need to play mistake-free football. The Patriots have a league-best 27 turnovers on the season (19 interceptions). New England will be a tough test for a Ravens team that currently leads the AFC North.

“They’re just fundamentally sound,” Jackson said. “A lot of veterans on the defense, all 11 at the ball at all times. That’s how they’re getting so many turnovers.

“It’s a great challenge,” Earl Thomas III said of facing Brady and the unbeaten Patriots. “You always want to go against a champion.”

Game Information: Sun 11/03 · 4:25 PM EST (M&T Bank Stadium)

• TV: NBC – WBAL
• Radio:98 ROCK • WBAL 1090 AM • 101.5 FM (Baltimore Market)
• Ravens Injury Report