CHAMPIONSHIP​CHASE

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​2025 AFC NORTH

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Steelers, Bengals, Ravens, Browns

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STEELERS 8-6 (STEELERS 28  DOLPHINS 15)

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From this point on, each game is a playoff game and the Steelers had a relatively easy one when they hosted Miami on a frigid Monday night. Before kickoff it was well established that the Dolphins do not play well in cold weather and they obliged by looking like anything but a team that was sporting a four game winning streak. Tua Tagaviloa was inefficient and the Steelers defense limited the production of running back DeVon Achane. Recently, he had been their best offensive weapon and the Steeler strategy of taking him away and making Tua beat them worked to perfection. Miami had a mere 63 yars on the ground and they got most of their passing yards and scoring in the latter stages of the fouth quarter when Miami scored twice well after the game was in hand.

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Offensively, Pittsburgh looked as if they've morphed into a well-rounded unit that provides Aaron Rodgers with multiple weapons at his disposal. With the additions of veteran wide receivers Maquez Valdez Scantling and Adam Theilan #8 has options at his disposal that free-up D.K. Metcalf and tight ends Pat Friermuth and Darnell Washington. MVS and Thieland now represent that true number two wideout that the team has been looking for and it's not that they are going to have expanded roles in the offense, but tjeir experience and route running alons with Rodgers trust in them will keep opposing defense guessing which tagert the aging gunslinger will hit when not dumping or handing the ball of to Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell.

 

So right now all is well and two weeks removed from the chants of "Fire Mike Tomlin" the Steelers are sitting pretty at 8-6 on the eve of much tougher late season must-win game against the desperate and much tougehr Detroit Lions.​​

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RAVENS  7-6  (RAVENS 24  BENGALS 0)

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The Ravens stayed one game in back of the Steelers with a surprising 24-0 win over Cincinnati. Lamar Jackson is still somewhat hobbled and doesn't run as much as he used to, but he's keeping plays alive with his legs and is making opponents pay with chunk plays to his receivers. Defensively, they're not the dominant Ravens of the past, yet when you shut out any team, especially one lead by Joe Burrow, you definitely are one of the league's best.

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Next up, another challenging game when they play host to New England.

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BROWNS 3-11 (BROWNS 3 BEARS 31)

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There are two bright spots for this team and one is on offense and the other is on defense. Let's start with Shedeur Sanders. He's fun to watch and could be more productive given better protection and weapons. And whether he is or not, head coach Kevin Stefanski looks the part of a villain determined to undermine his success. The latest fiasco involved the wrong set of plays on a wristband. No matter what the real story is surrounding this, bad teams do bad things and this was just another one in a season full of them. The other bright spot is Myles Garrett. He will definitely set a new NFL sack record needing only 1.5 to tie the single season record set by Michael Strahan.

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BENGALS 4-10  (BENGALS O RAVENS 24 )

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The Bengals need to go all-in on both sides of the ball to surround their quarterback with the talent they need to challenge for the top of the division next season. Joe Burrow and Jamar Chase alone is not enough.

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For more on the Steelers on this site go to our Steel Talkin' page with Ty Miller 2.0 and Matthew Jedd.

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Check out Championship Chase daily on YouTube.