AFC North Recap: In the race for second place, the Browns leap frog the Ravens

The eleventh week of NFL football is behind us, and it was quite the week in the AFC North division. With that said, it is time to see how the Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers, Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns all did in the week that was.

Time to take a look...

Cleveland Browns - 22
Philadelphia Eagles - 17

It seems every time the Browns play at home, they have horrible conditions on the shores of Lake Eerie. With downpours throughout the game, offense was limited, but kudos to the Browns’ defense for contributing a touchdown to the point total. The Browns’ defense had a pick-six of Carson Wentz and a safety to help the struggling Cleveland offense win another game and move themselves into second place in the AFC North.

Pittsburgh Steelers - 27
Jacksonville Jaguars - 3

The Steelers were blanked by the Jaguars in both the first and third quarters, but scored 27 total points in the second and fourth quarters. The slow starts to halves is not a new trend, and one which needs to be rectified quickly if the Steelers genuinely have championship aspirations, and not just division titles.

Tennessee Titans - 30
Baltimore Ravens - 24 (OT)

This game was highly contested the moment both teams walked onto the field. John Harbaugh and the Ravens’ coaching staff took exception to the Titans and Mike Vrabel meeting at the Ravens’ crest and midfield. It all seemed to go downhill from there. The Ravens stormed back in the waning minutes of regulation to tie the game, but Derrick Henry put the final nail in the coffin with a hard-nosed run for the touchdown in overtime to give the Ravens their second straight loss.

Washington Football Team - 20
Cincinnati Bengals - 9

What else is there to say about this game other than it is tough to watch young talented players suffer serious injury. When Joe Burrow went down, tearing his ACL, the hope the Bengals might have had was put on hold. Burrow now doesn’t get another half season of maturation and experience, but the pain-staking task of rehabilitating an injured knee. A tough break for Burrow and the hopeful Bengals.

AFC North Standings

Pittsburgh Steelers - 10-0-0
Cleveland Browns - 7-3-0
Baltimore Ravens - 6-4-0
Cincinnati Bengals - 2-7-1

Week 11 AFC North Schedule:

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens - 8:00 p.m. ET (TNF)
Cleveland Browns at Jacksonville Jaguars - 1:00 p.m. ET - Sunday
Cincinnati Bengals vs. New York Giants - 1:00 p.m. ET - Sunday

A look ahead...

Next three opponents for all AFC North teams:

Baltimore Ravens: at Steelers (TNF), vs. Cowboys, at Browns (MNF)
Cleveland Browns: at Jaguars, at Titans, vs. Ravens (MNF)
Pittsburgh Steelers: vs. Ravens (TNF), vs. Washington, at Bills (SNF)
Cincinnati Bengals: vs. NY Giants, at Dolphins, vs. Cowboys