AFC North Preview – Week 4
SCU’s AFC North Preview is a quick overview of the Steelers division opponents and their upcoming games.
With the entire AFC North losing in Week 3, the division hasn’t changed much at all. The two leaders, Baltimore and Pittsburgh, each stand at 2-1 and will face each other this Sunday… as will the two bottom teams, Cleveland and Cincinnati, who are each winless with 0-3 records.
Due to the compact schedule this week, this preview will only highlight the Browns and Bengals game. We will continue to cover the Steelers/Ravens throughout the week with various articles.
Here’s a rundown of those how the division looks and the upcoming Browns and Bengals encounter.
AFC North Standings
Browns/Bengals Preview
| Bengals | Browns | |
|---|---|---|
| Last Week | L 27-24 (OT) at Green Bay | L 31-28 at Indianapolis |
| Coach vs. Opp. | Marvin Lewis: 20-8 | Hue Jackson: 0-2 |
| PTS. For/Against | 11.0/20.0 | 18.7/25.3 |
| Offense | 272.3 | 323 |
| Passing | Andy Dalton: 57-93-606-2-4-69.6 | DeShone Kizer (R): 57-108-646-3-7-53.2 |
| Rushing | Joe Mixon (R): 35-107-3.1-0 | Isaiah Crowell: 39-114-2.9-0 |
| Receiving | A.J. Green: 20-252-12.6-1 | Duke Johnson, Jr. (RB): 11-160-14.5-0 |
| Defense | 292.7 | 320.7 |
| Sacks | Geno Atkins: 3 | Christian Kirksey: 1.5 |
| INTs | William Jackson, Nick Vigil: 1 | Derrick Kindred, Jason McCourty: 1 |
| Take/Give | -5 (2/7) | -5 (4/9) |
| Punting (Net) | Kevin Huber: 46.8 (40.8) | Britton Colquitt: 49.9 (3L) (43.0) |
| Kicking | Randy Bullock: 15 (3/3 PAT; 4/5 FG) | Zane Gonzalez (R): 12 (6/6 PAT; 2/2 FG) |
Game Notes
- LEADER: Bengals lead all-time series, 48-39
- LAST GAME: 12/11/16: Bengals 23 at Browns 10
- STREAKS: Bengals have won past 5
- LAST GAME AT SITE: 12/11/16
- QB ANDY DALTON had 2 pass TDs vs. 0 INTs for 124.1 rating last week. In past 4 meetings, has 9 TD passes vs. 0 INTs for 130.4 rating. Aims for 5th meeting in row with 110+ rating. Has 6 TDs vs. 0 INTs in past 4 on road vs. division.
- RB JEREMY HILL has 636 scrimmage yards (127.2 per game) with 5 rush TDs in past 5 meetings. Aims for 4th meeting in row with rush TD. Has rush TD in 2 of past 3 vs. division. RB GIOVANI BERNARD had TD catch last week. Has 80+ scrimmage yards in 4 of past 5 meetings. Rookie RB JOE MIXON had career-high 101 scrimmage yards (62 rush, 39 rec.) in Week 3.
- WR A.J. GREEN had 10 catches for 111 yards & TD last week, his 10th career game with 10+ catches & 100+ rec. yards. Has 125+ rec. yards & TD catch in each of past 2 vs. Cle. In past 4 on road vs. division, has 511 rec. yards (127.8 per game) & 4 TDs. Has 501 catches & 50 rec. TDs in career & is 1 of 3 players with 500+ catches & 50+ rec. TDs in 1st 90 career games.
- DT GENO ATKINS had 2 sacks in last meeting. Has 4 sacks in past 5 meetings. Has 3 sacks in 2017, most among NFL DTs. Rookie LB CARL LAWSON had 2.5 sacks last week, his 1st career multi-sack game. DE CARLOS DUNLAP had sack last week. Has 7.5 sacks & FF in past 8 meetings. S GEORGE ILOKA had INT in last meeting. S SHAWN WILLIAMS has sack, INT & 3 PD in past 3 meetings. CB WILLIAM JACKSON had 75-yard INT-TD last week.
- QB DE SHONE KIZER (rookie) passed for 242 yards with 2 TDs & rushed for 44 yards with TD last week. Is only QB in NFL with 600+ pass yards (646) & 2+ rush TDs (2).
- RB ISAIAH CROWELL had 113 rush yards in last meeting. Has 100+ rush yards in 2 of past 4 vs. division. RB DUKE JOHNSON, JR. had 104 scrimmage yards (23 rush, 81 rec.) & rush TD last week. Leads team with 11 catches & 160 rec. yards. Ranks 3rd among NFL RBs with 160 rec. yards & 14.5 yards per catch avg. Has 1,208 rec. yards since entering league in 2015, 2nd most among NFL RBs.
- WR KENNY BRITT had TD catch last week. Rookie TE DAVID NJOKU aims for 3rd in row with TD catch. Ties for lead among rookies with 2 rec. TDs. TE SETH DE VALVE has 103 rec. yards (51.5 per game) in past 2 vs. division.
- LB JAMIE COLLINS, SR. had 15 tackles & sack in last meeting. Is only player in NFL with 12+ sacks (12.5) & 5+ INTs (5) since 2014. DE EMMANUEL OGBAH had 1.5 sacks in last meeting. Aims for 3rd meeting in row with 1.5+ sacks. LB CHRISTIAN KIRKSEY has 1.5 sacks, 2 TFL, FR & PD in past 2. Since 2016, ranks 4th in NFL with 162 tackles. S DERRICK KINDRED leads team with 4 TFL. LB JOE SCHOBERT leads team with 22 tackles. CB JASON MC COURTY has INT, FF & 3 PD in past 2. DE CARL NASSIB aims for 4th in row with TFL. LB JAMES BURGESS, JR. had FF last week. CB JAMAR TAYLOR has 15 tackles & 2 TFL in past 2 vs. division.
Note: Steelers and Ravens game information will be posted separately in our game preview
Statistics and game information courtesy of the Pittsburgh Steelers and/or National Football League.
