Schefter: Harrison unlikely to play Sunday

The Steelers will likely be without linebacker James Harrison for a third straight game, according to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

Losing Harrison unquestionably hurts the defense. But it has yet to severely impact the results of games.

Since the start of the 2011 season, the Steelers have done just as well with Harrison (8-3 record) as without him (5-2 record). In a stat that will shock most, Pittsburgh averages slightly more sacks without Harrison. The Steelers have recorded 17 sacks in seven games without Harrison and 22 with him. LaMarr Woodley has sacked the quarterback 8.5 times in the seven games that Harrison has missed.

Where the Steelers really feel the loss of Harrison is in keeping offenses off the scoreboard. In the 11 games with Harrison since the start of 2011, the Steelers have limited teams to 12.7 points including two shutouts. Without Harrison, Pittsburgh has given up 18.2 points.

Harrison hasn't played since a playoff loss in Denver nine months ago. He was sidelined all of training camp with a knee injury, and had arthroscopic surgery on Aug. 15. There's a possibility that he could be available after next week's bye.

Steelers safety Troy Polamalu, who is dealing with a strained right calf, could also miss Sunday's game at Oakland. He was sidelined in Sunday's 27-10 win over the New York Jets.

Chris Carter, a fifth-round pick in 2011, is expected to start in place of Harrison once again. Backup safety Ryan Mundy would make his third start of the season after replacing Ryan Clark in the season opener and Polamalu last Sunday.

20 Sep, 2012

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Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/54959/schefter-harrison-unlikely-to-play-sunday
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Browns make changes at cornerback

The Cleveland Browns will start two different cornerbacks than the ones who began the season. In the midst of Joe Haden's suspension, Cleveland apparently has decided to bench Sheldon Brown.

Buster Skrine, who struggled last Sunday, will start in place of Brown against the Bills, according to ESPN Radio in Cleveland. "I just come in in the nickel package," he said.

The timing of the move is odd. Many expected Dimitri Patterson to take Brown's spot this offseason after he re-signed with the Browns for $16 million over three years (including $6 million guaranteed). Brown was the worst starting corner in the division last year and regularly got picked on by quarterbacks.

But Brown surprisingly worked with the first team through spring workouts and training camp. It also helped Brown that Patterson was sidelined for most of the preseason with an ankle injury. Brown, though, earned his spot by forcing two turnovers in the preseason.

When Haden began serving his four-game suspension, it was assumed Patterson would start alongside Brown. Now, it looks like Skrine will join Patterson in the starting lineup and Brown has been demoted.

The hope is that cutting Brown's snaps by nearly in half will lessen the wear and tear on the 33-year-old corner.

"Yeah, I mean, it really doesn't matter," he said. "I told you from Day 1 I'm a team guy. Whatever they want to do I'm going to roll with it."

Skrine has potential and a lot of speed. The biggest knock on him is he grabs too much, which often leads to pass interference penalties.

20 Sep, 2012

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Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/54946/browns-make-changes-at-cornerback
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Ravens not looking for revenge vs. Pats

Heading into Sunday night's game against the New England Patriots -- a rematch of last season's crushing AFC Championship Game loss -- the Ravens have the R-word on their minds. But it's not revenge. It's about rebounding from last Sunday's one-point loss to Philadelphia.

The Ravens know they can't do anything Sunday to get even with the Patriots. A trip to the Super Bowl was on the line in January. This time, the winner gets to move on with a 2-1 record. Not exactly high stakes.

"I don't think the last game we played against them has anything to do with this game," quarterback Joe Flacco said.

The players who would need to redeem themselves the most aren't around anymore. Lee Evans, who failed to catch the winning touchdown, is out of football. Billy Cundiff, who missed the tying field goal, is playing 45 minutes down the road Sunday for the Redskins.

Consecutive Wins
Following Losses

(Longest current streaks)

Team	No.
Ravens	13
Falcons	10
Steelers	10

Inside linebacker Ray Lewis said this week's game hasn't stirred up any memories from the AFC title game.

"It's always hard to think like that when you have a totally different makeup as a team," he said. "So, we are looking at this game as a totally different game."

The Ravens have been able to move on from tough playoff losses. They've returned to the postseason every year under coach John Harbaugh.

It's the same way with Baltimore in the regular season. The Ravens have won 13 games following losses, the longest current streak in the NFL.

"We've been a pretty good team since I've been here, and good teams are able to put their past losses in the background and forget about it and move on to the next one," Flacco said. "I think that has a lot to do with winning that next game, just being able to forget about it and still go play your best game that next week."

20 Sep, 2012

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Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/54917/ravens-not-looking-for-revenge-against-patriots
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Wake-up call: Retractable roof for Browns?

I'm old school at heart so I'm not a fan of artificial surfaces or domed stadiums in football. Two teams in the division already play on the fake stuff (the Ravens and Bengals) and now the Browns are exploring the possibility of adding a roof to their stadium. What's next for the Browns? Adding cheerleaders? OK, let's not go down that road. Time to proceed to the wake-up call ...

BENGALS: Jeromy Miles has taken over for Taylor Mays at strong safety, playing 48 of a possible 67 defensive snaps last Sunday, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. Miles pointed out that Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III's best throw is off play action and is deep down the middle of the field, an area that could frequently be Miles' responsibility Sunday. "He helps in any way he can," coach Marvin Lewis said of Miles. "He's one of those guys that 'does windows.' He does as much as he can, and he's one of the nuts and bolts of the operation. He's strong, he's tough, physical, smart enough, fast. He's still a young, developing player." Miles has made plays this season, but the Bengals need to address this position better next season.

BROWNS: Soon-to-be Browns owner Jimmy Haslam informed Cleveland City Council members that he would consider a retractable roof for Cleveland Browns Stadium, The Plain Dealer reported. Browns coach Pat Shurmur didn't endorse the idea. "I like the setting that we present on gameday here," he said. "I'm not really trying to visualize anything at this point. Some of the charm, at least what I've experienced so far here in Cleveland, is kind of the late season wintery setting." Playing with snow on the field is part of Cleveland's football identity. The focus should continue to be constructing a winning team, not an impractical roof.

RAVENS: Defensive tackle Haloti Ngata called the Ravens defense, which ranks 27th in the NFL, "definitely a work in progress." Baltimore is coming off a game in which it gave up 486 yards to the Eagles and now faces a Patriots offense that ranks No. 6 in the league. "We have a lot of new faces in our front seven," Ngata said, via CSN Baltimore. "We're just trying to get used to each other. Once we continue to jell more, I think we'll seem more dominant." The Ravens have finished ranked in the top 10 in defense from 2003 to 2011, when they were No. 3.

STEELERS: Teammates were impressed by Rashard Mendenhall in practice Wednesday, although it doesn't mean the Steelers running back will make his debut Sunday. "He made a cut on the back side of a zone (blocking scheme) and just took off," guard Willie Colon told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "It kind of reminded me of the old Rashard. He actually looked more explosive. He looked fast. Everything I saw was a good sign." Mendenhall has yet to be cleared to play after having ACL surgery in January. Without Mendenhall, the Steelers rank 30th in the NFL in rushing, averaging 70.5 yards on the ground per game.

20 Sep, 2012

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Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/54934/wake-up-retractable-roof-for-browns-stadium
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05.20 | 0 komentar | Read More

AFC North injury report

A look at the first injury reports of the week for teams in the AFC North:

BILLS AT BROWNS

Bills: RB Fred Jackson (knee), DT Marcell Dareus (not injury related), FS Jairus Byrd (ankle) and WR Ruvell Martin (ankle) did not practice.

Browns: LB James Michael-Johnson (ribs-oblique) and TE Alex Smith (head) did not practice. WR Josh Cribbs (knee), DE Juqua Parker (foot), DL Billy Winn (head), DB Ray Ventrone (head) and OL Oniel Cousins (ankle) were limited.

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BENGALS AT REDSKINS

Bengals: CB Dre Kirkpatrick (knee) has been ruled out. DE Robert Geathers (groin), CB Leon Hall (calf), TE Donald Lee (thigh), G Kevin Zeitler (hip) and SS Jeromy Miles (hip) were limited. DE Carlos Dunlap (knee) had a full practice.

Redskins: WR Pierre Garcon (foot), S Brandon Meriweather (knee), CB Josh Wilson (head) were limited.

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STEELER AT RAIDERS

Steelers: RB Jonathan Dwyer (toe), T Marcus Gilbert (groin), LB James Harrison (knee), TE Heath Miller (abdomen), S Troy Polamalu (calf), WR Emmanuel Sanders (knee), WR Mike Wallace (groin) did not participate. T Mike Adams (back), LB Stevenson Sylvester (knee) were limited. RB Rashard Mendenhall (knee) had full participation.

