Tag: AFC North standings

Justin Tucker is having the worst season of his career

Ravens kicker Justin Tucker has made 80.8% of his field goal attempts in 2023. That’s a career low for him.

Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker has been one of the most dominant kickers in NFL history, ensuring three points when the offense stalls out or, more importantly, when a game-winning kick is needed. Yet, at 80.8%, Tucker’s success rate on field goals this season is a career low.

In 2022, Tucker led the NFL in field goals made. This year, he ranks No. 12 with 21 made kicks. Tucker also led the NFL in field goal attempts last season, and his sure leg has taken some expected decline this year. At age 34, Tucker has been asked to make five field goals from 50-plus yards this season, and he has only connected on one.

These stats explain why quarterback Lamar Jackson’s mediocrity in the passing game must be fixed. The Ravens must continue finishing drives with touchdowns and detach from the idea that Tucker will be perfect.

Tucker’s perfection has been a luxury for the Ravens in the past, but now they must be realistic about their expectations of him. With the NFL’s No. 1 ranked defense in points allowed, the Ravens should enter the next few games with fair optimism. Their timely Week 13 bye may be precisely what they need to recalibrate before the final stretch of the season.

Ravens’ defense ranks No. 3 in pass yards allowed per game

The Baltimore Ravens will be tasked with stopping quarterback Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers offense in Week 13.

The Baltimore Ravens will be tasked with stopping quarterback Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers offense in Week 13. The Ravens’ defense has allowed opponents just 169 passing yards per game this season.

The Chargers are on a two-game losing streak and will be highly motivated to win versus a high-quality AFC opponent. The Chargers lost by three points to the Detroit Lions in Week 11 and were defeated 23-20 by the Green Bay Packers last week. The Chargers need to regain ground if they plan on making an AFC wild-card seed.

 
 
 
 
 
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The Ravens, on the other hand, beat up on a Cincinnati Bengals team that played the majority of their week 12 game without star quarterback Joe Burrow.

With tight-end Mark Andrews now injured, the Ravens will need to adjust their offensive strategy.  The Ravens should consider running the ball more often and using time of possession to get the defense some rest.

This season, when the Ravens defense has played more than 70 plays in a game, they have allowed an average of 28.5 points. The Ravens do not want to allow the Chargers to establish a lead in Week 12 and this goal starts with the pass defense. Defensive back Marlon Humphrey’s health may be a focal point heading into SoFi stadium.

AFC North news: Browns’ QB Deshaun Watson to have season ending shoulder surgery

Deshaun Watson suffered a broken shoulder in the Week 10 win over the Ravens and will miss the remainder of the Browns season

The Browns and Ravens are two of the top teams in the AFC playoff hunt, but Cleveland’s postseason fate could rest in the hands of a rookie quarterback or P.J. Walker.

According to Tom Pelissero, Deshaun Watson will have season-ending shoulder surgery.

The Browns released this statement on Wednesday morning:

“An MRI of his right shoulder revealed a displaced fracture to the glenoid. Despite performing at a high level and finishing the game, after consultation with Browns’ Head Physician, James Voos, MD, and industry-leading shoulder specialist, Neal ElAttrache, MD, it has been determined that this injury will require immediate surgical repair to avoid further structural damage. Deshaun will be placed on season-ending injured reserve and a full recovery is expected for the start of the 2024 season.”

Acquired in a trade with the Texans in March of 2022 for three first-round picks and more, Watson was in the second year of his contract worth a fully guaranteed $230 million.

In 2022, Wastson missed the first 11 games of the season.

Watson suffered the injury n the first quarter this past Sunday, and played through the shoulder fracture in the comeback win over Baltimore, completing 20 of 34 passes for 213 yards, one touchdown, one interception, and a passer rating of 74.8.

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Pittsburgh Steelers get no help during bye week

The Steelers managed to lose during the bye week.

While the Pittsburgh Steelers are on an early but much-needed bye, they didn’t get any help from their division rivals. All three teams walked away with Ws in Week 6, the most surprising coming from the Cleveland Browns.

Cleveland hosted the 5-0 Niners as massive 9.5-point underdogs and handed them their first loss of the season. Out in London, the Ravens defeated the Tennessee Titans, and the Bengals beat the Seattle Seahawks 17-13.

Cincinnati goes into its bye on a two-game win streak, and Joe Burrow is getting healthy.

Here’s what’s on the docket for the AFC North in Week 7:

  • (3-2) Steelers @ (3-3) Rams

  • (3-2) Browns @ (3-3) Colts

  • (5-1) Lions @ (4-2) Ravens

  • Bengals: BYE

The Rams are just as inconsistent as the Steelers, but no team is a pushover for Pittsburgh. At 2,427 miles, Los Angeles is the second-furthest road trip after Seattle (Week 16).

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AFC North watch: A Steelers’ division roundup

The Steelers hold a slim lead in the AFC North heading into the Week 6 bye.

The AFC North is sticking to its promise of being a tough division. The Cincinnati Bengals looked like they might let it be a three-way race but have won two of their last three games. The Pittsburgh Steelers sit in first place by virtue of their head-to-head wins over the Browns and Ravens.

