Going South in the North

In what was supposed to be one of the most competitive divisions in football, to arguably the ugliest division of football; we turn our sights to Bengals and Ravens this Sunday. 

Lamar Jackson has been somewhat of a mystery this season, with lingering injuries and a string of some of his worst football we've seen; we're all wondering what exactly is going down in Baltimore? Jackson has had difficulty playing like we got used to him playing, and seems immobile and hesitant. However, while the offense seems to be taking a turn for the worse, the defense has steadily been better than how they started. Will it be possible for them to stop the bleeding and get a big divisional win or will the Ravens be flying away to an early off-season?

Now, as bad as it is in Baltimore, one can say that it looks more dire in Cincinnati. Coming off a heartbreaking loss against the Bills, Burrow furthers worries with a melancholic press conference. The Bengals offense have been rolling ever since Burrow returned from his injury, but with a shaky defense and some ill-timed interceptions, it seems that they have taken a step back. 

Neither of these teams are ruled out of the playoffs due to how close their division remains, but it's hard to imagine any of the AFC North teams will go very far in the post-season. Before we worry ourselves about playoff hopes, the focus must be on this game against the Ravens. A good victory on Sunday could kickstart either of these teams on a run.