Raiders: Practice not complete.

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PATRIOTS AT RAVENS

Ravens: CB Lardarius Webb (knee), LB Jameel McClain (knee), SS Bernard Pollard (chest), DE Pernell McPhee (knee) and OL Jah Reid (calf) did not practice. LB Paul Kruger (back) and OT Michael Oher (ankle) were limited.

Patriots: TE Aaron Hernandez (ankle) did not practice. C Dan Connolly (concussion), CB Alfonzo Dennard (hamstring), TE Daniel Fells (shin), DT Justin Francis (ankle), WR Brandon Lloyd (thigh), C Nick McDonald (shoulder), CB Sterling Moore (knee), RB Shane Vereen (foot) and OT Sebastian Vollmer (back) were limited.

20 Sep, 2012

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Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/54908/afc-north-injury-report-33
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Chat Rewind: Why ignore Ray Rice?

If you missed today's AFC North weekly chat, don't start cursing loudly at work. I have some highlights for you. Just slip me a 20 when you leave.

Ryan (Fla.): You see Torrey Smith busting out to a good year as season wears on for Ravens?

Jamison Hensley (ESPN): My prediction was that Torrey Smith would end up being the No. 1 receiver. He had such a good offseason and training camp. It's only two games, so I'm not going to change my prediction yet. It took him some time to get started last year as a rookie as well.

Ted (Baltimore): Jamison, how long before we see Rashard Mendenhall in the starting running back position for Steelers? You think he can overcome injury and be a solid performer? Steelers could use him back there!

Jamison Hensley (ESPN): Never a big Mendenhall fan. He really ran timid last year. Mendenhall showed no patience for holes to open inside and wanted to bounce everything to the outside. The Steelers' best option, in my opinion, is Jonathan Dwyer. But this is a position that the Steelers need to address next offseason.

Auto4Short (Homersville OH): JH, the Bengals have looked awful these past two games. When our injured cornerbacks return, Carlos Dunlap returns, and Dontay Moch gets off his suspension, can this defense turn it around and have us headed to back to back winning seasons?

Jamison Hensley (ESPN): The key is getting Carlos Dunlap back. Before his injury in the preseason opener, he was the best defensive player that I saw during my AFC North training camp tour. The problem with Dunlap has always been injuries. The cornerbacks have looked old early this season. Getting Dre Kirkpatrick back, whenever that will be, will be a boost as well.

Andy in Hagerstown (Maryland): Jamison, why oh why do the Ravens do this to themselves??? Last year the Ravens lost to the Jags, Seahawks and Chargers with Rice running 10 times or less. In Philly, Rice was averaging over seven yards a carry and they just stopped using him. I don't know if Cam Cameron is to blame or not, but the offense still appears to be dysfunctional. What are your thoughts?

Cole Jamison (Newark Delaware): Why do the Ravens like to not give the ball to arguably one of the best running backs in the NFL? It seems like in almost every game once Ray gets the ball 10 times they just completely stop running him.

Jamison Hensley (ESPN): Cole and Andy, it looks like you're both on the same wavelength here. When it comes to Rice, it seems like the Ravens try to be too cute and use him as a decoy. It worked against the Bengals, who were keying everything on Rice. At some point, the Ravens have to give it to the player who is a threat to take it to the end zone every time he touches the ball. It amazes me that the Ravens go such long stretches without getting the ball to Rice.

Michael (Cincinnati): Congratulations to you and your family on the new arrival. Now, do you really believe the Browns are the worst team in the league?

Jamison Hensley (ESPN): In my power rankings, I have the Browns at No. 29. So, I don't think they're the worst team in the league. Based on the first two games, they are better than the Raiders, Chiefs and Jaguars.

Greg (Jersey City): Do you see Brandon Weeden's next game being more like Week 1 or Week 2?

Jamison Hensley (ESPN): Depends on whether the Browns can keep Mario Williams off Weeden. Throwing under pressure is Weeden's biggest challenge.

Andrew H (Baltimore): Who will have the better game? (Joe Flacco or Tom Brady) and (Andy Dalton or RG3)?. This is also a Fantasy Football question.

Jamison Hensley (ESPN): My ranking would go like this: Brady, Flacco, RG3 and Dalton. Of course, there is a disclaimer: I'm awful at fantasy football.

20 Sep, 2012

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Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/54901/chat-rewind-wheres-ray-rice
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Have a question? Send it to the mailbag

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20 Sep, 2012

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Bengals' Adam Jones wins AFC award

The Bengals' Adam Jones was named AFC special teams player of the week after he returned a punt 81 yards for a touchdown in Cincinnati's 34-27 win against the Cleveland Browns. He also returned one kickoff for 31 yards. Jones has three career punt returns for touchdowns that have covered at least 80 yards. There are three other active players who have accomplished that feat: Devin Hester (five), Patrick Peterson (four) and Nate Burleson (three).

This marks the second time in Jones' six-year career that he has won the AFC special teams player of the week award. He previously won the award in 2005 (Week 14) with the Tennessee Titans.

Dolphins running back Reggie Bush won the offensive player of the week award. He beat out four nominees from the AFC North: Browns running back Trent Richardson, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton, and Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden.

Texans defensive end J.J. Watt won the defensive player of the week award. Cleveland linebacker D'Qwell Jackson was a nominee after recording five tackles, three sacks and one interception against the Bengals.

20 Sep, 2012

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Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/54895/bengals-jones-wins-afc-player-of-week-award
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Poll: Surprise of the passing game

The biggest disappointment in the division has been the play of the defenses. The biggest surprise has been the production from some unexpected players in the passing game.

After two games, slot receiver Andrew Hawkins leads the Bengals in receiving yards (142), not A.J. Green. Hawkins was on the roster bubble this summer before beating out Jordan Shipley.

Wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi tops the Browns with 131 yards receiving and a 16.4-yard average. He was expected to get bumped out of the starting lineup by Josh Gordon after last year's disappointing season.

Tight end Dennis Pitta ranks first on the Ravens in catches (13) and receiving yards (138) after missing most of the preseason with a broken hand. He was the second tight end taken by the Ravens in the 2010 draft (Ed Dickson was the first one).

Wide receiver Mike Wallace is tied for first on the Steelers with two touchdowns and is second in both receptions (nine) and receiving yards (111). These numbers come after Wallace skipped all of the offseason workouts and training camp.

Record your vote and give me your reason why by sending me a note to my mailbag. Your comment could be used later in the week when I post the results of the poll.

20 Sep, 2012

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Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/54877/poll-surprise-of-the-passing-game
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AFC North chat alert

Unlike Joe Flacco and the Ravens, we're going to take time in the AFC North blog and huddle up for our weekly chat. Actually, the Ravens did get away from the no-huddle last Sunday in Philadelphia, which was one of the problems. But that's not exactly the point of this post. The weekly chat is going to be held at 2 p.m. today.

If you want a question answered or just hang out with others from the coolest division in the NFL (don't tell the NFC North that I said this because Packers fans are really touchy), click on the words right here to join in on the fun. You can always post your question about the Bengals, Browns, Ravens and Steelers at any time. Give me your one best question because my goal is to respond to everyone who shows up for the chat.

See you in an hour.

20 Sep, 2012

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Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/54873/afc-north-chat-alert-40
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Richardson hammers defenders, criticism

Teams shouldn't spend a top-five pick on a running back in this pass-happy age of football. Two knee surgeries in less than a year reveal that Trent Richardson is damaged goods. Even Jim Brown, the greatest runner in Browns -- and perhaps NFL -- history, took at shot at Richardson, labeling the first-round pick as "ordinary."

Two weeks into the regular season, all of this criticism seems laughable. While it's correct not to make any sweeping conclusions after a couple of games, no one can consider the Browns' drafting of Richardson a mistake at this point. His power, speed and jaw-dropping moves in the open field proves he's the key piece in turning around the NFL's worst offense over the past decade.

Richardson's attitude is the perfect jolt to a Browns franchise that has accepted last place as a way of life since returning to the league in 1999. He runs angry. Knocking off the helmet of would-be tackler Kurt Coleman in the season opener -- it flew five yards after the crushing collision -- is a great example of that. He gets ticked off. Delivering a breakout game following Rey Maualuga's lukewarm assessment of him is another warning that you don't want to challenge him.

Richardson is a violent right hook for the usually punchless Browns, who have ranked 28th or worse in offense nine times in the previous 13 years. Relying on a running back like Peyton Hillis, who missed a game because of strep throat, wasn't going to cut it. Drafting a hard-nosed playmaker like Richardson is Cleveland's best hope to change its culture of losing, even if it has yet to provide immediate results for the winless Browns (0-2).