Here’s what’s on the docket for the AFC North in Week 6:

  • (3-2) Steelers: BYE

  • (5-0) 49ers @ (2-2) Browns

  • (3-2) Ravens @ (2-3) Titans

  • (3-1) Seahawks @ (2-3) Bengals

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Ravens TE Mark Andrews will be key vs. Titans in week 6

Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews is averaging 11 yards per catch so far in 2023.

Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews is averaging 11 yards per catch so far in 2023. Perhaps quarterback Lamar Jackson should continue throwing him the ball in week 6.

 


After a long flight to London, the Baltimore Ravens will prepare to match up with the Tennessee Titans in week 6. Both teams will be looking to shake off divisional losses and regain ground in the AFC.

The Titans rank a league 23rd in third-down conversions. This means the Ravens defense should be able to force punts and grant their offense a hefty amount of total plays for Jackson to “finish drives.”

 
 
 
 
 
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Primarily, the Ravens should be looking to scheme Andrews in the intermediate pass game. Standing 6 feet five inches, the Titans do not have a sizable defender to stop him over the middle of the field.

If offensive coordinator Todd Monken attempts to get cute and drop quarterback Lamar Jackson back for five-step drops like last week, the Titans’ defensive line will wreak havoc. Getting Andrews involved should be a key game objective for Baltimore.

AFC North standings entering Week 3

We’re looking at updated AFC North standings ahead of the Week 3 matchups for the Bengals, Browns, #Ravens and Steelers via @Thacover2NFL

Baltimore (2-0) is in sole possession of first place in the AFC North and one of only two undefeated teams in the conference after a 27-24 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Ravens controlled last week’s contest from start to finish, gaining some confidence and an early division lead over the reigning AFC North champions and the team that bounced John Harbaugh’s squad from last year’s playoffs.

With all four teams preparing for Week 3, the AFC North stands ahead of Thursday Night Football and the weekend’s games.

AFC North standings: Can the Ravens avoid falling into 3rd place?

The Baltimore Ravens have little shot of winning the division but are now in danger of falling into third place in the AFC North standings

The 6-3 Baltimore Ravens host the 6-3 Tennessee Titans in Week 11. In what is a touch of revenge mixed with this season’s playoff hopes, both the Ravens and Titans are hoping to win for more than just the standard reasons. For Baltimore, a win would at least keep pace with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC North Standings, and more importantly, keep them from falling to third in the division.

After a disappointing loss to the New England Patriots last week, the Ravens are tied with the Cleveland Browns. Currently holding the tiebreaker over them thanks to a Week 1 rout, Baltimore don’t have much room for error the rest of the season. With many people wondering about the Ravens’ chances to even make the playoffs this season, this game is a big litmus test for where Baltimore truly stands in the postseason hunt.

Let’s take a look at the AFC North standings to see just how far the Ravens are from first place and just how close they are to third.

AFC North standings: Ravens fighting for 2nd place

The Baltimore Ravens returned from their bye hoping to have turned things around. After weeks of lackluster, inconsistent, and downright sloppy play; the Ravens were hopefully beginning to gear up for a second-half push like they did in 2019. …

The Baltimore Ravens returned from their bye hoping to have turned things around. After weeks of lackluster, inconsistent, and downright sloppy play; the Ravens were hopefully beginning to gear up for a second-half push like they did in 2019. Unfortunately, a lot of the same issues present before the bye showed up against the Pittsburgh Steelers, causing them to lose the game and fall to 5-2.

With injuries to left tackle Ronnie Stanley and Tyre Phillips, along with seven players heading to the COVID-19/Reserve list this week, things aren’t looking great for Baltimore right now. Yet, with a positive record, the Ravens still have a realistic shot to not only earn a playoff berth but potentially win the AFC North still. However, time is quickly running out for Baltimore to prove themselves to truly be among the NFL’s top teams this season.

Let’s take a closer look at the AFC North standings and how each team fared in Week 8.

AFC North standings: Another team out after Week 13

The Baltimore Ravens continue their dominance over the AFC North standings as the Cleveland Browns lose and drop out of contention.

With their Week 13 win over the San Francisco 49ers, the Baltimore Ravens have continued their winning streak to eight-straight games. This late in the season, Baltimore’s win streak is actually more total wins than any team in the AFC North have. Which speaks volumes towards the AFC North standings after Week 13.

The Ravens sit at the top of the division and with their loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers this week, the Cleveland Browns have officially been eliminated from contention in the AFC North. With just four weeks remaining, the Browns can only reach a 9-7 record while Baltimore already has 10 wins.

The Steelers have won six of their last seven games after starting off the season 1-4. In spite of being onto their third quarterback of the season, Pittsburgh’s defense has kept them in almost every game this season. While there’s still question on how effective they can be against the top teams in the league given their relatively easy schedule in recent weeks.

And finally, the Cincinnati Bengals picked up their very first win of the season. So at the very least, they’ve made sure they won’t go down in history as one of the few 0-16 teams. But with so few games remaining, they still hold a one-game lead for the worst record in the NFL and the first-overall pick in the 2020 draft.

Take a look at the AFC North standings after Week 13.

AFC North standings:

Team Record Division Record Conference Record
Baltimore Ravens 10-2 3-1 6-2
Pittsburgh Steelers 7-5 3-2 6-3
Cleveland Browns 5-7 2-1 5-4
Cincinnati Bengals 1-11 0-4 1-7

If Baltimore wins and Pittsburgh loses in Week 14, the Ravens will clinch the AFC North.

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