AFC North – Week 12 Divisional Recap
The Steelers have their eyes on a first round bye with the rest of the division in the rear view mirror.
Pittsburgh Steelers 9-2
Baltimore Ravens 6-5
Cincinnati Bengals 5-6
Cleveland Browns 0-11
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers kick a last second field goal to beat the Green Bay Packers in Pittsburgh.
What they did well
The Steeler offense had 462 yards of total offense. Le’Veon Bell had 183 yards from scrimmage, Antonio Brown had 10 catches for 169 yards and 2 touchdowns, and Ben Roethlisberger finished with 351 yards and 4 touchdowns. Chris Boswell had a 53 yard game winning field goal as time expired, tying a Heinz Field record.
Where they needed improvement
The Steelers gave up 307 total yards to a team that was having offensive issues and a backup quarterback. Roethlisberger had 2 interceptions and Bell had a fumble while the defense did not get any takeaways. The Steelers were prone to giving up the big play, allowing touchdown passes of 39, 54, and 55 yards.
What is Next
The Steelers travel to Cincinnati to take on the Bengals on Monday Night Football in Week 13.
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Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens used a 17 point second quarter to take care of the Houston Texans 23-17 at home.
What they did well
The Ravens gained 139 yards on the ground and scored 2 rushing touchdowns. Alex Collins led the way with 60 yards and a touchdown. Justin Tucker hit all 3 of his field goal attempts, including a 53 yarder. Terrell Suggs had a pair of sacks and a forced fumble.
Where they needed improvement
The Ravens did not do well on third down on either side of the ball. The offense only converted on 3 of 14 third downs while the defense allowed conversions on 6 of 14. The Ravens were penalized 7 times for 89 yards, awarding the Texans with 5 first downs by penalty.
What is Next
The Ravens host the Detroit Lions in Week 13.
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Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals beat the Cleveland Browns at home, 30-16.
What they did well
The Bengals ran for 152 yards, led by 114 yards and a touchdown by Joe Mixon. After allowing a field goal on the opening drive, the Bengals scored the next 16 points. The Bengal defense kept the Browns out of the end zone most of the day and recorded 4 sacks.
Where they needed improvement
The Bengals gave up over 400 yards to the Browns. They were not able to get a takeaway against a team that turned the ball over 5 times in the previous week. The Bengals let a 23-6 lead get trimmed to just a 7 point lead before Mixon sealed the win with less than 3 minutes to go.
What is next
The Bengals host the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football in Week 13.
Cleveland Browns
The Browns improved but still took a 30-16 loss to the Bengals in Cincinnati.
What they did well
The Browns racked up 405 yards of total offense, including 169 on the ground. Isaiah Crowell led the way with 95 yards on 16 carries. DeShone Kizer had 268 yards passing without an interception and kicked in 39 rushing yards and a touchdown. The Browns also managed to hold on to the ball with no turnovers after turning it over 5 times last week.
Where they needed improvement
The Browns did not find the end zone in the first 53 minutes of the game. Then, when they did finally get a touchdown, they allowed the Bengals to march down the field and get those points back. The Browns have yet to win a game this year, and there is a good chance that they will have the first pick in the draft.
What is Next
The Browns travel to San Diego to face the Chargers in Week 13.