For entertainment purposes alone, Richardson made a Browns game worth watching Sunday. Richardson totaled 109 yards rushing and 36 yards receiving against the Bengals on Sunday. Those numbers don't illustrate how impressive Richardson looked. On his 32-yard touchdown run, he took a delayed handoff and raced to the end zone without being touched. On what will go down as a 23-yard touchdown reception, Richardson caught a short pass before running through two tackles and spinning out of another to reach the end zone.

"He's a special player," Browns rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden said. "He's a difference-maker."

Richardson became first NFL rookie to record 100 yards rushing, a rushing touchdown and a receiving touchdown in the same game since Samkon Gado seven years ago. He also scored two 20-yard-plus touchdowns for a team that had seven of them all of last season.

"I think I was just more comfortable with myself that, 'Hey, I'm still able to run like I used to' and do it much better," Richardson said of his improvement from Week 1. "In my head, [I was thinking] 'I've got to run much stronger because these guys are much stronger than the guys in college.' Hopefully I'll come out stronger next week."

Five months ago, everyone christened Andrew Luck as the next great franchise quarterback and applauded the Redskins for moving up to take Robert Griffin III. The Browns received mixed reviews when they jumped one spot up to make sure they landed Richardson.

Teams have gotten burned in the past by taking a running back that high. Before Richardson, there were five running backs selected in the top five over the previous 10 drafts: Cadillac Williams (2005), Cedric Benson (2005), Ronnie Brown (2005), Reggie Bush (2006) and Darren McFadden (2008). Only Brown has reached the Pro Bowl and only McFadden is still with the team that drafted him.

Richardson's stock didn't rise when a second procedure on his left knee in less than a year sidelined him for the entire preseason. In his NFL debut, he managed 39 yards, which prompted Bengals linebacker Maualuga to say "he didn't do nothing spectacular." Maualuga was wrong. Exactly one month after knee surgery, no matter if it's minor or not, Richardson carried the ball 19 times. In terms of toughness, that is spectacular.

Richardson can be a top-five running back in the NFL as early as next season. That isn't to say he's the next Adrian Peterson right now.

"I still think he can do some things better when he doesn't have the football, which means we probably ought to give him the ball every time he's in there," coach Pat Shurmur said.

Richardson still has a ways to go before he convinces everyone about his talent. Jim Brown, who was critical of Richardson after the Browns drafted him, told The Plain Dealer that he was impressed with Richardson's performance against the Bengals. But he stopped short of fully endorsing the former Alabama star.

"Richardson has to show he can consistently carry a team," Brown told the paper. "The Browns have had some players that looked like they could, and it didn't work out. (Peyton) Hillis had a lot of talent."

Brown is right in that respect. It doesn't matter how many 1,000-yard seasons Richardson records. He was drafted to turn around a franchise that regularly loses more than 10 games a season and hasn't won a playoff game since 1994. Losing hasn't been easy on Richardson, who went 36-4 in three seasons at Alabama and won two national championships.

"At some point we have to put up more points than the other team is putting up," Richardson said. "If they score on special teams, we have to come back and score. We did a good job (offensively), but I think we can do an even better job. When we start winning, it's going to be much better."

Based on the first couple weeks of the season, Richardson is at his best when faced with a challenge.

19 Sep, 2012

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Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/54837/richardson
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Rough start for AFC North defenses

The AFC North is a division known for its defenses. Last year, all four teams finished in the top 10 in defense and there was a point during the season when they held the top four spots.

The 2012 season has been a complete turnaround so far. Three teams -- the Ravens, Browns and Bengals -- rank in the bottom six in defense. They're all giving up more than 400 yards per game. The Steelers, who had the top-ranked defense a year ago, are currently at No. 7.

There hasn't been a major turnover in starting lineups. Each team that has dropped in the defensive rankings didn't return two starters: Bengals (defensive end Frostee Rucker, safety Chris Crocker), Browns (defensive end Jayme Mitchell and safety Mike Adams) and Ravens (defensive end Cory Redding and linebacker Jarret Johnson).

What has really hurt these defenses has been injuries. Outside linebacker Terrell Suggs, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, is out indefinitely with an Achilles injury for the Ravens. For the Browns, outside linebacker Chris Gocong (Achilles) is out for the season and defensive tackle Phil Taylor (torn pectoral muscle) will miss at least the first six games. And the Bengals have been without defensive end Carlos Dunlap (knee) for two games and won't have outside linebacker Thomas Howard (knee), last year's leading tackler, for the rest of the season.

The Steelers, whose defense hasn't plummeted like the rest of the AFC North, had two former defensive players of the year (James Harrison and Troy Polamalu) on the sideline Sunday.

The loss of those starters has impacted the statistics and the results of games. The Ravens' defense, which has gone from No. 3 to No. 27, gave up the winning touchdown to Michael Vick with 1:55 remaining last Sunday. The Bengals' defense, which has fallen from No. 7 to No. 30, has allowed its first two opponents to gain more than 400 yards for the second time since 1981, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. And the Browns' defense, which has dropped from No. 10 to No. 29, surrendered the winning touchdown pass from Vick with 1:18 left in the season opener.

I thought this was going to be a tougher year for defenses in this division just based on the schedule. Unlike last year, when they faced mediocre offenses in the NFC West and AFC South, the AFC North defenses are lining up against Vick, Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, Philip Rivers and Tony Romo. But no one predicted such a rough start for a division that prides itself on dominating defenses.

19 Sep, 2012

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Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/54868/rough-start-for-afc-north-defenses
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Wake-up: Tomlin unhappy with run game

Hope everyone is having a better start to the day than their favorite AFC North teams. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is unhappy with his running game. The Ravens aren't pleased with the pass protection from their young starters. And the Bengals can't be thrilled about another injury. At least the winless Browns are making some improvement in their pass rush. As far as what to expect today, I will have my midweek column later this morning and the weekly poll this afternoon. Now, let's get started with the wake-up call ...

BENGALS: Another week, another major injury for the Bengals. The team placed backup defensive lineman Jamaal Anderson on injured reserve after he tore a quad tendon in Sunday's win over Cleveland. Cincinnati signed Wallace Gilberry, who was released by Tampa Bay on Friday. Gilberry had played from 2008 through 2011 with Kansas City. The Bengals would get a boost on the defensive line if Carlos Dunlap (knee) can return this week.

BROWNS: Cleveland is tied for second in the NFL with eight sacks, trailing only Green Bay's 11. Middle linebacker D'Qwell Jackson, who had three sacks Sunday, told The Plain Dealer that the difference this year is the play of the defensive line. "We've got some depth this year," Jackson told the paper. "We have some young guys playing well and ... [defensive coordinator Dick Jauron] doesn't have to run a lot of pressures because we're getting a lot of great push from our four-man rush." Over the previous two seasons, Cleveland has never ranked higher than 23rd in sacks.

RAVENS: Two first-year starters on the offensive line struggled against the speed rush of the Eagles. According to the team's official website, rookie right tackle Kelechi Osemele allowed one quarterback hit and four quarterback hurries, while left guard Ramon Harewood gave up two quarterback hits and two hurries. "At times there were one-on-one matchups that got us a little bit in the second half, especially that were pretty good players rushing against some younger guys," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. "That is going to be part of the learning process for some of those guys." The Ravens' next opponent, the Patriots, have three sacks in the first two games.

STEELERS: With backups Isaac Redman and Jonathan Dwyer, the Steelers have 141 yards rushing in two games and a paltry 2.6 yards per carry, both ranked 30th in the NFL. "We haven't run the ball as well as we have liked," Tomlin said. "I'm not interested in assigning blame in that regard. I will take responsibility for it. The reality is we've got room for growth." According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Steelers will step up Rashard Mendenhall's work in practice this week. He has been out all year after having ACL surgery in January.

19 Sep, 2012

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Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/54854/wake-up-tomlin-unhappy-with-run-game
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AFC North quarterback report card

A look at how the quarterbacks around the division fared Sunday:

Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals

Stats: 24-for-31 (77.4 percent) for 318 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.

Comment: Dalton made a great throw to Brandon Tate when he got behind a defender for a 44-yard touchdown. In the fourth quarter, when he completed all eight of his throws, Dalton bought time by rolling to his right before finding Andrew Hawkins, who weaved through the Browns defense for another touchdown. The one pass he would want back is when he threw behind a receiver and got picked off by D'Qwell Jackson.

QBR: 78.3 (8th among quarterbacks this week)

Grade: A-minus

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Brandon Weeden, Cleveland Browns

Stats: 26-for-37 (70.2 percent) for 322 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.

