{"id":9452,"date":"2025-01-07T02:46:06","date_gmt":"2025-01-07T02:46:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?p=9452"},"modified":"2025-01-07T02:46:06","modified_gmt":"2025-01-07T02:46:06","slug":"around-the-afc-north-deshaun-watson-has-setback-steelers-poor-play-and-ravens-zay-flowers-injury-limp-into-playoffs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?p=9452","title":{"rendered":"Around the AFC North: Deshaun Watson has setback; Steelers (poor play) and Ravens (Zay Flowers injury) limp into playoffs"},"content":{"rendered":"

Some major injury news, and an update on Pittsburgh just being bad.<\/p>\n

\"Cincinnati<\/p>\n

The Cincinnati Bengals season is over, and only 50% of the AFC North are still alive, with only half of them going to make it to the next round since the Baltimore Ravens will host the Pittsburgh Steelers.<\/p>\n

The Cleveland Browns won\u2019t be playing, but they received an update on Deshaun Watson\u2019s injury.<\/p>\n

Steelers limp into <\/strong>NFL Playoffs<\/h2>\n

The Steelers seemed poised to win the AFC North after defeating the Ravens in Week 11 to improve to 8-2 on the season. They were still in the running for the No. 1 seed and everything. They went on to only win two more games while losing five, including the last four games of the season, to allow Baltimore to secure the AFC North crown.<\/p>\n

This team is currently constructed to win defensively, and they hope their offense can do enough to win games. Recently, the wheels have been coming off in that respect as Russell Wilson has struggled at quarterback as the winter has come along, and wide receiver George Pickens is capable of imploding at a moment’s notice.<\/p>\n

\"Ravens<\/p>\n

Now that they are facing the Ravens again, the Steelers have to pull off a total offensive U-turn or hope their defense will come up huge against Lamar Jackson. In two games this season, the Steelers scored 18 points in their Week 11 victory and 17 in their Week 17 defeat.<\/p>\n

They\u2019ve failed to score over 20 points in any of their last four games while being dominated by the Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs, and Philadelphia Eagles. They also looked hapless in Week 18 vs. a Bengals defense that just fired its defensive coordinator.<\/p>\n

Not a good sign as they line up to face teams like that in the postseason.<\/p>\n

Ravens without Zay Flowers?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The Ravens offense has been extremely efficient this season. The addition of Derrick Henry as running back has really opened things up to a pick-your-poison style of offense each week.<\/p>\n

One player who has really benefited from that is wide receiver Zay Flowers. He had his first 1,000-yard season and made his first Pro Bowl.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, Flowers went down last Saturday in their win against the Browns, and it could keep him from playing in the Wild Card round and beyond.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not a season-ending injury,\u201d Ravens coach John Harbaugh told media Monday. \u201cSo it\u2019s just going to be day-to-day. Try to do everything he can do to get back as soon as he can, and we\u2019ll see where that takes us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam Schefter thinks Flowers could return for the Divisional Round, but Pro Football Doc says otherwise.<\/p>\n

\n

"I think you have to expect him out this weekend and probably next weekend!" @profootballdoc<\/a> shares his analysis of Ravens WR Zay Flowers. Watch this week's full PFD Podcast. #ravensflock<\/a><\/p>\n

Watch: https:\/\/t.co\/wtLzFHL1gc<\/a>
Listen: https:\/\/t.co\/Jl6YGX7WQx<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/ewWvHqCVYM<\/a><\/p>\n

— Sports Injury Central (@SICscore) January 6, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n