The Cleveland Browns are hoping to bounce back from a tough loss as they host the Arizona Cardinals looking not to fall too far behind in the AFC North.
Things will really get interesting next weekend when the Browns and Ravens go head to head, then the Steelers one week later. In the meantime, Cleveland’s division rivals are are all in action in Week 9 as the pressure gets turned up in this hotly contested division.
Pittsburgh Steelers 20, Tennessee Titans 16
While everyone’s waiting for the Steelers to from grace to the basement of the division, they just keep on finding ways to win. That’s what they did on Thursday night when somehow beat the Titans despite being outgained by their opponent yet again. They’re the only team in the Super Bowl era to have a winning record despite being outgained in every single game they’ve played to this point. The Steelers are like the cockroach of the division. They just don’t die.
Seattle Seahawks @ Baltimore Ravens – 1:00 pm, Sunday
Fresh off their win against Cleveland, the Seahawks head to the east coast this week to take on Baltimore riding a two game win streak. That trip along makes for a tough enough task if Baltimore wasn’t boasting the NFL’s top scoring defense, the third best passing defense and the second best defense in terms of yards allowed.
More than that though, the offense seems to be rolling right now. Two weeks back, Lamar Jackson threw for over 350 yards and three touchdowns. Last week in was the run game that took over, putting up over 130 yards, including 80 and three scores from Gus Edwards. At the top of the division the rest of the division is gunning for the Ravens but for now they continue to be up to the challenge of pacing the group.
This is one of two games this weekend that might as well be considered the game of the year as the Dolphins and Chiefs also square off this week. A rematch of that snowy AFC Divisional Round game from last January where the Bills didn’t look quite like themselves.
Some would say the Bills haven’t look like themselves at certain points this season and injuries haven’t helped. They’ll have to be at their best to take down a Bengals team that seems to be rounding into form now that Joe Burrow is healthy. A couple weeks back it felt almost appropriate to count the Bengals out. Now – after three straight wins and a statement victory over the 49ers – they’re right in the thick of this division race and who can bet against them after back-to-back years of winning this division and deep playoff runs.