Comment: Weeden rebounded from one of the worst debuts in NFL history to throw the most passing yards for a Browns rookie quarterback. His biggest improvement was accuracy (he connected on 34 percent of his throws in the opener). He was sharp on the intermediate routes and allowed his backs to make plays by dumping the ball off to them.

QBR: 56.0 (17th among quarterbacks this week)

Grade: A-minus

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Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens

Stats: 22-for-42 (52.4 percent) for 232 yards, one touchdown, one interception and one fumble.

Comment: Flacco's miserable second half was a big reason why the Ravens lost by one point in Philadelphia. He was 8-of-25 for 140 yards after halftime. Flacco's interception was the result of throwing into triple coverage. On their final drive, any hopes of a comeback were quashed by Flacco, who was 2-of-6 passing.

QBR: 24.6 (27th among quarterbacks this week)

Grade: D

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Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers

Stats: 24-for-31 (77.4 percent) for 275 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.

Comment: Roethlisberger was back to his old self on Sunday, escaping pressure to extend plays. He showed touch on his one-yard, play-action touchdown pass to Heath Miller and showed faith in Mike Wallace when he tossed a 37-yard scoring pass to him on the right side of the end zone. It was a strong, mistake-free performance for Roethlisberger, who spread the ball around to 10 different players.

QBR: 93.4 (2nd among quarterbacks this week)

Grade: A

19 Sep, 2012

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Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/54805/afc-north-quarterback-report-card-8
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Blogger Blitz: Joe Flacco's favorite target

Take a guess who's the favorite target for Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco after two games. Torrey Smith? Anquan Boldin? Ed Dickson?

Wrong on all three. The Ravens' leading receiver is tight end Dennis Pitta. He has four more catches than anyone else on the team, has just as many 20-yard catches as Smith and has more than double the amount of first downs as Boldin.

In 2010, Pitta was the 114th player selected overall and seventh tight end taken in the draft, behind the likes of Jermaine Gresham (21st overall), Rob Gronkowski (42), Dickson (70), Tony Moeaki (93), Jimmy Graham (95) and Aaron Hernandez (113).

Pitta's 138 yards receiving this year ranks fourth among tight ends, three more than Gronkowski.

19 Sep, 2012

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Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/54815/blogger-blitz-flaccos-favorite-target
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Fujita's meeting with Goodell postponed

This won't come as a surprise but Cleveland Browns linebacker Scott Fujita and the NFL aren't seeing eye to eye on another matter.

Fujita's meeting with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has been postponed and it was not immediately rescheduled. Fujita and Goodell were to talk about his vacated three-game suspension that stemmed from his alleged role in the Saints' bounty scandal.

The NFL Players Association issued this statement: "Scott is committed to a just and fair resolution in this matter, but he is also committed to his teammates and his club. He is still undergoing treatment for a knee injury and is preparing for this week's game. We scheduled a video conference with the league but they informed us that they were only interested in an in-person meeting."

The other players disciplined in the Saints' bounty scandal have met with Goodell or are scheduled to sit down with the commissioner at the NFL offices in New York.

19 Sep, 2012

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Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/54818/fujitas-meeting-with-goodell-postponed
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NFL: Week 2 knee-jerk reactions

AFC EAST by James Walker Running back C.J. Spiller is the real deal. He's leading the NFL in rushing. You can mark him down for the Pro Bowl right now. Spiller is a stud and it's been that way since the end of last season. He just needed playing time. The injury to Fred Jackson will actually help Buffalo in the short term, because Spiller is in his prime and ready to light it up. When Jackson comes back, he should be Spiller's backup for the rest of the season. Our guy, Reggie Bush, is even better. He's an every-down running back now. Book him for the Pro Bowl, too. Bush is probably the most improved player I've seen from one year ago to now. He's silenced his critics and deserves the title of an every-down back. But durability has always been a question with Bush. Can he take big hits for 16 games? That remains to be seen. This offense is done without tight end Aaron Hernandez. The Patriots were lost without him against the Cardinals. If he's out at least until October, don't expect the Patriots to score a lot of points until then. This is an overreaction if I ever saw one. The Patriots had trouble adjusting Sunday because they had to change their gameplan on the fly. New England will be more prepared this week to play without Hernandez, and the addition of former Pro Bowl tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. also will help. Get quarterback Mark Sanchez outta here! He could barely complete a pass for three quarters. It's Tim Tebow Time! He's a winner. Slow down, Tebow-ites. Sanchez had one bad game against a very tough defense. It's expected. Besides, Sanchez needs to string together at least two or three bad games in a row before we even start thinking about Tebow. AFC WEST by Bill Williamson Peyton Manning has lost it. He threw three interceptions in the first quarter at Atlanta, and he will never be back to the form he enjoyed before his neck surgery that cost him the 2011 season. Manning will be fine. Yes, the three interceptions cost the Broncos the game. But he settled down and showed he has ability. The truth is, he is still shaking off the rust and is still getting into a rhythm with his new offense. It will take time. The Chiefs are out of the race. They are 0-2 and look awful. It's not reality yet. This team started 0-3 last year and nearly won the division. The Chiefs still have time, but the defense needs to tighten up. Offensive coordinator Greg Knapp's West Coast offense doesn't fit the team. The offense has regressed under Knapp. The Raiders shined in recent years in a more power run game. But give Knapp's attack some time before we declare it a failure in Oakland. The Chargers are for real. San Diego looks great. They are 2-0 under Norv Turner for the first time. For the time being, it is reality. The Chargers have passed every test so far. Yes, it's early, but there isn't much to complain about. AFC NORTH by Jamison Hensley The replacement officials cost the Ravens the game in Philadelphia. A questionable offensive pass interference penalty negated a Jacoby Jones touchdown, which would have put Baltimore ahead, 27-17, with 5:29 remaining. Not. This isn't defending the replacement officials, who really embarrassed themselves in losing control of the game. The Ravens just can't point fingers at the referees after Joe Flacco completed eight passes in the second half and the defense allowed 486 yards. The Bengals have the worst defense in the league. They have given up more than 400 yards in each of their first two games and rank 30th in the NFL in defense. It's a reality for right now, but this defense won't rank among the worst by the end of the season. Injuries have hurt the Bengals, who will be stronger when defensive end Carlos Dunlap and first-round cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick return. Quarterback Brandon Weeden has turned the corner. He set a team rookie record with 322 yards passing against Cincinnati on Sunday. Not. Just as fans wanted Weeden benched after that horrible season-opening performance, you can't say he's on the right track after one standout effort. Weeden is going to be a work-in-progress for the entire season. He did show once again he deserves to be the starter over Colt McCoy. The Steelers won't be able to run the ball all season. Pittsburgh has gained 141 yards on the ground in two games. Only the Raiders and Titans have less. Reality. The Steelers were only a middle of the pack running team last season when Rashard Mendenhall was healthy. The Steelers' backups, Isaac Redman and Jonathan Dwyer, have been underwhelming. A positive is that new offensive coordinator Todd Haley isn't quick to abandon the running game like his predecessor Bruce Arians. AFC SOUTH by Paul Kuharsky Should I stay at the Marriott on Canal or the W hotel near the casino for Super Bowl Week in New Orleans? There is no way the Texans aren't going. I mean Houston's better than New England for sure. Two games have been very good, but Houston should beat up Miami and Jacksonville. Sunday's the Texans' first real test. Let's see how they do in hostile Denver against their old nemesis, Peyton Manning. Hey, look at how they reacted to adversity and responded. This team has some spunk and spark. Look how bad the Jaguars and Titans were. The Colts can get second place in the division and make a playoff bid. Easy there. It was a good win during which they showed some good qualities. The Colts are better than a team like Minnesota. They've shown they aren't one of the very bottom teams in the league. That team Sunday that was blown out by Houston looked an awful like last year's disaster. Jacksonville's doomed again. The Jaguars are pretty banged up and weren't likely to compete with Houston. If they can't measure up next week in Indy, then we'll start the doom and gloom talk. The Titans may be the worst team in the league. If they get the No. 1 pick in the draft, how much of a haul can they get by trading down to someone who wants a quarterback like Matt Barkley? It's too early to jump to that. They've been horrible, but we knew they were going to have a rough start with this schedule.

19 Sep, 2012

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Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/54812/nfl-week-2-knee-jerk-reactions
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NFL Power Rankings: AFC North reaction

The AFC North has two teams in the top 10 in the latest ESPN.com Power Rankings. Unfortunately, the division also has the worst-ranked team in the league, the Cleveland Browns.

Being the homer that I am, I ranked the AFC North teams higher than the other panelists ranked them. I ranked AFC North teams at 15.5 on average, slightly higher than John Clayton ranked them (15.75).

