AFC North – Week 5 Divisional Recap
Week 5 saw the top 3 teams in the division squeeze closer together. It appears that this will be a tight race throughout the season.
Pittsburgh Steelers 3-2
Baltimore Ravens 3-2
Cincinnati Bengals 2-3
Cleveland Browns 0-5
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers fell flat at home and lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars 30-9.
What they did well
Ben Roethlisberger threw for over 300 yards for the first time since Week 9 of last year. The Steelers had the edge in time of possession, holding the ball for 31:08. The Steeler defense only allowed the Jaguars to enter the red zone once all day. T.J. Watt recorded his third sack of the year. Chris Boswell was a perfect 3 for 3 on field goals.
Where they needed improvement
The Steelers could not find the end zone. Well, that’s not entirely correct. Two of Roethlisberger’s passes went for touchdowns, but for the wrong team. In all, he threw 5 interceptions, a new career high. Leonard Fournette torched the defense for 181 yards on the ground with a pair of touchdowns, including a 90 yarder.
What is Next
The Steelers head to Kansas City to face the undefeated Chiefs in Week 6.
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Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens went into Oakland and defeated the Raiders 30-17.
What they did well
The Ravens’ offensive line came up big in this game, leading to 143 yards on the ground and kept Joe Flacco upright. Mike Wallace caught 3 passes for an impressive 133 yards. The Raven defense got to the Raider quarterback for 3 sacks and held him to just 159 yards in the air.
Where they needed improvement
The Ravens only scored on 2 of their 5 trips to the red zone. Even worse, they had goal to go in 4 of those drives, but still only managed 2 touchdowns. After scoring 24 points in the first half, the Ravens took their foot off the gas and only managed a pair of fourth quarter field goals in the second half.
What is Next
The Ravens play host to the Chicago Bears in Week 6.
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Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals came back in the fourth quarter to beat the Buffalo Bills 20-16.
What they did well
Andy Dalton completed 22 of 36 for 328 yards and a touchdown for his second 300-yard game of the season. A.J. Green finally broke out, catching 7 passes for 189 yards, including a 77-yard touchdown grab. The defense held the Bills to just 221 yards of total offense. Michael Johnson had 2 of the team’s 6 sacks.
Where they needed improvement
The Bengals need to improve on their ball security. They turned the ball over 3 times, with Dalton throwing 2 interceptions. They also need to improve their red zone efficiency. Out of their 4 trips, they only scored once. The Bengals only managed 64 yards on the ground, putting a lot of pressure on Dalton.
What is next
The Bengals have a bye in Week 6, then travel to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers in Week 7.
Cleveland Browns
The Browns failed to win in a battle of winless teams as the New York Jets won 17-14.
What they did well
Kevin Hogan went 16/19 for 194 yards and 2 touchdowns in the second half. He even gave the Browns a 7-3 lead with his 21 yard touchdown pass to David Njoku. The running game gained 140 yards with Isaiah Crowell leading the way with 60 yards. Duke Johnson caught a 41 yard touchdown pass to cut the deficit to 3 points. Rookie Myles Garrett made his presence known with 2 sacks. Jason McCourty added an interception and a forced fumble.
Where they needed improvement
DeShone Kizer once again came out with a sub par performance. He was replaced after completing 8 of 17 for just 87 yards and an interception in the first half. The Browns had trouble holding on to the ball as they turned it over 3 times. They got the ball into the red zone 3 times, including a goal to go situation, and came away with no points. Even a field goal in one of those trips would have forced an overtime. The Browns cannot afford to squander those chances.
What is Next
The Browns travel to Houston to face the Texans in Week 6.