Last Sunday, the Ravens ended a four-game loss streak after the bye. They won a much-needed 30-16 win over the Chicago Bears who had previously won four consecutive games. Baltimore’s defensive unit held the Bears scoreless, while scoring three touchdowns of their own. They also won the turnover war.
Tyler Huntley’s performance in his first start for the Ravens is the biggest story. Huntley’s 77% completion rate, 244 yards total and touchdown helped to soften the blow that Lamar Jackson was forced to miss another game due hamstring injury. The Ravens had their best offensive performance since Week 2.
They’ll now quickly switch to Thursday, when they play a Miami Dolphins team on the road. Jackson will make his long-awaited comeback after a three game absence. In order for the Ravens to get back to.500 at this stage, each game is almost a must-win. The Dolphins were playing a dismal game of football until last week when they thrashed the Atlanta Falcons 34-10.
The Dolphins found their offensive groove in that game and finally eliminated their turnover problems. They also improved a run defence that was one of the worst in the league through seven weeks. The Ravens still have a chance to test this area and possibly exploit it, particularly with Jackson, Derrick Henry and Pat Ricard all set to play together for the very first time in 2018. Keaton Mitchel’s role will continue to expand in the Ravens’ backfield after he racked up 43 rushing yard on just four carries.
In Week 8, the Bengals were amongst the NFL’s worst losers. The Bengals only lost by a single point, but their manner of losing was disastrous. Cincinnati lost a multi-touchdown advantage and 23 fourth quarter points to the New York Jets at home, at the time the only zero-win team left in the league.
The Jets dominated the Bengals defense. They ran for 254 rushing yards and totaled more than 500 yards combined offense along with 25 initial downs. The Bengals’ inability to win a game was particularly costly, given the upcoming schedule. Of their six remaining games, four will be against teams that have winning records and two against the Ravens.
This Sunday, the Bengals will face off against the Bears. They had their four-game winning streak ended last week. The Bears, a four-win team with flaws, and the Ravens, who exposed their weaknesses in Week 8, are not favorites in this game. This is especially true if Joe Flacco’s shoulder injury prevents him from playing and Jake Browning takes over at quarterback.
The Bears did not force any turnovers on Sunday, but they were the best NFL takeaway defense in the first seven games. The Bengals will need to take care of the ball, whether it’s Flacco or Browning at the center. The Bears may not be the best offensive team in the league right now, but the Bengals’ defensive deficiencies will require them to score at a high rate to win.
Three weeks ago the Steelers had a winning streak of three straight victories, and they were three wins ahead of the Ravens in the division. After two consecutive losses, the Steelers haven’t been as comfortable. They lost by 10 points to the Green Bay Packers during Week 8 and now they are in a rut.
The Packers were the start of a difficult midseason stretch for the Steelers. The Steelers’ next four games will be against teams currently above.500, and they are preparing for a crucial matchup with the Ravens. The first game is against the Indianapolis Colts, the NFL’s best team with a 7-1 overall record.
The Steelers’ defense has been uncharacteristically bad this year, as they have allowed 33 and 35 points back-to-back. The Colts will be a greater challenge, as they have a top-notch offense that has been well-oiled all season. They are led by Jonathan Taylor and Daniel Jones.
The Steelers have been able move the ball well and score consistently when they are not distracted by penalties or turnovers. The Colts only allow 19.2 points per match, but they are more vulnerable through the air than on the ground (252 passing yards per game). To win, the Steelers must generate big passing plays and force at least two turnovers.
Browns will be on bye this week. The Browns are now 2-6 for the year after losing to the New England Patriots.