Here's how the AFC North teams fared in the Week 3 power rankings:

BALTIMORE RAVENS

ESPN Power Ranking: No. 6

My ranking: No. 6

2012 record: 1-1

Comment: The Ravens rightfully dropped three spots after a one-point loss at Philadelphia. For some reason, our power rankings have the Ravens one spot ahead of the Eagles. I have Philadelphia at No. 5. I did put the Ravens ahead of the Patriots after New England was upset by Arizona.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

ESPN Power Ranking: No. 9

My ranking: No. 10

2012 record: 1-1

Comment: The Steelers moved up two spots from last week after easily handling the New York Jets. Once again, the power rankings put the Steelers ahead of the Broncos even though Pittsburgh lost at Denver to open the season. I had the Broncos one spot ahead of the Steelers.

CINCINNATI BENGALS

ESPN Power Ranking: No. 16

My ranking: No. 17

2012 record: 1-1

Comment: The Bengals inched up two spots after holding off the Browns. This is a fair ranking because the Bengals haven't resembled the team that went to the playoffs last season. I differed with the power rankings in that I had the Bengals one spot behind the Seahawks.

CLEVELAND BROWNS

ESPN Power Ranking: No. 32

My ranking: No. 29

2012 record: 0-2

Comment: The Browns are the worst team in the NFL, according to the power rankings. I had the Browns higher, but I was in the minority. The other four voters had Cleveland at No. 32. My stance is the Browns have been in both games this season, losing by a total of eight points. Oakland, Kansas City and Jacksonville have all looked worse this season.

If you want to see all of my rankings, you can click here.

19 Sep, 2012

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Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/54794/nfl-power-rankings-week-3-afc-north-style
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LaMarr Woodley to appear on 'South Park'

Steelers linebacker LaMarr Woodley is going down to South Park, going to have himself a time. Well, you know how the theme song goes.

It seems from Woodley's Twitter account that he will appear on South Park, the Comedy Central cartoon that is entering its 17th season. Either that, or he managed to get a cartoon likeness of himself with Kenny, Cartman, Stan and Kyle. You have to appreciate the Wolverine tattoo on his right arm. Nice touch.

There wasn't any indication of the plot line, but the Steelers lost to the Broncos in the playoffs last season and opened up the season in Denver this year. Several NFL players have appeared on South Park and Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was mocked by the TV show in March 2010 after his off-the-field incident.

Woodley is the latest Steelers player to make headways into pop culture in recent years, from Hines Ward's turn in Dancing With The Stars to Troy Polamalu's shampoo commercials.

My hope is for Woodley to be joined by James Harrison in South Park. Wouldn't it be appropriate if Harrison hit Kenny and was then fined by Roger Goodell?

18 Sep, 2012

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Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/54788/lamarr-woodley-to-appear-on-south-park
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AFC North Game Balls for Week 2

I apologize for not being around to hand out game balls after the first games of the season, but let's give them out to the standouts in the AFC North for Week 2:

OFFENSE: Trent Richardson, Browns running back. This was a close call over Ben Roethlisberger and Andy Dalton, two quarterbacks who led their teams to wins. It's just hard to overlook the breakout performance by Richardson, who totaled 145 yards and two touchdowns. The way he blew threw the Bengals defense to the end zone on the 23-yard run-after-the-catch is the must-highlight to see in the AFC North.

DEFENSE: Entire Steelers defense. Holding a team to 219 yards and 10 points is impressive alone. When the Steelers did this without two former NFL Defensive Players of the Year, it should be applauded. Inside linebacker Lawrence Timmons knocked Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez off his game with a roughing-the-passer penalty, cornerback Ike Taylor shut down Santonio Holmes for the final three quarters and safety Ryan Clark was roaming everywhere like Troy Polamalu to finish with a team-high eight tackles.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Adam Jones, Bengals punt returner. This game ball nearly went to Ravens rookie kicker Justin Tucker, who hit field goals from 56, 51 and 48 yards. But Jones jumpstarted the Bengals to a 34-27 win over the Browns. Dodging seven Cleveland players along the way, Jones scored on an 81-yard punt return in the first quarter before Cincinnati took a snap on offense. Jones' first punt return for a touchdown as a Bengal was just what his team needed to shake a disappointing season-opening loss at Baltimore.

18 Sep, 2012

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Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/54772/afc-north-game-balls-for-week-2
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Disappearance of Ravens no-huddle offense

The Ravens' no-huddle offense became the buzz of the NFL when it helped Baltimore produce 37 points in the season opener. Then it disappeared Sunday as the Ravens could only manage two long field goals in the second half.

While the numbers show the Ravens are better when running the no-huddle, you don't need statistics to see Joe Flacco is more comfortable in it. So why did the Ravens get away from it in Week 2? As in real estate, it's all about location, location, location.

It's easy to shout out plays at the line of scrimmage in the friendly surroundings of M&T Bank Stadium. When Baltimore has to deal with the screaming opposing fans, like Sunday at Philadelphia, the Ravens decided huddling up was the best way to communicate the plays.

"Crowd noise is always a factor in a stadium like that, especially when the game got close," coach John Harbaugh said Monday.

According to the official NFL stats, the Ravens were in the no-huddle 22 times when they played at home. Baltimore only ran the no-huddle six times in Philadelphia, including twice in a stagnant second half.

Harbaugh, though, believes the Ravens didn't get away from the concepts of the no-huddle in a 24-23 loss to the Eagles.

"I don't feel like it was tabled; we were still in it to some extent," he said. "Our pace was what we wanted it to be in terms of if we were more in run-pass. We were at the line calling plays quite a bit, and we were in huddle a little bit."

The Ravens return home to play the New England Patriots on Sunday. It's a rematch of the AFC championship game. It's also the likely return of the Ravens' no-huddle offense.

18 Sep, 2012

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Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/54767/disappearance-of-ravens-no-huddle
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Wake-up: Ugly start for Bengals defense

Hope everyone's morning is off to a good start. As you know, the AFC North teams are off to average starts. The Ravens, Steelers and Bengals are all atop the division with 1-1 records. These teams are fitting in with the rest of the league. Of the 32 NFL teams, 20 0f them are 1-1, which is the most in league history. I'll let you know in the afternoon how I sorted through these 1-1 teams in the ESPN.com Power Rankings. Here's the rest of your wake-up call ...

BENGALS: The Bengals have allowed their first two opponents of the season to gain more than 400 yards for the first time since 1991, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. The 71 points allowed (44 by the Ravens and 27 by the Browns) are the second-most allowed by a Mike Zimmer defense. "It's not good," Zimmer told reporters. "There's lots of things we're not doing good right now Every aspect of it surprises me." The Bengals' defense, which finished No. 7 a year ago, is now ranked 30th.

BROWNS: The Plain Dealer says the Browns can forget about the playoffs if they lost to the Bills on Sunday. Since 1990, only three teams have started 0-3 and made the playoffs. The most recent team to do that was the 1998 Bills. "Right now, it's easy to just lay down your hat and be like, 'You know what? The season's over with. We don't have it,'" linebacker D'Qwell Jackson told the paper. "But we have a long season to go and if you can stay upbeat, things may turn around." Not sure if anyone really thought the Browns would be going to the playoffs this season anyway. Solidifying the quarterback spot with Brandon Weeden and reaching six wins would be more realistic goals for Cleveland this season.

RAVENS: As we addressed Monday, the play calling on third-and-short was suspect. Coach John Harbaugh, though, had no problems with throwing the ball instead of running it after reviewing the film. "We had some options in there to throw or run, a lot of it was called passes, all things we have a lot of confidence in," Harbaugh said Monday, via the team's website. "I feel good about that, and I think we're going to make [the] most of those, but we didn't. I'm disappointed by the fact that we didn't convert those. I think most times as we go forward here, as we build this -- especially with this young offense – that putting it in their hands and giving them chances to make plays is going to be the thing to do." Putting the ball in the hands of Ray Rice seemed to be the smart play for at least one of those third-and-short plays in the second half.

STEELERS: When fans think of Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, they typically remember the plays in which he shrugs off a defender, rolls out of the pocket and completes a pass downfield with some improvisational flair. According to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Roethlisberger did most of his damage Sunday against the Jets by standing in the pocket, completing 17 of 21 passes for 177 yards. His passer rating as a pocket passer was 117.7.While Roethlisberger didn't leave the pocket, he had to elude pressure several times before throwing downfield.

