The Baltimore Ravens handled their own business in Week 13 but managed to see an AFC North rival fall to the wayside without even playing them.
With their loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Cleveland Browns have officially been eliminated from AFC North contention. With a 5-7 record and just four games remaining, the Browns cannot mathematically win the division. It means the Ravens have just one more team to concern themselves with in the AFC North standings as they enter Week 14. Let’s take a look at what the division has on the books for this week.
Baltimore Ravens (10-2) at Buffalo Bills (9-3)
Baltimore is coming off a draining game against the San Francisco 49ers. In the cold rain, the Ravens were taken the distance and beaten up by the 49ers, though they prevailed in the end. Though the Bills aren’t quite as good as San Francisco, they’re another physical team with quite a lot of talent that’s surging. It’s become a cliche to say at this point, but this is yet another really tough test for Baltimore this week.
However, this is a key game for the Ravens. They win, they’re in . . . it’s as simple as that. But they’ll get tested by an athletic quarterback that likes to run in Josh Allen and a defense that plays tough, aggressive football. Buffalo is also fighting for their playoff hopes, even though they can’t lock in a spot in Week 14.
There are no “gimmes” in the NFL and with the importance of this game for the Ravens, they can’t afford to slack off.
Ravens / Bengals-Browns / Steelers
Cincinnati Bengals (1-11) at Cleveland Browns (5-7)
With the Browns not able to win the division, all their hopes rely on a wild card berth. But at 5-7, Cleveland will not only need to win all four remaining games but get some help to qualify. That makes every week a must-win game for the Browns, starting with this AFC North matchup in Week 14.
The Bengals are simply trying to win some games at this point to hopefully keep pink slips from sliding across desks in the offseason. But they have a little added incentive as a spoiler for Cleveland this week. Cincinnati can get a little revenge, pick up a massive win over a division opponent and hopefully improve their prognosis for the future.
A Bengals win would actually help Baltimore in two fronts. It would effectively keep the Browns out of the postseason while potentially messing up Cincinnati getting the No. 1 pick in the 2020 NFL draft.
Ravens / Bengals-Browns / Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers (7-5) at Arizona Cardinals (3-8-1)
The only contender left standing beside Baltimore is Pittsburgh. After starting 1-4, the Steelers have won six of the last seven games to put themselves firmly in the thick of the AFC playoff picture. While they can’t be eliminated from the postseason entirely this week, the Ravens can clinch the division with a little help from the Cardinals.
If Pittsburgh loses this game and Baltimore wins, the Steelers would be mathematically eliminated from winning the AFC North with just three games remaining. To lock up a playoff spot early would be big for a team that has too often had to fight their way into the postseason.
With an athletic young quarterback like Kyler Murray, you can never really rule out a team like Arizona. But the rookie will be tested by a more-than-capable defense with a pretty fearsome pass rush. He’ll have to play his best football to bail out the Cardinals’ terrible defense.
