Cleveland Browns: Trying to Upset Baltimore Again Is This Week's Focus
The Browns (3-13) have dropped five straight games and losing to Baltimore on Saturday could improve Cleveland’s position in the 2025 draft.
However, star defensive end Myles Garrett says he'll be playing to win against the Ravens, who can clinch the AFC North with a victory. The Browns beat Baltimore, 29-24, in October, and Garrett wants to pull off another upset, this time as 18-point underdogs.
"I'm not looking into the future," Garrett said via the Browns’ website after their 20-3 loss to the Miami Dolphins. "The next thing on my mind is recovery, looking at film, how can we improve going to the Ravens, trying to play spoiler for them."
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski didn't commit to a starting quarterback for Saturday's 4:30 p.m. game in Baltimore, after Dorian Thompson-Robinson struggled against Miami.
In Week 8, Jameis Winston started for the Browns when they defeated Baltimore, but Winston has been dealing with a shoulder injury. He was the emergency third quarterback on Sunday behind Thompson-Robinson and Bailey Zappe.
Whether it's Winston, Thompson-Robinson, or Zappe who starts against Baltimore, Stefanski said Cleveland will be playing for pride.
"It's not different than any single week," Stefanski said. "It's the NFL. It's a privilege to play in this league, it's a privilege to coach in this league. We love the competitive nature of these games. It's a division opponent. That's just how we operate."
Cincinnati Bengals: Getting Hot in December May Not Be Enough
Cincinnati (8-8) has won four straight and kept its playoffs hopes alive with a 30-24 overtime win against the Denver Broncos. However, the Bengals still have just a 10% chance to make the playoffs, according to ESPN's Football Power Index.
If the Bengals somehow reach the postseason, Joe Burrow believes they'll be a tough out. He threw for 412 yards and three touchdowns against Denver, including the game-winner to Tee Higgins, who caught all three Cincinnati touchdown passes.
"We know we can hang with anybody," Burrow said via the Bengals’ website. "We've proven that this year. We've played every single team close. It's just about making the plays down the stretch to win those games."
Burrow leads the NFL in passing yards (4,641) and touchdown passes (42), and Head Coach Zac Taylor is backing Burrow to win league MVP honors.
"I don't know how anybody can stand on the field and watch Joe Burrow and not say he's the best player in the world," Taylor said. "You can transfer that argument to Ja'Marr Chase as well and you can argue those two to death. But the clearest thing I can say is I would not trade Joe Burrow for any player in the universe. To me, that's MVP to me."
However, the Bengals' season will end unless they defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday and the Broncos (vs. Chiefs) and Dolphins (at Jets) lose on Sunday.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Trying to Right Themselves Before Playoffs
The Steelers (10-6) are trying to figure out how to right themselves after losing their third straight game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas Day.
Pittsburgh can only win the AFC North if the Ravens lose to the Browns and Pittsburgh defeats the Bengals on Saturday. However, the Steelers have not won a playoff game since 2016 and want to solve their late-season woes before it's too late, no matter who they face in the playoffs.
"The last three weeks we played like [crap]," defensive tackle Cam Heyward said via Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com. "Simple as that. I own that. Every player's got [to own that]. Can't squander opportunities, whether it's turnovers, whether it's getting off the field, whether it's scoring touchdowns, it's a multitude of things, and it has reared its big head."
The Steelers have turned the ball over five times during their losing streak, with quarterback Russell Wilson averaging just 183.3 yards passing during that span.
Wilson said it's imperative that the Steelers' offense plays with confidence in the season finale.
"Our belief can't waver," Wilson said via Chris Adamski of Trib.Live.com. "As a matter of fact, if anything, we've got to turn it up even more on our belief, and I think that's a key part to how we respond in the midst of adversity.
"At the end of the day when you look back at it all and when we get the chance to play in the playoffs, it becomes 0-0. You know what I mean? That's the truth of the playoffs and the opportunity that we have."