18 Sep, 2012

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Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/54760/wake-up-ugly-start-for-bengals-defense
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Handicapping AFC North after two weeks

Matt Williamson, of ESPN.com, assesses the AFC North after two games. It's an Insider article, so you'll need a subscription to read the entire piece. But here's some excerpts:

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Williamson: [Roethlisberger] can carry this team. He is throwing the football extremely well and, if possible, might be even more difficult to get on the ground for opposing pass-rushers than at any point I can remember. The Steelers defense isn't what it once was (and it's now tough to count on James Harrison and Troy Polamalu), but it's still an elite unit.

Hensley: The Steelers were a big letdown in Week 1. The defense let Peyton Manning dictate the game, and it didn't force him into uncomfortable situations. But, like last season, Pittsburgh calmed any fears the following week. The Steelers made it look easy in defeating the Jets on Sunday. Pittsburgh will still be a major player come December.

BALTIMORE RAVENS

Williamson: After dismantling Cincinnati's defense, the Ravens' offense came back to Earth a bit against the Eagles -- but I think Philadelphia has a top-five NFL defense. Joe Flacco struggled in the second half and I still don't think he has done enough to shake the "inconsistent" label.

Hensley: If these first two games are any indication, the Ravens will go as far as Flacco takes them. The offensive play calling shows that the Ravens are making Flacco more of the centerpiece than Ray Rice this year. Sunday night's game against the New England Patriots, who won't be happy following a loss to Arizona, will be another test to find out where Baltimore ranks among the power players in the AFC.

CINCINNATI BENGALS

Williamson: The Bengals don't resemble a .500 team to me and I think they're in for a long season. The offense scored 34 points on Sunday, and that side of the ball seems to be growing up, but it was against a Cleveland defense that struggled getting receivers on the ground after the catch (and was without Joe Haden to help with A.J. Green).

Hensley: I agree that the Bengals haven't looked like a winning team so far this year. But there's a good chance that Cincinnati will bounce back. I have a hard time thinking this defense will struggle this way all season. Don't write off the Bengals too quickly.

CLEVELAND BROWNS

Williamson: Brandon Weeden played like an NFL quarterback for the first time for Cleveland on Sunday and Trent Richardson looks like he is all he is cracked up to be. But again, the Bengals aren't nearly as difficult to play against as the Eagles. Cleveland is several years away from truly competing with the big boys in this division.

Hensley: For the first time in recent memory, the Browns can get excited about their offense. But, with four rookies playing major roles on offense, there will be a lot of growing pains. So, expect some promising weeks mixed in with mistake-filled games.

18 Sep, 2012

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Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/54754/handicapping-afc-north-after-two-weeks
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Upon further review: Bengals

Revisiting the Cincinnati Bengals' 34-27 win over the Cleveland Browns at Paul Brown Stadium:

Bengals fans were scratching their heads this offseason when trying to decide who would be the Bengals' No. 2 target this season.

Was it going to be Armon Binns, Brandon Tate or Mohamed Sanu? Was tight end Jermaine Gresham going to step up this year? Everyone overlooked Andrew Hawkins. It's easy to do because he's 5-foot-7, 180 pounds.

Through the first two weeks of the season, Hawkins has emerged as the Bengals' top playmaking option next to A.J. Green. He might not be able to keep up this pace throughout the season, but he is certainly turning heads right now. As the Bengals' slot receiver, Hawkins leads the team in receiving yards (142) and ranks second to Green with 10 catches.

His shining moment came Sunday against the Browns when he caught a short pass from a scrambling Andy Dalton and zigzagged his way through the Cleveland defense for a 50-yard touchdown. It was the decisive score in the game because it answered a Browns' touchdown and put the Bengals ahead, 31-17, with 11 minutes to play.

Not too bad for a former CFL player who wasn't a lock to beat out Jordan Shipley for the slot receiver job this summer.

"Hawk is so talented when he's got the ball in his hands and when he's got some space," Dalton said. "For him, it's just getting him the ball -- find ways to get him in that space. That shows what kind of plays he can make and shows what kind of runs he can make after the catch."

STAT THAT STICKS: 5 -- Punt returns for touchdowns by Adam Jones in his six-year career. It might be time to have him field more punts. His last three returns have gone for 63 yards, 4 yards and the 81-yarder for a touchdown Sunday against Cleveland.

OVERHEARD: "We're really almost going to have to put [A.J. Green] on the sideline some and go to work. I think for the first time everybody realized that. People don't like to see 18 beating them on "SportsCenter." He had some great plays today, he's a very good player and we'll continue finding things to shake him clean." -- Head coach Marvin Lewis on defenses focusing on Green, who had 58 yards on seven catches.

WHAT'S AHEAD: The Bengals (1-1) head to Washington for the Redskins' home opener. The Redskins (1-1) are coming off a 31-28 loss at St. Louis.

18 Sep, 2012

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Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/54727/upon-further-review-bengals-13
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Upon further review: Ravens

Revisiting the Baltimore Ravens' 24-23 loss at the Philadelphia Eagles:

Ravens coach John Harbaugh said it's fair to question the play-calling. Actually, it would be hard not to do it.

The Ravens had five situations in the second half when they needed one or two yards to convert a third or fourth down. Every time, they threw the ball instead of handing it off to running back Ray Rice. Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco threw four incompletions and one interception.

The most debated decision was passing late on the final drive. Needing one yard for a first down, Flacco threw an incompletion to Dennis Pitta on third down and threw too high to Rice on fourth down. There was less than a minute remaining in the game, but the Ravens had two timeouts that they never did use.

"You could have called a draw or something there, but you know they were bringing some heat, and they were hugging the backs, too," Harbaugh said after the game. "You know what I mean … it was man coverage, so it would have been hit or miss. We tried some draws, we tried some traps, and even some passing situations, some second-and-longs, and we really weren't hitting that stuff either, so I think that's a fair thing to talk about."

Much of the blame will be placed on offensive coordinator Cam Cameron. But it's unknown whether Cameron called those plays or Flacco decided to check out of them at the line. Either way, in critical situations, the Ravens need to give the ball to the running back that they just gave $24 million guaranteed over the next five seasons.

"I am not the playcaller," Rice said. "I just do what I'm asked to do when my name is called. There were some times that we were third-and-short and I would have loved to see our fullback get some more calls. We have a great fullback in Vonta Leach and he can get us first downs."

STAT THAT STICKS: 1 -- Completion by Joe Flacco on seven attempts covering at least 15 yards downfield in the second half. It was a different story in the first half, when Flacco was 2 of 3 with a 21-yard touchdown pass on those throws.

OVERHEARD: "They play dirty. They take shots after the play, a lot of dirty stuff after plays. We weren't going to back down. We weren't going to take that. Anytime someone thinks they're a bully, you got to step up or they'll keep doing it." Leach on the Eagles.

WHAT'S AHEAD: The Ravens (1-1) face the New England Patriots (1-1) in a rematch of last season's AFC Championship Game. This time, however, the game will be played at M&T Bank Stadium, where Baltimore has won 12 straight.

18 Sep, 2012

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Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/54725/upon-further-review-ravens-12
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Upon further review: Steelers

Revisiting the Pittsburgh Steelers' 27-10 win over the New York Jets on Sunday at Heinz Field:

When Mike Wallace reported to the Steelers after missing all of the offseason workouts, training camp and the preseason, the big question was how long it would take the Pro Bowl wide receiver to pick up Todd Haley's new offense. Based on his play in the first two weeks of the season, Wallace has proven to be a fast learner.

Wallace has looked just as quick as last year and has run crisp routes. Even though he doesn't lead the Steelers in catches or yards (Antonio Brown currently does), Wallace has scored touchdowns in his first two games, including the decisive one Sunday against the Jets. On third-and-16, Wallace leapt in the air in front of cornerback Antonio Cromartie and somehow got his feet down inbounds on the right side of the end zone for a 37-yard score.

It put the Steelers ahead, 20-10, in the third quarter, and it more importantly showed that Wallace had no rust after being away from the team for seven months. This marked Wallace's 16th career touchdown catch that covered at least 30 yards.

For the season, Wallace has nine catches for 111 yards. That pales in comparison to his fast start last year, when he had 16 catches for 233 yards and one touchdown after two games. But Wallace's production is probably more than what many were expecting from Wallace after his lengthy holdout.

Wallace acknowledged that his numbers would be better if he had showed up for training camp. "I think I'm moving in the right direction and I'm helping my team," Wallace told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

STAT THAT STICKS: 56.3 -- Percent of Ben Roethlisberger's passes completed under duress or hit while throwing since the start of last season, the highest percentage in the league.

OVERHEARD: "This is sacred ground here at Heinz Field. It's a very tough place for opponents to come in and play." Defensive end Brett Keisel told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette after the Steelers won their 10th straight home opener.

