4 minSports
AFC North Tightens as All Four Teams Reach 2-1
Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Cleveland and Baltimore all sit at 2-1 after Week 3, making the AFC North the only division in the NFL with every team above.500.
The AFC North has become the only division in the NFL where every team holds a winning record through three weeks, after Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Cleveland and Baltimore all moved to 2-1. The logjam at the top of the standings leaves no team with breathing room and sets up a tightly contested race heading into Week 4.
The Steelers got there with a 30-27 home win over the Bengals, powered by an offense that finally found its footing. Pittsburgh racked up 411 total yards as Aaron Rodgers completed 19 of 34 passes for 292 yards, three touchdowns and an interception, a sharp rebound from a poor Week 2 outing. Tight end Darnell Washington led the receivers with three catches for 67 yards, including a 47-yard grab that set up a Chris Boswell field goal and a three-point lead with just over two minutes left. Jaylen Warren anchored the ground game with 127 yards on 17 carries and added 49 more yards on three receptions. D.K. Metcalf scored his first touchdown of the season on a six-yard catch, while Roman Wilson and Ben Skowronek hauled in Rodgers' other two scoring throws.
Cincinnati's defense, which had been strong through two games, allowed 411 yards and could not close out the game. Joe Burrow completed 28 of 37 attempts for 282 yards and three touchdowns, but his late fumble on a sack by Derrick Harmon, recovered by Sebastian Joseph-Day, ended the contest. Ja'Marr Chase led the Bengals with 98 receiving yards and a score, Tee Higgins added six catches for 90 yards and a touchdown, and Mike Gesicki also found the end zone. Chase Brown paced the rushing attack with 61 yards on 13 carries. Demetrius Knight led the tackling with nine stops, while Dexter Lawrence recorded both of the team's sacks. A muffed punt return by Ke'Shawn Williams, recovered by Pittsburgh, proved costly after Cincinnati had taken a 27-24 fourth-quarter lead.
Cleveland won its second straight game, 21-18 at home over Carolina. Deshaun Watson completed 16 of 30 passes for 144 yards and two touchdowns and added 45 yards on 11 carries. Second-year tight end Harold Fannin Jr. caught both scoring passes and led the team with 51 receiving yards on seven catches. Quinshon Judkins rushed for 70 yards on 18 carries. Quincy Williams led the defense with nine tackles, Mason Graham and Isaiah McGuire combined for two of the team's three sacks of Bryce Young, and Ronnie Hickman intercepted a pass. Wide receiver Tylan Wallace left with a knee injury and is in danger of missing Thursday's game against Pittsburgh.
Baltimore bounced back from a Week 2 loss with a 34-31 win over Dallas in Brazil. Lamar Jackson continued his strong start, completing 15 of 20 passes for 186 yards and two touchdowns while rushing six times for 50 yards. The decisive play was a 26-yard completion to Zay Flowers, who led the team with 84 receiving yards on five catches, with seven seconds remaining in regulation. Jackson called timeout with one second left, setting up a walk-off field goal for Tyler Loop.
With all four clubs level at 2-1, the division race is as crowded as it has been all season. Pittsburgh's offense showed signs of life, Cincinnati's defense came back to earth, Cleveland has quietly strung together wins, and Baltimore steadied itself after a stumble. The next round of games, including Cleveland's Thursday trip to Pittsburgh, will begin to separate a group that so far has refused to separate.
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