It's about to get crazy in the AFC North

[Kyle Cactus]

We each have 5 divisional games remaining with 9 weeks left to play. With us, the Steelers, and the Bengals all legitimately in the division race/playoff hunt there's pretty much a critical game every week.

Divisional Schedule
Week 9
Ravens @ Steelers

Week 10
Steelers @ Bengals

Week 11
Bengals @ Ravens

Week 12
Browns @ Bengals

Week 13
Ravens @ Browns
Bengals @ Steelers

Week 14
Browns @ Steelers

Week 15
Take a deep breath

Week 16
Browns at Ravens

Week 17
Ravens @ Bengals
Steelers @ Browns

Should make for an exciting 2nd half!

[Tyrian]

It's not even just divisional games that makes the run in interesting. We could possibly even get all three teams in the playoffs with Cleveland possessing a respectable end total on the outside.

Looking beyond:

Baltimore: (5-2, 3-2 in AFC, 1-0 in Division)
Sun, Nov 6, 8.20: @ Pittsburgh (Prev: New England)
Sun, Nov 13, 4.05: @ Seattle (Prev: @Dallas)
Sun, Nov 20, 1.00: Cincinnati (Prev: Pittsburgh)
Thu, Nov 24, 8.20: San Francisco (Prev: Arizona)
Sun, Dec 4, 1.00: @ Cleveland (Prev: @ Cincinnati)
Sun, Dec 11, 1.00: Indianapolis (Prev: @ New England)
Sun, Dec 18, 8.20: @ San Diego (Prev: Buffalo)
Sat, Dec 24, 1.00: Cleveland (Prev: @ Arizona)
Sun, Jan 1, 1.00; @ Cincinnati (Prev: Arizona)

Pittsburgh: (6-2, 4-2 in AFC, 0-1 in Division)
Sun, Nov 6, 8.20: Baltimore (Prev: Arizona)
Sun, Nov 13, 1.00: @ Cincinnati (Prev: @Tennessee)
--BYE--
Sun, Nov 27, 8.20: @ Kansas City (Prev: @ New England)
Sun, Dec 4, 1.00: Cincinnati (Prev: Cleveland)
Thu, Dec 8, 8.20: Cleveland (Prev: Baltimore)
Mon, Dec 19, 8.30: @ San Francisco (Prev: @ Arizona)
Sat, Dec 24, 1.00: St Louis (Prev: Cincinnati)
Sun, Jan 1, 1.00: @ Cleveland (Prev: @ Baltimore)

Cincinnati: (5-2, 4-1 in AFC, 1-0 in Division)
Sun, Nov 6, 4.05: @ Tennessee (Prev: Indianapolis)
Sun, Nov 13, 1.00: Pittsburgh (Prev: Baltimore)
Sun, Nov 20, 1.00: @ Baltimore (Prev: @ Seattle)
Sun, Nov 27, 1.00: Cleveland (Prev: Jacksonville)
Sun, Dec 4, 1.00: @ Pittsburgh (Prev: @ Kansas City)
Sun, Dec 11, 1.00: Houston (Prev: Atlanta)
Sun, Dec 18, 1.00: @ St Louis (Prev: @ Seattle, Mon Night)
Sat, Dec 24, 1.00: Arizona (Prev: Cleveland)
Sun, Jan 1, 1.00: Baltimore (Prev: Cleveland)

Some absolute key games and nothing seems a gimme with every team having obvious flaws and inconsistencies.

Pittsburgh's run in looked an absolute dolly on the way in, but now is beginning to look a little tougher. The Niners are going to be hard (particularly on prime time as we saw last week, think the Steelers may well lose that) and the Chiefs are back from the land of the dead.

Cincinnati have some really tricky games - inc Pit and Bal both times alongside Houston. Rams just beat the Saints. Their game this week at Ten will be interesting.

[chicagoravensfan]

Crazy as it is to say but all 3 teams control their own destiny at this point. The winner of our big game on Sunday will be looking good to win the division and get a bye, but there's no reason the Bengals couldn't pull a 2009 and sneak away with the division . They don't have any super-impressive wins on their resume yet but they've got a really good defense and have been taking care of business.

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[The Excellector]

The Sunday night game will be very important. Getting a sweep against any team in this division will provide a huge boost in any attempt to win the division.

[Tyrian]

Bengals won again, doing what we didn't - beat the Titans in Nashville.

They've a tricky 6 game stretch ahead of them - but even if they only won half, they're at 9-5.

They're a legitimate concern. We could well be looking at a AFC North playoff sweep (of all 3 teams minus the Browns) given the way the other 3 divisions are playing. Hell, if we let off the gas in any way with any more stupid errors like Jacksonville, Bmore are going to be on the outside looking in.

[chicagoravensfan]

Really impressive come-from-behind road win against a not bad team. Dalton is looking pretty darn good. Those 2 cincy games are going to be tough.

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[CincyCat]

Thank you for saying that. The Bengals have amazed me so far. Tough game next week against Steelers. Soften 'em up a little for us, ok?

[goodandfast]

Too bad we can't vote to exclude the AFC West from the play-offs.


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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=32.826771,-117.205385

[chicagoravensfan]

I'm ok with the division winners getting a playoff spot but they shouldn't automatically get a home game. Not right to have a 12-4 wild card play at an 8-8 division winner. Plus that would discourage teams from resting their starters towards the end of the year.

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[bensmotorcyclehelmt]

I never looked at that schedule and thought Cincy and SF would be big/tough games for the ravens.
No matter how hard the schedulers try, you never know how these things shake out.

Gotta love the NFL!

[Ravenswintitle]

Dalton should be leading the ROY discussions over Cam. Look at their stats

[The Excellector]

Yes, it is officially crazy in the AFC North.

[CincyCat]

Dalton should be leading the ROY discussions over Cam. Look at their stats

If the season ended today they would have to give Dalton Rookie of the Year award. He says he goes into every game to prove to the people who doubted him wrong.

I heard Boomer Esiason say the same thing years ago after being taken in the second round. That motivation seems to work.