WHAT'S AHEAD: The Steelers (1-1) travel to face an AFC West team for the second time in three weeks when they play at Oakland (0-2), which managed one touchdown in a 22-point loss at Miami on Sunday.

17 Sep, 2012

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Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/54723/upon-further-review-steelers-16
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Upon further review: Browns

Revisiting the Cleveland Browns' 34-27 loss at the Cincinnati Bengals:

In the season-opening loss against the Eagles, the Browns defense played well enough to win and the offense flopped. In the Week 2 loss at Cincinnati, Cleveland's offense broke out with rookies Trent Richardson and Brandon Weeden while the defense and special teams faltered.

Unlike last season, the Browns have already shown potential on both sides of the ball. The challenge for Cleveland is to put together a complete game.

Even though the Browns dropped to 0-2, there is renewed optimism in the Browns offense, which ranked 29th in the NFL last season. Richardson recorded his first 100-yard rushing game, and Weeden cracked 300 yards passing for the first time. The Browns scored 27 or more points for the first time since Week 2 of last season.

But these impressive performances by these first-round rookies didn't result in a win because the defense gave up three touchdowns through the air and the special teams allowed an 81-yard punt return for a touchdown (there were six players who missed an opportunity to tackle Adam Jones).

"Defensively we let the guys down today," linebacker Scott Fujita said. "It was nice to see T-Rich get a little swagger and see his big-play ability and breaking tackle. But we gave up 34 and that's not acceptable."

STAT THAT STICKS: 8 -- Total points that the Browns have lost by in their first two games. Last season, Cleveland's average margin of defeat was 8.7 points.

OVERHEARD: "If you ask any team in the NFL if they go into a game without their two starting cornerbacks, it's gonna be pretty difficult. The two guys, they start for a reason. It's because they're the best cornerbacks on the team." Strong safety T.J. Ward after the Browns allowed three passing touchdowns without Joe Haden (suspended) and Sheldon Brown (neck stinger).

WHAT'S AHEAD: The Browns (0-2) return home to play the Buffalo Bills (1-1), who are coming off a 35-17 rout of the Kansas City Chiefs. Cleveland has started 0-3 in three of the past four seasons.

17 Sep, 2012

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Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/54720/upon-further-review-browns-9
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Wake-up: Already tight at top of AFC North

Trying to decipher the Week 2 results in the AFC North is like trying to decode the Rosetta Stone. Well, at least Ben Roethlisberger knows what I mean. The Steelers won despite not having James Harrison and Troy Polamalu. The Ravens lost even though the Eagles turned the ball over three times in the red zone. The Browns lost a game in which rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden threw for 322 yards and didn't throw an interception. The Bengals won even though they allowed a Browns rookie to gain 100 yards rushing against them for the first time in nine years.

What does this all mean? The season starts at Square One for nearly everyone in the division. The Ravens, Steelers and Bengals are tied with a 1-1 record. The Browns (0-2) have put up more of a fight this year, but they're still last after their 11th straight AFC North loss.

BENGALS: Middle linebacker Rey Maualuga talked to Browns running back Trent Richardson after the game and told reporters that his earlier remark (he described Richardson's debut last week as "nothing spectacular") was was never intended to be "a hit" on the rookie. "He's a great player," Maualuga said, via the Cincinnati Enquirer. "That's what they didn't put on there, the good things I said about him. And so, you know, he came out. He made a statement. He had a good game." Richardson totaled 145 yards and two touchdowns against the Bengals. My guess is Maualuga will only have compliments about Redskins running back Alfred Morris, who faces Cincinnati next Sunday.

BROWNS: The Plain Dealer's Bud Shaw believes Weeden should have won over many critics even in defeat. "Weeden's age and first-round draft status make fast-tracking him mandatory. Sunday's performance -- 322 yards passing, two touchdowns, no interceptions or fumbles -- cleared the way for that to continue," Shaw wrote. "After witnessing the nadir, everyone involved -- fans, coaches, teammates -- are less stressed today for having seen the possibilities." Just as many wanted to bench Weeden after his dismal debut, no one should think Weeden is suddenly over the hump after a successful Week 2 performance. There's still a lot of growing to do.

RAVENS: The Baltimore Sun's Mike Preston said the play-calling was the most disappointing aspect of the Ravens' loss at Philadelphia. "Oh my, we're still looking for [Ray] Rice," Preston wrote. "Did he have a cold or virus? The entire offense was a no-show in the second half against Philadelphia, and when that happens, the Ravens should go back to old reliable. It should have been be Rice time." Rice finished with 22 touches, but he didn't get the ball on the Ravens' final drive.

STEELERS: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Ron Cook thinks the play of safety Ryan Clark was key to shutting down the Jets on Sunday. "He made plays just about every way a defensive player can," Cook wrote. "Rushing the passer? Check. Stopping the run? Check. Breaking up a deep pass? Check. Dishing out brutal hits? By now, after watching the man play here for six-plus seasons, you know that's a check." What shouldn't be overlooked is the fact that the Steelers' last two losses (both at Denver) came when Clark couldn't play.

17 Sep, 2012

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Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/54709/wake-up-already-tight-at-top-of-afc-north
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Steelers lose players, not physical identity

Not only were the Pittsburgh Steelers without two former NFL Defensive Players of the Year, they were without two players who have defined their defense. The reason why Pittsburgh avoided an 0-2 start is the Steelers didn't make excuses and they didn't lose their physical identity.

The Steelers beat the New York Jets, 27-10, at Heinz Field. Correct that, the Steelers beat up the Jets. Pittsburgh shut down the Jets offense, holding New York to 219 total yards. The Steelers defense knocked around the Jets running backs and nearly knocked out Shonn Greene. The aggressive press coverage took out New York's wide receivers for the final three quarters. The Steelers were the hungrier team, and that showed in how they swarmed to the ball carriers and delivered shots to the receivers.

It's easy to put an asterisk by the Steelers' defensive effort because it came against Mark Sanchez. There's no argument that it was a bigger challenge to stop Peyton Manning last week than Sanchez on Sunday. But this was the same Jets offense that put up 34 points against the Bills a week ago.

The toughness of the Steelers defense came through in how it rebounded from its first two drives in which it allowed 10 points and 151 total yards. When the Jets marched down the field to go ahead 10-6 in the second quarter, there had to be some thoughts of how the Steelers defense struggled without Troy Polamalu in 2009. But, for the rest of the game, it was Sanchez who doubted his every move.

"We settled down," Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor told reporters after the game. "I think everybody was hyped for this game. Looking at what them boys did last week, they handled their business on offense."

Over the final eight drives, the Steelers allowed seven first downs and three of them were off Pittsburgh penalties. The Jets managed to cross midfield only twice in that span, and the closest New York got to the end zone was the Pittsburgh 30-yard line. And this is against a Steelers defense that didn't have two players who have combined for 12 career Pro Bowls.

Without Polamalu and James Harrison, the Steelers don't present the same fear or unpredictability. Quarterbacks are always aware of Harrison breathing down their necks and Polamalu roaming along the line of scrimmage. Teams aren't sweating the likes of linebacker Chris Carter and safety Ryan Mundy. The biggest disappointment in the defense was the lack of game-changing plays. There were no interceptions or forced fumbles. There were only two sacks. This was the hole in the NFL's top-ranked defense's game last year.

But the Steelers' physical play on defense did make an impact, even if it didn't officially go down as a sack. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Sanchez started the game by completing 4 of his first 5 passes for 80 yards and a touchdown. Then, after a roughing the passer penalty from Steelers linebacker Lawrence Timmons with 13:51 remaining in 2nd quarter, Sanchez went 6 of 22 for 58 yards.

What it's impossible to take away from this defense is its results, or the lack of results from the Jets. Take away Tim Tebow's 22-yard run, and Pittsburgh limited the Jets to 3.2 yards per carry. It looked like Mundy had knocked out Greene from the game after one shot in the first half. The Steelers roughed up the Jets' wide receivers, which is why Sanchez was 1 of 7 on third downs in the second half and why Santonio Holmes had one catch in the final three quarters.

The Pittsburgh defense rubbed off on its offense in the fourth quarter. The Steelers running backs broke tackle after tackle as the offense took 10 minutes, 13 seconds off the clock. It did seem like old times for the Steelers as quarterback Ben Roethlisberger shrugged off blitzers and wide receiver Mike Wallace caught a long touchdown pass.

Even the Steelers defense was back to its stingy ways. Pittsburgh knows it's better (and yes, older) with Polamalu and Harrison. But after playing their first game without both of them in the lineup, the Steelers know they can do more than survive. They have enough punch left to thrive.

