Updated Standings:
- Pittsburgh Steelers 6-2
- Cincinnati Bengals 5-2
- Cleveland Browns 5-3
- Baltimore Ravens 4-4
Baltimore Ravens
Matchup: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, 8:15pm EST
The Ravens lost their third consecutive game last week and, in the process, lost both of their top quarterbacks to long-term injuries. Lamar Jackson returned only to injure his thumb on the first offensive play, which will place him on IR, while backup Tyler Huntley suffered a season-ending turf toe injury. That left third-stringer Joe Fagnano to play most of the contest against the Bills, which the Ravens lost 36-10.
Now in distress at
the quarterback spot, the Ravens will have to try to rally on a short turnaround in a tough matchup against the Jaguars — who are 5-2 with the best point differential in the NFL (+85). The Jaguars’ defense allows the fewest rushing yards per game, which doesn’t’ bode well for a Ravens’ offense that will have to rely heavily on the run game with Fagnano starting. Expect the Ravens to give Fagnano quick outlet passes to prevent him from holding the ball too long given the team’s struggles in pass protection up front.
On the other side of the ball, the Ravens’ defense will be up against it again following consecutive matchups against top-flight offenses (Bengals and Bills). The Jaguars are outside the Top 10 in passing yards and rushing yards, but they score at a high clip (28 points per game) and have a solid group of playmakers. The last couple of weeks have shown that if the Ravens can’t get pressure on the quarterback and finish sacks, their secondary can’t be relied upon to prevent big plays.
Cincinnati Bengals
Matchup: vs. Atlanta Falcons, 9:30am EST (Madrid)
After a signature blowout win over the Ravens in Week 7, the Bengals narrowly escaped a major letdown loss last week against the Tennessee Titans. The Bengals trailed 13-0 in the first quarter and got into a shootout with the Titans and before emerging with a 43-36 overtime victory. It was a good reminder of the team’s offensive explosiveness while also showing they still have defensive flaws and inconsistencies.
This week, the Bengals are traveling to Spain for an international contest against the Falcons. The Falcons are 3-5 and coming off a bizarre 16-0 loss in which their opponent, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, did not complete a pass. The Falcons were shredded for over 300 rushing yards, offering some hope for the Bengals to finally get their run game going in this matchup. So long as Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase continue to play a dominant level, though, it’d be foolish for the Bengals not to keep airing it out to them quite often.
On defense, this is a nice potential spot for the Bengals to force a turnover or two. Michael Penix Jr. tossed four interceptions last week compared to only eight completed passes. The key to limiting the Falcons’ offense begins and ends with Bijan Robinson, who is an all-around weapon in the backfield. Expect the Bengals to load the box on him and pressure Penix, who has struggled against the blitz this season.
Cleveland Browns
Matchup: @ New Orleans Saints, 1:00pm EST
The Browns are heading to New Orleans this week, looking to get back in the win column after a blowout loss in Week 8 against the Steelers (27-6). Cleveland turned the ball over twice and ran for just 34 yards as a team on 15 carries, taking a big step back offensively after scoring 27 points the prior week. They’ll likely have to do without the services of Deshaun Watson (concussion) on Sunday, meaning Shedeur Sanders would start at quarterback.
The Saints are allowing the fourth-most rushing yards per game this season, opening the door for the Browns to have a bounce-back rushing attack performance. They’ll need to establish at least the threat of a run game to support a backup quarterback on the road. Expect Sanders to target tight Harold Fannin often, as the two showed a good connection last year. Fannin is coming off a season-best showing where he caught 10 passes for 154 yards.
Defensively, the Browns can likely afford to prioritize defending the pass. The Saints are a bottom-tier rushing offense and have been riddled with injuries at the running back spot. New Orleans does have an elite wideout in Chris Olave, though, along with some solid supporting pass-catchers. The Browns have been a heavy man coverage defensive team and the Saints are not afraid to take shots downfield.
