Steelers Stand Alone Atop AFC North Following Ravens Stunning Loss vs. Browns

With the Cleveland Browns upsetting the Baltimore Ravens, 29-24, on Sunday, the Pittsburgh Steelers stand alone in first place in the AFC North at 5-2. The Steelers will take sole possession of first place in the AFC North with a win over the New York Giants on Monday Night Football.

The Browns improved to 2-6, while the Ravens dropped to 5-3 with the loss. The Cincinnati Bengals fell to 3-5 after losing to the Philadelphia Eagles, 37-17, on Sunday.

Browns quarterback Jameis Winston threw a 38-yard game-winning touchdown pass to Cedric Tillman with 59 seconds left to shock the Ravens, who were on a five-game winning streak. Winston finished 27 of 41 for 334 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions, and a quarterback rating of 115.3. It was Winston’s first game of the year, filling in for Deshaun Watson who suffered a season-ending Achilles tear last week.

The Ravens had a chance to possibly seal the win, but All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton dropped an interception. Winston threw the game-winner on the very next play.

Jackson led the Ravens to Cleveland’s 24-yard line on the final possession, but he threw two straight incompletions into the end zone as time expired.

Jackson completed 23 of 38 passes for 289 yards, two touchdowns and had a quarterback rating of 101.8. Derrick Henry rushed for 73 yards on 11 carries (6.6 yards per carry) and a touchdown. Zay Flowers led the Ravens with seven catches for 115 yards (16.4 average) and a touchdown.

The Browns were 8 of 15 on third down and racked up 401 yards of offense against the Ravens defense. The defense was a major let down in the game for Baltimore. Often reliable kicker Justin Tucker also missed a 50-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter. That’s a crucial mishap in a five-point loss.

Joe Burrow completed 26 for 37 for 234 yards and a touchdown in the loss to Philadelphia. The Bengals finished with only 58 yards rushing. The defense also continues to struggle this season, as the unit had no answer for Jalen Hurts and Saquan Barkley in the run game.

“Second half wasn’t good enough,” Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said after the game. “It’s frustrating. Everyone deserves better…we are better than what our record indicates.”

The Steelers have their bye in Week 9, while the Ravens host the Denver Broncos and the Cleveland Browns play the Los Angeles Chargers at home. The Bengals host the Las Vegas Raiders. All three games are at 1 p.m. on Sunday.