Sponsor




Home  >  Columns   >  In the Hood The AFC North  >  IN THE HOOD THE AFC NORTH WEEK 8

Columns

In the Hood: The AFC North - IN THE HOOD: THE AFC NORTH WEEK 8

Posted On: 10/25/06
Written By:  
Eric Buckner
AFC North
Team
W
L
T
PCT
PF
PA
Home
Road
AFC
NFC
DIV
Streak

Baltimore 
4
2
0
.667
110
69
2-1
2-1
3-1
1-1
1-0
Lost 2

Cincinnati 
4
2
0
.667
128
113
2-1
2-1
3-1
1-1
2-0
Won 1

Pittsburgh 
2
4
0
.333
144
125
2-1
0-3
2-3
0-1
0-1
Lost 1

Cleveland 
1
5
0
.167
88
126
0-3
1-2
1-3
0-2
0-2
Lost 2
 
 
Baltimore Ravens     (4-2)
 
 
The Baltimore Ravens were technically idle in Week 7, however one could argue that they were anything but, having parted ways with their Offensive Coordinator, Jim Fassel. In an obvious attempt to keep his job, Brian Billick is now taking control of the offense on a day-to-day basis and will be taking on the play calling responsibilities. Some have suggested that this move parallels the move in 2000 to change QBs in midstream as the team benched Tony Banks in favor of Trent Dilfer.
 
One might argue that the bye week fell precisely where it was needed given the circumstances. As OT Jonathan Ogden, RB Jamal Lewis, and WR Derrick Mason have been the most vocal regarding the on-going misery and frustration that has become Baltimore’s offense.
 
I am reminded of the 1970s expansion Tampa Bay Buccaneers and their late great Head Coach John McKay. During a post game press conference after another in a long line of losses, the coach was asked about the execution of his offense. His reply, was a deadpanned, “I’m in favor of it!”
 
By the way, as fans like to pick on the Ravens front office, it’s interesting that the team has been given a free pass on the decision to re-sign RB Jamal Lewis when the team had the chance to lock-up the NFL’s 2nd leading rusher.
 
What, you say?
 
That’s right! RB Chester Taylor picked up 169 rushing yards in Seattle on Sunday which makes him the number 2 on the NFL rushing leader list through 6 games posting 590 yards and 4.3 yards per attempt for the Minnesota Vikings. You wonder how many he might have had in Baltimore had he been offered the job. 
 
Cincinnati Bengals     (4-2)
 
 
The Cincinnati Bengals defeated the Carolina Panthers 17-14 to move into a first place tie in the AFC North. The winning score for the Bengals came on the heels of a risky 4th down and 1 call that culminated into a diving 32-yard reception by WR Chad Johnson. A windy day in Cincinnati caused QB Carson Palmer to wear a glove on his throwing hand. Palmer went 8 for 9 for 93 yards in the go ahead drive which was ended on a 1-yard TD pass to WR TJ Houshmandzadeh.
 
Carolina (4-3) had won its last four games by playing very well at the end -- three of the victories were by a field goal or less. QB Jake Delhomme had the Panthers in position to pull off another one. He completed passes of 18 and 23 yards to WR Steve Smith, helping Carolina reach the 10-yard line. Facing third-and-goal, he saw WR Keyshawn Johnson in the back of the end zone and decided to go for the touchdown rather than throw it away and take a tying field goal. Safety Kevin Kaesviharn reacted and intercepted the floating pass with 3:50 to play, essentially deciding it. Rudi Johnson ran for 101 yards, as the Bengals dominated time of possession by running the ball 30 times in the game.
 
Cleveland Browns     (1-5)
 
The Cleveland Browns were defeated at home by the Denver Broncos 17-7. Cleveland's offense, which has sputtered under embattled coordinator Maurice Carthon since Week 1, didn't move the ball inside Denver's 42-yard line until the final play of the third quarter. But on the next play, Denver cornerback Champ Bailey picked off Cleveland quarterback Charlie Frye in the end zone. "It was a disappointing loss," Browns coach Romeo Crennel said. "It's a tough one. We had a good week of practice and felt like we could get something done."
 
