Kevin Gorman’s Who runs the North?: Running the North not enough for the Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens made official what we have been saying almost all season: They run the North.

In winning their 10^th consecutive game, the Ravens clinched the AFC North division title and celebrated by wearing T-shirts that read: THE NORTH IS NOT ENOUGH.

“It’s our first goal,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said, “not our top goal.”

"HAT AND T-SHIRT GAME❗️"@Lj_era8 was Wired for Thursday Night Football ? pic.twitter.com/Irs2gPhk3u

— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) December 13, 2019

While Baltimore (12-2) now owns the NFL’s best record and looks to clinch the top seed in the AFC playoffs, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns are in survival mode.

Both remain in contention for the wild-card berths, but the Browns’ playoff hopes are hanging by thread after they lost at Arizona. They have a 1% chance of qualifying.

The Steelers are still positioned for the sixth seed, thanks to Houston beating Tennessee. The Steelers own the tiebreaker over the Titans by virtue of a better conference record.

So, the wildcard scenario was a little more complicated than my brain could process late last night. Here’s the full picture for the Steelers, courtesy of the true experts at @ESPNStatsInfo https://t.co/jIOub1Ta2r pic.twitter.com/Ebd6yOFDG3

— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) December 16, 2019

The Steelers could have eliminated the Browns by beating Buffalo. The Browns are eighth in the conference, owning the tiebreaker over Indianapolis and Oakland because of a better conference record, but they have to beat the Ravens and the Bengals to have a shot at making the playoffs.

Then again, the Browns were the last team to beat Baltimore.

Where the Ravens have set their sights on winning the Super Bowl, making the playoffs would be enough for the Browns and Steelers.

Problem is, both might need to beat Baltimore to do it.

"I appreciate everything you do for the game."

Mike Vick congratulated Lamar Jackson after he broke his single-season QB rushing record ✊ (via @MichaelVick) pic.twitter.com/6jlSfmFTJj

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 13, 2019

Baltimore Ravens

Result: Beat the New York Jets, 42-21.

Highlights: Lamar Jackson ran into the record books again, rushing for 86 yards on eight carries to break Michael Vick’s single-season NFL mark for rushing yards by a quarterback (1,039 in 2006). Jackson now has 1,108 rushing yards. But he beat the Jets with his arm, completing 15 of 23 passes for 212 yards and five touchdowns for an NFL-leading 33.

John Harbaugh said no plans have been made on whether he'll rest Lamar Jackson for that season finale if the Ravens clinch the No. 1 seed on Sunday. He said he's thought about what to do, but Ravens aren't there yet.

— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) December 16, 2019

Lowlights: The Ravens had a special-teams breakdown when the Jets’ B.J. Bello blocked a Sam Koch punt and returned it 14 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Next: The Ravens (11-2) play at the Cleveland Browns (6-8) at 1 p.m. on Sunday.

Why would the Bengals draft Joe Burrow with Andy Dalton completing passes like this pic.twitter.com/4Qmqxj5kt7

— Eric Rosenthal (@ericsports) December 15, 2019

Cincinnati Bengals

Result: Lost to the New England Patriots, 34-13.

Highlights: The Bengals ended a 20-game streak of failing to find the end zone on their first drive when Andy Dalton threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Cethan Carter to tie the game at 7-7.

Stephon Gilmore is now Andy Dalton's leading receiver.

— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) December 15, 2019

Lowlights: Stephon Gilmore intercepted Dalton twice, returning the second one 64 yards for a touchdown. J.C. Jackson also had two picks off Dalton, who tied his career high for interceptions.

Next: The Bengals (1-13) play at the Miami Dolphins (3-11) at 1 p.m. on Sunday.

#Browns Jarvis Landry voicing some...umm...frustration with Freddie Kitchens. pic.twitter.com/tFtEkHDFyC

— Jon Doss (@JonDoss) December 15, 2019

Cleveland Browns

Result: Lost to the Arizona Cardinals, 38-24.

Highlights: NFL rushing leader Nick Chubb ran for 127 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries, improving his season total to 1,408 yards. It was his seventh 100-yard game of the season.

#Browns Freddie Kitchens: 'I care about my job; of course I want to be back' https://t.co/dIHkIt5rNJ

— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) December 16, 2019

Lowlights: In a must-win game, the Browns allowed running back Kenyan Drake to rush for a season-high 137 yards and a career-high four touchdowns on 22 carries as the Cardinals ran for 226 yards to snap a six-game losing streak.

Next: The Browns (6-8) play host to the Ravens (12-2) at 1 p.m. on Sunday.

The @BuffaloBills defense seals the win! #BUFvsPIT #GoBills pic.twitter.com/hptprq1tgy

— NFL (@NFL) December 16, 2019

Pittsburgh Steelers

Result: Lost to the Buffalo Bills, 17-10.

Highlights: Running back James Conner returned after missing three games with a shoulder injury, and rushed for a team-best 42 yards on eight carries. That included runs of 15 and 17 yards.

Devlin Duck Hodges apparently called the #Bills "just another defense" this week. I didn't hear it. But the Bills did.

Shaq: "I was quiet all week. I had to say some words to him.
I said 'Duck, Duck, Goose.
You can't just talk junk like that."#Billsmafia pic.twitter.com/AytmnoyUpp

— Thad Brown (@thadbrown7) December 16, 2019

Lowlights: The rookies who shined at Arizona struggled at Heinz Field, as Diontae Johnson lost a fumble inside the Buffalo 10 late in the second quarter and Devlin Hodges threw two of his four interceptions in the end zone in the final two minutes.

Next: The Steelers (8-6) play at the New York Jets (5-9) at 1 p.m. on Sunday.

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