AFC North Preview: Browns kickoff Week 3 while Bengals, Ravens play Sunday
After one of the most bizarre second weeks in recent NFL history, the AFC North will be carrying some of it into Week 3. The only team that has a win is the Cincinnati Bengals, who were predicted by many to end up at the bottom of the division come December. And while that could still happen, it certainly shook things up a bit. Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, and Cleveland Browns are looking for ways to climb out of the holes they’ve dug for themselves. Let’s look at the games coming up for the Steelers’ division rivals.
Cleveland Browns versus the New York Jets
The Browns will play host to the New York Jets after a week that saw the team make statements that they’d release receiver Josh Gordon, then announce that they were going to make a trade deal for him with the New England Patriots… and the news that the deal may not be a sure thing popped up. Whether Gordon becomes a Tom Brady target or not, the Browns signed Rod Streater after working out several free agent receivers, including Dontrelle Inman and Bennie Fowler.
The Browns also brought in Greg Joseph after parting ways with placekicker Zane Gonzalez. Joseph successfully kicked six-of-seven field goals during his workout (the only miss was from 56 yards). He was signed almost immediately.
Cleveland is looking for its first win after two very close games with the Steelers and New Orleans Saints. “We’ve come a long way,” coach Hue Jackson said this week. “We think we’re headed in the right direction as an organization and as a football team, but the only thing that can validate that is winning.”
“Definitely an opportunity for us to erase the feelings that we’ve had the past two games,” quarterback Tyrod Taylor said of Thursday night’s home game. “We have an opportunity in this game in front of national media, as well as everybody watching the Thursday game, to erase that taste.”
Cleveland will be without defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah (ankle) and tight end Seth DeValve (hamstring). Linebacker Christian Kirksey (shoulder/ankle) is doubtful to suit up. The trio did not play against the Saints, either. Free safety Damarious Randall (heel) and receiver Jarvis Landry (knee) were new additions this week and were limited in practice after seeing time on the field against the Saints. The Browns will now turn to Antonio Callaway, Rashard Higgins, Derrick Willies and Damion Ratley at the receiver position, even if Landry is healthy enough to play on Thursday.
Jets rookie quarterback Sam Darnold bounced back in the team’s season opener after his first play in the NFL was a pick-six. Against the Miami Dolphins, Darnold threw for 334 yards but the Jets were only able to get into the end zone once and a costly early interception has experts expecting a Browns defense that harried the Saints and Steelers to corral the Jets offense.
Game Info
Date: Thursday, Sept. 20, 2018
Kickoff: 8:20 p.m. (ET)
Location: FirstEnergy Stadium (Cleveland)
Viewing: NFL Network (CBS 19 in Cleveland area)
Radio: ESPN 850, 92.3 The Fan, 98.5 WNCX, La Mega 87.7 FM (Spanish broadcast)
Postgame: 92.3 The Fan
Baltimore Ravens versus the Denver Broncos
If the Ravens want to beat the Broncos, they’d better have a better game plan that they did against the Bengals last week. Baltimore looked ill-prepared for what Cincinnati threw at them and the Broncos have a better pass rush, run game, and defense, arguably, than the Bengals. Von Miller, who has four of the seven sacks the mile-high team has logged in two weeks, is expected to be gunning for Joe Flacco. The Ravens offensive line has been put on notice. Flacco will need to get the ball out quicker and run an up-tempo style.
If Baltimore can get their run game going, it would alleviate a lot of the pressure that Flacco is already facing. The Ravens rushing game has been nearly non-existent, but this would be a great week to get things cranked up to keep Denver’s defense honest.
On defense, the Ravens will need to be more disciplined in controlling the gap against running back Phillip Lindsay who has 178 rushing yards thus far in 2018. They’ll also need to pressure quarterback Case Keenum who has a history of becoming average under those situations. Keenum has four interceptions on the season and Baltimore had six sacks and two interceptions against the Buffalo Bills.
With Keenum dishing the rock to Emmanuel Sanders, Demaryius Thomas, and Courtland Sutton, Baltimore will need to exercise caution in handling the big-bodied receivers and prevent costly penalties. If the Ravens can shut down the run game, they can force Keenum into poor decision-making situations and take control of the game.
Game Info
Date: Sunday, September 23, 2018
Kickoff: 1:00 p.m. (ET)
Location: M&T Bank Stadium (Baltimore)
Viewing: CBS
Radio: 98 Rock | WBAL 1090 AM
Cincinnati Bengals at Carolina Panthers
Entering Charlotte with a 2-0 record, the Bengals have some breathing room in the division and are facing a Panthers team that is coming off of a loss to the Atlanta Falcons in Week 2.
Without Joe Mixon (knee surgery) or Tra Carson (waived/injured, torn hamstring), the Bengals signed Thomas Rawls who may see playing time behind Giovani Bernard and Brian Hill in the offensive backfield. In three seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, Rawls rushed 314 times for 1,336 yards and seven touchdowns; he caught 31 passes for 266 yards and one touchdown. Rawls was let go by the Jets in final cuts this year.
Andy Dalton is looking for a third straight game with a passer rating over 100 after passing for 265 yards (four touchdowns, no interceptions) for a rating of 107.7 last week. His main target is likely to be A.J. Green who went off in Week 2, recording a career-high three touchdowns in the first half of a single game. Green leads the NFL with four touchdown catches. Tyler Boyd will get into the mix as well after coming off of a 91-receiving yard game last week and one touchdown.
Defensively, the Bengals will be relying heavily on Geno Atkins to pressure Panthers quarterback Cam Newton. Atkins has three sacks on the season. He’ll have Carlos Dunlap, who has three pass defenses last week, to help him contain Newton and help force the Panthers to become one-dimensional on offense. The Bengals will need to focus on limiting running back Christian McCaffrey who had a career-high 139 yards from scrimmage last week (102 receiving, 37 rushing). Watch for Sam Hubbard, Shawn Williams, and Jessie Bates III to step up their play as well.
Game Info
Date: Sunday, September 23, 2018
Kickoff: 1:00 p.m. (ET)
Location: Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte)
Viewing: CBS | WKRC-TV (Cincinnati market); WHIO-TV (Dayton market); WKYT-TV (Lexington market)