Frye got dinged early in the game and then was sacked three times in the fourth quarter when Denver's defense pinned back its ears to put the game away.
 
Following the game, Frye, who sustained a mild concussion, was advised to answer only two questions by doctors because he was groggy. His 6-yard scoring pass to WR Joe Jurevicius with 11:43 left brought Cleveland within 17-7, and the Browns got the ball back. But several dropped passes and Denver's pressure kept Cleveland from making it close.  Denver's defense held Cleveland to 165 yards, including just 34 on the ground. Cornerback Gary Baxter sustained season ending injuries to patellar tendons in both knees while trying to break up a deep pass intended for Walker late in the second quarter. Baxter has played in only seven games in two seasons since signing a six-year free-agent contract.
 
Pittsburgh Steelers     (2-4)
 
The Pittsburgh Steelers were defeated in overtime by the Atlanta Falcons by the score of 41-38. K Morton Anderson placed a 32-yarder through the uprights to give the Falcons the victory. The Steelers played their guts out as Head Coach Bill Cowher lamented, “We left everything on the football field and I couldn't be more proud of the group of guys. We've dug a hole for ourselves, no question. But I know the character of this football team and we'll be back."
 
QB Ben Roethlisberger was brilliant before halftime, going 15 of 20 for 235 yards and three touchdowns. But Big Ben was knocked unconscious early in the third quarter on a helmet-to-helmet hit by Chauncey Davis after letting go of a pass. Roethlisberger remained on the turf for at least five minutes before finally wobbling to the sideline.  He was later wheeled to the locker room on the back of a cart.
 
After changing out of his uniform, he could only watch from the sideline. Coach Bill Cowher said he wouldn't know for a few days if Roethlisberger would be able to play in Week 8 at Oakland. The Steelers managed just 55 rushing yards on 26 carries. QB Charlie Batch did a good job in relief, throwing for 195 yards and two TDs. Atlanta thought it won in regulation when Michael Koenen, who lost the kicking job after two games, booted through a 56-yarder with 35 seconds remaining. Cowher managed to call timeout just before the snap, however, and the officials waved off the play.
 
Koenen tried again and missed, but Polamalu was called for running into the kicker. The Falcons then sent on Andersen, whose try was straight down the middle but fell on the end line.
 
There was still time for Pittsburgh to pull out a victory.
 
Batch delivered a 25-yard pass to Ward and the Steelers raced up to the line to down the ball with eight seconds to go. However, WR Nate Washington flinched ever so slightly before Batch took the snap and threw the ball into the ground, a false-start penalty that automatically led to the remaining seconds being run off the clock. WR Heinz Ward scored a career best 3 TDs in this game.
 
PREDICTIONS FOR WEEK 8:
 
Baltimore   (4-2)    at New Orleans   (5-1)
 
Both teams come off of their bye week with problems to solve, despite their winning records. The Ravens offense has been struggling and has had turnover issues in their 2 losses; QB Steve McNair returns from a medium concussion and a neck injury in the Carolina game with a new play caller in Head Coach Brian Billick. The defense has to figure out how to slow down the NFL's 6th rated passing attack led by rejuvenated QB Drew Brees and a talented corps of receivers.
 
New Orleans has given up 437 rushing yards in their last 3 games, an average of 6.07 yards per attempt, including 27 rushes for 168 yards by Tampa Bay and 26 rushes for 170 yards by Carolina. With Brian Billick running the offense now, we should expect to see a heavy dose of running the ball this Sunday. If the Ravens can get their rushing attack rolling and run the ball 20 – 25 times, look for them to escape from the Big Easy with win number 5. If the Ravens rushing attempts end up below 20, expect them to continue their string of losing efforts in domed stadiums. 
  
