Pittsburgh Steelers
No luck needed to defeat Indy
After many people including myself wrote the Steelers off in the AFC North, the crew from Pittsburgh have improved to 5-3 after winning their last two including demolishing the Indianapolis Colts 51-34 on Sunday afternoon.
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger threw for a franchise best 522 yards and six touchdowns in a game highlighted by offense that featured over 1000 yards of total offense. On defense, the Steelers managed to pressure Colts QB Andrew Luck when it mattered most, sacking the youngster two times and also intercepting him twice.
“I’ve seen Ben. I’ve been watching Ben for eight years. I got a good seat in the house so I’ve seen some of those type of performances,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin told reporters following the game.
“But obviously this was a timely one and a much needed one given the staggering statistics that Andrew Luck and their group was putting up. It was necessary for our group to match their group from that standpoint and we challenged Ben and the offense to do it all week and they responded.”
Week 9 keys
Pittsburgh should certainly look to take advantage of a suspect Ravens secondary that could be without their best player in cornerback Jimmy Smith, who was injured in the Ravens 27-24 loss to the Bengals.
The Ravens pass rush has been on the up and up recently with the play of Terrell Suggs, Elvis Dumervil and Pernell McPhee. If the Ravens can maintain pressure on Roethlisberger and control the d-line, life could be difficult for the Steelers signal caller.
Cleveland Browns
Hoyer 7-3 as starting quarterback
In a game that saw little offense early, the Browns on the arm of quarterback Brian Hoyer along with a stingy defense took care of business at home against a struggling Oakland Raiders team (0-7) to earn their fourth victory of the season. Hoyer racked up 275 passing yards and a touchdown, while former Raven Paul Kruger recorded three sacks and a game changing forced fumble.
“No one cares who gets the credit for a win – we just want to win games,” Hoyer told the team website after the game.
Week 9 keys
The Browns have a chance to record back-to-back wins for the second time this season on Sunday when they host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Hoyer and company can certainly take advantage of Tampa’s 23rd ranked rushing defense to set up the passing game against a porous 30th ranked passing defense that’s allowing an average of 286 passing yards a game. On defense, Cleveland can certainly win the match-up against the Bucs’ 32-ranked offense. If the Browns can find a way to not allow wide receivers Vincent Jackson or Mike Evans to beat them, then the Browns would make things even more interesting in the AFC North at 5-3.
Cincinnati Bengals
Dalton sweeps Ravens
The Bengals jumped back on top of the AFC North on Sunday when they defeated the Ravens for the second-straight time this season despite a questionable call by the refs that cost the Ravens a touchdown.
Without star wide receiver A.J. Green, the Bengals and company took advantage of a horrible Ravens secondary without Jimmy Smith to mount another game winning touchdown drive late in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Andy Dalton scored two rushing touchdowns while passing for 266 yards as Baltimore’s “bend but don’t break” defense broke when it mattered most.
“Up and down,” Dalton said when asked to describe the wild fourth quarter. “You honestly never know what is going to happen. We needed a big win, and we were able to go out and get it done today.”
Week 9 keys
The Bengals will look to take advantage over the next two games being played in the friendly confines of Paul Brown Stadium. They host the Jacksonville Jaguars next week.
Cincy’s offense could welcome the return of Green on Sunday as reports prior to the Ravens match-up stated the playmaking wide receiver was close to a return. If Green does return, the Jaguars 27th-ranked pass defense could be in a for a long, long afternoon. The Bengals could look more to running back Jeremy Hill depending on the severity of Gio Bernard’s hip injury suffered against Baltimore.
On defense, the Bengals should take care of Jacksonville with ease. The struggling Jags rank 14th in points scored, 30th in yards per game, 25th in rushing and a dismal 27th in passing yards per game. The Bengals defensive backs will certainly give Jags quarterback Blake Bortles fits. The rookie has thrown 12 interceptions and just six touchdowns through eight weeks.
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