 

17 Sep, 2012

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Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/54678/steelers-lose-players-not-physical-identity
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Flacco was right to rip replacement refs

Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is going to make headlines across the country for ripping the replacement referees. The league shouldn't fine him for his comments. The NFL needs to listen to him.

"The NFL and everybody always talk about the integrity of the game. I think this is kind of along those lines," Flacco said after the Ravens' 24-23 loss at Philadelphia. "Not to say these guys are doing a bad job, but the fact that we don't have the normal guys out there is pretty crazy."

Flacco said he hates complaining because he doesn't want to "sound like a baby." But Flacco's criticism of the replacement officials is warranted. In fact, I wish other players would follow suit. Flacco is only saying what most fans and reporters are thinking.

The replacement referees lost control of the Ravens-Eagles game early and often. There was shoving. There were fights. It was obvious that the players had no respect for any man with a whistle. It was hard for anyone to take the replacement refs seriously when they couldn't keep track of timeouts and had two two-minute warnings in the fourth quarter. The officials took forever to sort out calls, which is why the game lasted 3 hours, 38 minutes.

The most debated call was the offensive pass interference penalty on Ravens wide receiver Jacoby Jones on a touchdown catch that would've put Baltimore ahead, 27-17, with 5:29 remaining. If anything, it looked like defensive pass interference on Nnamdi Asomugha, who never turned to face the ball. It only made matters worse when the official didn't throw a flag. He mistakenly tossed out his blue beanie.

I'm not suggesting the referees cost the Ravens the game. Flacco's second-half flop (8 of 25 passing) and the Ravens' suspect play calling (throwing the ball on third and fourth downs when they needed one yard on the final drive) played just as big of a factor in Baltimore's first loss of the season.

But the replacement referees are impacting games in a very negative way. There were more embarrassing calls in the Steelers-Jets game (like Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor getting called for interference when he never touched Santonio Holmes). As Flacco said, this is affecting the integrity of the game. This situation isn't getting any better. It's only getting worse.

17 Sep, 2012

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Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/54700/flacco-was-right-to-rip-replacement-refs
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Wrap-up: Steelers 27, Jets 10

Thoughts on the Pittsburgh Steelers' 27-10 win over the New York Jets on Sunday at Heinz Field.

What it means: The Steelers avoided their first 0-2 start in a decade and moved into a first-place tie with the Ravens and Bengals, all of whom are 1-1. The Pittsburgh defense didn't just show it could survive without two former NFL Defensive Players of the Year, linebacker James Harrison and safety Troy Polamalu, the Steelers proved they could dominate without them, holding the Jets to 219 total yards.

Roethlisberger looks like Roethlisberger: A week after throwing an interception returned for a touchdown, Ben Roethlisberger looked like his old self in the home opener. The Jets were successful in getting pressure on Roethlisberger, but he did his trademark moves to shrug off defenders and complete passes downfield. Connecting with 10 players, Roethlisberger was 24 of 31 for 275 yards and two touchdowns.

Rude homecoming for Holmes: It looked like Santonio Holmes was going to get the better of his former team when the Jets wide receiver caught a 14-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter. That was one of the last times anyone heard from Holmes. Shadowed by Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor, Holmes had one catch in the final three quarters. Taylor was flagged for pass interference in the second half, but he never touched Holmes. It was an embarrassing call by the replacement referees.

Closing it out: The Steelers never abandoned the running game even though they had good reason to do so. After getting very little out of the ground game for three quarters, Pittsburgh ran the ball eight times for 31 yards in a marathon fourth-quarter drive that took 10 minutes, 13 seconds off the clock. It was the longest drive in terms of time for the Steelers in five years. Isaac Redman broke several tackles on that grind-it-out series, including the two-yard touchdown run. Pittsburgh dominated time of possession, 36:36 to 23:14.

What's next: The Steelers make their second trip to an AFC West opponent in the first three weeks of the season, traveling to Oakland. The Raiders are 0-2 for the first time since 2007.

17 Sep, 2012

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Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/54673/wrap-up-steelers-27-jets-10
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Halftime update: Steelers-Jets

Here are some observations from the first half of the Steelers-Jets game:

• Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is hurting the Jets on short passes. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Roethlisberger was 8 of 9 for 93 yards on passes 10 yards or shorter. He hit Heath Miller on a one-yard touchdown pass late in the second quarter, putting Pittsburgh ahead, 13-10.

• The Steelers need to get Jonathan Dwyer more involved in the second half. Isaac Redman was tackled behind the line on half of his six carries.

• Former Seelers wide receiver Santonio Holmes made his mark in his return to Pittsburgh. He beat Ike Taylor for a 14-yard touchdown in the first quarter.

• Steelers safety Ryan Mundy, who is filling in for Troy Polamalu, knocked running back Shonn Greene temporarily out of the game. Greene went to the locker room with a head injury but returned to start the second half.

17 Sep, 2012

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Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/54666/halftime-update-steelers-jets
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Wrap up: Eagles 24, Ravens 23

Thoughts on the Baltimore Ravens' 24-23 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field.

What it means: For the third straight season, the Ravens fell to 1-1 after failing to follow up a strong performance in the season opener. Baltimore, which never trailed in the second half, couldn't stop Michael Vick on a third-and-goal, 1-yard sneak that put the Eagles ahead with 1:55 remaining. On their final drive, the Ravens never crossed midfield as Joe Flacco went 2 of 6, including an incompletion to Ray Rice on fourth down. It closed out a game filled with fights, turnovers and Eagles injuries.

Flacco falters: Flacco had a strong six quarters to begin the season, but he struggled mightily in the second half. He was 8 of 25 for 140 yards after halftime. It started with his first drive in the third quarter, when he was intercepted throwing into triple coverage. Flacco's best throw, a touchdown pass to Jacoby Jones, was negated by a questionable offensive pass interference penalty.

Tucker's strong leg: Justin Tucker delivered three long kicks: 56, 51 and 48 yards. His 56-yarder before halftime was four yards longer than his career best in college. Last season, then-Ravens kicker Billy Cundiff was 1 of 6 on kicks beyond 50 yards.

Slipping at goal line: The Ravens came up with three turnovers in the red zone, including an interception by Bernard Pollard (who was later injured and didn't return) in the end zone and a forced fumble by Lardarius Webb. But Baltimore couldn't make critical stops at the goal line. Two of the Eagles' touchdowns came from 1 yard out, including Vick's game-winner.

What's next: The Ravens play their second prime-time game when they play host to the New England Patriots on Sunday night. It's a rematch of last season's AFC championship game. But wide receiver Lee Evans and Cundiff are no longer on the Ravens. The Patriots were upset at home by the Arizona Cardinals, 20-18, on Sunday.

17 Sep, 2012

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Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/54653/wrap-up-ravens-eagles
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Wrap-up: Bengals 34, Browns 27

Thoughts on the Cincinnati Bengals' 34-27 victory over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium.

What it means: The Bengals (1-1) rebounded from a disappointing season-opening loss to win their fourth straight in the Battle of Ohio. Unlike last year, the Bengals didn't need to come back in the fourth quarter. Cincinnati took the lead on Adam Jones' 81-yard punt return for a touchdown in the first quarter and held off a rare solid effort by the Cleveland offense. This was the 11th straight loss in the AFC North for the Browns (0-2).

Bengals receivers step up: The stat sheet will say Andy Dalton threw three touchdown passes. Take a closer look and you'll see how much Cincinnati's receivers delivered on those scores. There was a 10-yarder to A.J. Green, who ran through Dimitri Patterson's tackle; a 44-yarder to Brandon Tate, who got behind safety Eric Hagg; and a 50-yarder to Andrew Hawkins, who weaved through the Browns' defense after a short pass.

Impressed yet, Rey Maualuga? Browns rookie running back Trent Richardson played inspired with 109 yards rushing, 36 yards receiving and two touchdowns. This came after Maualuga described Richardson's debut last week as "nothing spectacular." His 23-yard touchdown catch-and-run, which featured several broken tackles, pulled the Browns to within 24-17 in the third quarter. Richardson became the first Browns rookie since Lee Suggs in the 2003 finale against the Bengals to go over 100 yards in a game.

Dalton shows toughness: Despite getting sacked six times, Dalton completed 24 of 31 passes for 318 yards. It marked the third 300-yard passing game of Dalton's career. The efforts by Dalton and Richardson overshadowed Browns rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden, who was 26-of-37 for 322 yards and two touchdowns.

What's next: The Browns return home to play the Buffalo Bills. The Bengals go back to the mid-Atlantic area for the second time in three weeks with a trip to the Washington Redskins.

17 Sep, 2012

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Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/54655/wrap-up-bengals-34-browns-27
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