Baltimore   23   New Orleans 16
 
Atlanta   (4-2)   at Cincinnati   (4-2)
 
The Atlanta Falcons are a very difficult team to gauge. Prior to their match-up last Sunday the Falcons had beaten the Pittsburgh Steelers only 1 time in the history of NFL league play yet they managed to squeak by them this past Sunday in overtime. In their first 4 games of the 2006 season, the Falcons allowed an average of 288 total yards and 0 TDs through the air. In their last 2 games they have yielded an average of 454 total yards and 7 TDs through the air. Carson Palmer, Chad Johnson and TJ Houshmandzadeh must be licking their chops.
 
Atlanta can stay close if they can find a way to dominate the game clock with the league's top ground attack, an area in which the Bengals struggle. However, going on the road after an emotional win at home will be tough for them. Cincinnati has a 7-3 all time record versus Atlanta. This is Cincinnati’s 3rd straight game against an NFC South opponent. The long range weather forecast is for cloudy skies with drizzle and a high of 56 degrees. This game will be close early, but Cincinnati should pull away late to win.
 
Cincinnati   35   Atlanta   21
 
NY Jets   (4-3)   at Cleveland   (1-5)
 
The New York Jets have the look of a bottom feeder with their 4 wins coming against Buffalo, Tennessee, Detroit, and Miami. Their 3 losses have come against playoff contenders New England, Indianapolis, and Jacksonville. This yawner features the league’s worst offense in Cleveland matching up against the league’s 30th ranked defense in the Jets. To his credit, Eric Mangini has this Jets team playing hard. They almost upset Indy, and the only game that they didn’t play well in was the blowout loss to the Jaguars. The Browns defense is respectable and has played hard, but they are banged up in the backfield. The Browns offense has shown no ability to move the ball on the ground ranking 31st in rushing offense. RB Reuben Droughns was 12 for 33 against the Broncos.
 
The NY Jets are 11-7 all time versus the Browns. The long range weather forecast is for cloudy skies with drizzle and a high of 50 degrees. The Jets appear to be rising more quickly than the Browns, so ITH gives them a very slight edge.
 
NY Jets   22   Cleveland   21
 
Pittsburgh   (2-4)   at Oakland   (1-5)
 
While the Steelers have shown a weakness against the pass (see games versus Cincinnati, San Diego and Atlanta) the Raiders rank an abysmal 31st in the league throwing the football. While Oakland ranks 10th running the football, it will be tough for them to beat the Steelers being that one dimensional. So, they have to find Randy Moss this week.
 
If QB Ben Roethlisberger can’t go, the ball will be turned over Charlie Batch who has performed admirably in relief. LB Joey Porter has missed the last 2 games and his return to the line up will obviously aide the Steelers pass rush. Believe it or not, Oakland ranks #1 in the league in pass defense but that can be greatly attributed to their sieve of a run defense. ITH thought that the Steelers turned the corner after their home victory versus the Chiefs. They have not played well on the road this year, losing all 3 of their road games. These teams have duked it out to a draw in their series history, tied at 11 wins apiece.
 
ITH thinks that the Steelers will take the series lead after Sunday, but it will be close!
 
Pittsburgh   20   Oakland   13 
 
Last week: 1-2 (including 2 very close calls in the losing choices).
Season-to-date:  A not very good 12-9, but still better than .500.

Post your comment

Your Name:
Your Email:
Your Comment:
There are no comments. be the first to post a comment.


«Go back to the previous page.
Posted On: 10/25/06
Written By:  
Eric Buckner

Polls

From the following list who will have the most sacks in 2012?


Twitter

Check us out on Twitter
  • 5/22/12: There's a Betemit Sandwich!
  • 5/22/12: Sox' Doubront reminds me of Andy Petitte

View all tweets & follow us!

Got Poker Face?

E-News

Sign up for Email Alerts and get the best deals and news in your inbox.



Copyright © 2012 24x7 Network, LLC, All Rights Reserved
Website Design by D3Corp Ocean City Maryland