The Baltimore Ravens (5-2) entered Week 8 with a bye and in second place of the tough AFC North division. While the team could not improve or worsen their record, that did not stop other teams in the division from giving Baltimore a bit of a cushion in the division.
On Sunday, the New York Jets welcomed the Cincinnati Bengals into MetLife Stadium. After defeating Baltimore by a huge margin in Week 7 and taking first place of the AFC North, many expected the Bengals to steamroll New York. That could not be further from the truth.
The Jets signed former Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco last week to give the team some depth at the position after it was announced that quarterback Zach Wilson would miss some time with a knee injury. However, the Jets put quarterback Mike White in the starter role to replace Wilson in Week 8 and he did not disappoint.
In White’s first NFL start, he threw for 405 yards and three touchdowns in the Jets 34-31 upset over Cincinnati.
FINAL: The @nyjets win in Mike White's first start! #TakeFlight #CINvsNYJ pic.twitter.com/hVXlp2caqL
— NFL (@NFL) October 31, 2021
New York gave the Ravens a treat on Halloween as now Baltimore finds themselves back in first-place of the AFC North.
Back in first without a snap this week. #RavensFlock pic.twitter.com/MhFZJ9krzU
— Robert Sobus (@robert_sobus) October 31, 2021
Also in the AFC North, the Cleveland Browns hosted the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers (4-3) left Paul Brown Stadium with a “W” and find themselves in third place ahead of Cleveland (4-4).
With it just being at the halfway point of the season, the Ravens find themselves in a good position.
Baltimore will return from their bye in Week 9 and welcome the Minnesota Vikings into M&T Bank Stadium. With the Vikings having playmakers on both sides of the ball, it will be a big task for the now-first place Ravens to come out of their bye week with authority.
