The AFC North is well represented in the current playoff picture with just two games remaining on the regular season schedule. The division crown is anything but decided. Here’s what transpired around the division this week…
Cleveland Browns
Johnny Failing Football gets his shot!
Despite all the clamoring by fans and media hype given to Johnny Manziel over the past week leading up to Cleveland’s division match-up with the Bengals, his NFL debut was one he’d soon like to forget.
Manziel, the 21st quarterback and sixth rookie quarterback to start for the Browns since 1999, threw for just 80 yards on ten completions, tossed two interceptions and was sacked three times in the Browns’ 30-0 loss at home.
“I’m not using the rookie excuse — it’s not me,” Manziel said. “Yeah, I’m a rookie, but that’s out the window. I needed to play better.”
While Manziel didn’t give the Browns that “spark” they were hoping for it certainly wasn’t all on the young quarterback. The Browns run defense was abysmal, allowing the Bengals to scorch them for 244 total rushing yards.
Former Raven Paul Kruger continued his consecutive games with a sack making it eight in a row and became the eighth Brown to record double-digit sacks in a season and the first since linebacker Kamerion Wimbley in 2006, per the team’s website.
Cleveland will hit the road for their final two games of the season (Carolina, Baltimore). Sunday’s loss pretty much ended their hopes for a postseason season appearance in 2014, as they would now need a lot of help, including a tie or two.
Cleveland is essentially mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, as the Browns only road includes a KC/SD tie.
— Football Perspective (@fbgchase) December 16, 2014
Pittsburgh Steelers
The hot streak continues
Sunday’s 27-20 victory over the Falcons in Atlanta left the Steelers with a firm grasp on the fifth seed in the AFC Playoff race.
The Pittsburgh offense exposed Atlanta’s defense for 407 total yards including a big day for wide receiver Antonio Brown, who hauled in 10 receptions for 123 yards. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger sliced up the Falcons secondary, throwing for 360 yards but was held without a touchdown pass.
Running back Le’Veon Bell (in true Jerome Bettis form) scored two touchdowns, while the Falcons run defense held the monster fantasy back to just 47 rushing yards total.
The Steelers defense left a lot to be desired and showed they certainly weren’t infallible, allowing Atlanta to creep back into the game on a late fourth quarter touchdown from Matt Ryan to Roddy White.
Sadly though, the Steelers managed to covert a few third downs as time clicked off the clock, keeping the Falcons offense on the sideline.
“We fought in a big way, defensively,” Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin stated after the game. “I thought we did a good job of keeping a lid on it that prevented some of the big plays that have hurt us in the past. Obviously, they created some big plays with some shorter passes but that is life. We are who we are and we are not a perfect group by any stretch but we will fight the fight until the end together.”
Deciding Factor: On first-and-ten from the Falcons 38 on a short pass intended for Harry Douglas, Matt Ryan was intercepted by cornerback William Gay who returned it for a touchdown.
Cincinnati Bengals
Bengals win one for Hue
The Bengals took care of business against the Browns and rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel, winning 30-0 to keep their half-game division lead in the AFC North intact.
Running back Jeremy Hill carried the load against the Browns, running for 148 yards and two scores on 25 carries on another down day for quarterback Andy Dalton (14/24, 117 yards and 1 INT).
“It all goes to (Offensive Coordinator) Hue Jackson,” Hill told reporters. “This game was really for him for losing his father this week. He did a great job. He probably didn’t get much sleep, but he had a great game plan in the run game today and obviously that showed.
“We hit them with a lot of stuff they haven’t seen before and a lot of stuff we have run over the year. It kept them off balance and and kept them adjusting. By the end of it, we had already been up by 20 points. Anytime we can do that, we put ourself in a position to win.”
The story of the day was the Bengals defense teeing off on the young rookie Manziel. Carlos Dunlap, Brandon Thompson and Geno Adkins all took turns sacking Johnny Football while Leon Hall and Adam Jones each had an interception.
Remaining schedule: The toughest of the three schedules that remain among AFC North teams vying for the division title belongs to the Bengals. Their final two games are against Denver and Pittsburgh.
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