AFC North Preview: Week 15

Baltimore Ravens (11-2)

The red-hot Ravens kick off Week 15 on Thursday night against the New York Jets (5-8). After clinching a playoff berth in Week 14, Baltimore can clinch the AFC North title for the second year in a row with a win on Thursday.

Quarterback Lamar Jackson is listed as questionable to play with a quad injury suffered on Sunday, but the MVP front-runner is expected to play. Left tackle Ronnie Stanley is doubtful to play, however, after suffering a concussion. James Hurst will fill in for Stanley in the likely even that he is unable to play against New York.

The Jets will be without several key players of their own, most notable being star safety Jamal Adams, who is currently listed as doubtful. New York currently owns the second-best run defense in the NFL, allowing just 78.8 rushing yards a game. The Ravens on the other hand remain by far the best rushing offense in the league, averaging 200.9 yards a game.

Cincinnati Bengals (1-12)

The Bengals remain in control of the first pick in the draft for the time being, and that will most likely remain past this week as they face the 10-3 New England Patriots on Sunday.

Quarterback Andy Dalton is most likely playing his final three games with the Bengals after spending the first nine years of his NFL career after being selected at the top of the second round in 2011.

Wide receiver A.J. Green remains hopeful that he will play this season after missing the first 15 weeks, though time is dwindling with only three games remaining. Green could very well suit for another team next year as well.

Cleveland Browns (6-7)

The Browns escaped with a victory over Cincinnati last week to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Cleveland is in tight competition in the wild-card race against. They are currently behind Pittsburgh, Buffalo, and the Tennessee Titans. The Browns will have to win out to have a chance of making it into the postseason, and they still play Baltimore, who will be looking for revenge after their first match up this season.

Rumors of star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. wanting out of the Cleveland have only gotten stronger, with reports surfacing of Beckham reportedly telling opposing team’s players and coaches to come get him. Though he has denied the reports, it remains unclear what the future holds for the polarizing star.

Pittsburgh Steelers (8-5)

Sunday Night Football will feature two AFC teams battling to make the playoffs as a wild-card team when the Steelers take on the 9-3 Bills on Sunday Night Football.

Pittsburgh has been one of the hottest teams in football, even with the fact that they are now on their third quarterback of the season. The overwhelming strength of the team remains the defense, which ranks fifth in the league. Similar to the Steelers, Buffalo’s struggling offense has been carried by a top-five defense, so expect a low-scoring affair on Sunday night.

Pittsburgh could greatly help their chances of making the playoffs with a win over the Bills to overtake them as the fifth seed in the AFC. With multiple teams hot on their heels for the sixth seed, the Steelers have very little room for error in the final three games of the season.