AFC North: No promises of wins by divisional rivals in Week 15

With the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals, the 2018 NFL regular season appears to be nearly wrapped up. Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Steelers are no longer favored to sweep up the AFC North title. In fact, the Baltimore Ravens may have a better course to plot Weeks 15-17 as far as strength of schedule in the division goes. There are all sorts of scenarios out there that show how the different divisional teams could get into the playoffs, but for the sake of this article, we’ll look at the Week 15 divisional matchups – the opponents each team will face.

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Bengals (5-7) vs Oakland Raiders (3-10)

Cincinnati will host Oakland coming off of their fifth consecutive loss; the same Raiders team that shocked the Steelers in Week 14. It will be the Bengals’ final home game in the 2018 season as well. While the Bengals looked semi-competent keeping the game close against the Chargers, losing 21-26, this is a team that should’ve been better this season – at least on paper – than the 2017 squad, but they aren’t.

Injuries, questionable coaching, and what has become clearly a lack of identity – not to mention on-field meltdowns – have created a team that is a house of cards in Cincinnati. Sitting at the bottom of the division, the Bengals are looking to keep from being swept by the AFC West this season by handling a Raiders team that has been predictably bad. Still, if the Raiders can upset the Steelers, do the Bengals have a shot at winning this week? The answer is yes. It will take everything they have to do it, but they can.

Game Info
Date: Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018
Kickoff: 1:00 p.m. (EST)
Location: Paul Brown Stadium (Cincinnati, OH)
TV: CBS – WKRC-TV (Ch. 12) in Cincinnati, WHIO-TV (Ch. 7) in Dayton and on WKYT-TV (Ch. 27) in Lexington
Radio: 700WLW • ESPN 1530 • 102.7 WEBN (Cincinnati Market)

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Browns (5-7-1) at Denver Broncos (6-7)

Earlier this week, when I heard someone say it was possible for Cleveland to land in the playoffs, I almost choked on my drink. The Cleveland Browns? It’s crazy, right? The problem is that it’s not completely out of the question, even if it will require almost perfect play; if the Browns lose a single game in the next three weeks, they’re done. Win-out and they could end regular season play 8-7-1, which could get them a wild-card spot if – and this is a big if – the Steelers and Ravens can’t get it together during the same time period.

The first thing Cleveland must do is beat the Broncos on the road on Saturday night (you read that right – Saturday). Their final two opponents are divisional rivals in Cincinnati and Baltimore. While Denver hasn’t had the best season in franchise history in 2018, they’re still a challenge. The Broncos are thin at receiver, but they are likely to crank up the run game offensively and shut Cleveland’s run game down as a defense. On paper, this game looks like it will be a battle in the trenches, requiring the best from the offensive and defensive fronts on both teams. The Broncos forced nine defensive turnovers during their three-game win streak, requiring ball security if the Browns hope to leave the thin air of Denver with a win.

Game Info
*** Date: Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018
Kickoff: 8:20 p.m. (EST)
Location: FirstEnergy Stadium (Cleveland)
TV: NFL Network
Radio: ESPN 850 • 92.3 The Fan • 98.5 WNCX (Cleveland Market)

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Ravens (7-6) vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-8)

The Ravens, remarkably, have emerged late in the season as contenders for the divisional crown and a shot at the playoffs. They are being hailed as the potential AFC North winners after the Steelers started stumbling over the last three weeks. Just a half-game back from a Steelers team that is 7-5-1, the Ravens’ remaining schedule features just one team with a winning record (vs Bucs, at Los Angeles Chargers who are 10-3, and the Browns) versus a Steelers squad that will face the New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, and the Bengals.

Toss out the fact that Baltimore is a 7.5 point favorite to beat Tampa Bay because they’re playing at home. Tampa Bay has a top passing offense and this game – ahem – could be a trap game for the Ravens. You heard it here. It’s expected Baltimore’s primary offensive scheme will involve the run. Defensively, they’ll attempt to crank up plenty of upfront pressure. The Ravens’ return to form has been, in large part, due to controlling the line of scrimmage. In the end, though, it takes wins to keep moving forward for Baltimore, period. If they can stack wins, they can start thinking about taking the division and getting into the playoffs after a roller-coaster of a season.

Game Info
Date: Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018
Kickoff: 1:00 p.m. (EST)
Location: M&T Bank Stadium (Baltimore, MD)
TV: FOX
Radio: 98 Rock | WBAL 1090 AM (Baltimore Market)


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