Join ESPN.com for live Week 9 coverage of the NFL.
The AFC North blog will be in Cincinnati for a huge 1 p.m. game between the first-place Bengals (5-2) and Baltimore Ravens (4-3). The other seven bloggers are at sites around the country to bring you the best NFL coverage.
Kenny M from Bluefield, WV wants to know if the return of rookie right tackle Andre Smith (foot) will make the Cincinnati Bengals' offensive line more explosive.
James Walker: That's the plan, Kenny. The Bengals feel Smith has the potential to be their best run-blocking lineman, which was his specialty in college why the team took Smith with the sixth overall pick. If that turns out to be the case, Smith will fit well in the AFC North. It will be interesting to see how Cincinnati gradually integrates him into the offense.
Mark B wants to know if Baltimore Ravens backup tailback Willis McGahee will see more action down the stretch.
Walker: Good question, Mark B. I thought last week McGahee would get more touches. But the Ravens are sticking with the hot hand in Ray Rice, and I can't blame them. One of the toughest aspects for Ravens offensive coordinator Cam Cameron is to keep everyone happy. McGahee played well early in the season and probably feels there's no reason he should be iced out. But once the elements kick in later in the year, I think McGahee is going to see more opportunities.
Bobby K. from Portsmouth, Ohio writes: Seeing the present quarterback situation in Cleveland, do you think that Brett Ratliff might see some playing time here in the near future?
Walker: Ratliff is not an option for Cleveland Browns coach Eric Mangini, Bobby. There is a good chance the Browns will turn to Quinn in the second half of the season and give him another chance. This could also be a showcase, because I have a feeling there will be some trade conversations involving Quinn in the offseason.
Brian from Conshohocken, PA is curious of how George Kokinis' firing will impact Cleveland's draft strategy.
Walker: Good question, Brian. I think there is real impact there. The Browns believe they have a firm scouting system in place and it will be business as usual. But I doubt a staff can prepare for a sudden change of direction eight games into a season. It would have been a lot easier had this happened in the offseason. Cleveland's scouting department has to work without a leader for now and eventually adjust to someone new when the Browns find a replacement. It's not ideal.
Big Bengal from Cincinnati, Ohio wants to know if receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh was a "cancer" with the Bengals, based on his recent antics with the Seattle Seahawks.
Walker: In all my dealings with Houshmandzadeh over the years, I found him to be a great guy who is smart and insightful. So, no, I wouldn’t describe him as a "cancer." But there were several small things behind the scenes that stood out during his time in Cincinnati. Houshmandzadeh consistently skipped offseason workouts with the Bengals unless it was mandatory. He would say he prefers to train on his own. But I think Houshmandzadeh became increasingly unhappy about not having a contract extension in his final years with the Bengals and that wore on him and the team to some degree. Therefore, Houshmandzadeh left the Bengals a bit sour.
Sammy Davis Jr. (that can't be your real name) writes: Are we going to bring back the "Harass the other division blogs" from last year? I had a blast doing that.
Walker: I had nothing to do with that the last time. I was just made aware of it by other bloggers in our community. If that's something everyone wants to do again, feel free.
Here are the final injury reports for Sunday's AFC North game between the Baltimore Ravens (4-3) and Cincinnati Bengals (5-2). By the way, the Bengals announced Friday afternoon that the blackout has been lifted for this game and will be shown locally in Cincinnati.
Can Cedric Benson top 100 rushing yards against the Ravens twice in one season?
As Benson goes: So far this season Cedric Benson has been the biggest indicator of success for the first-place Cincinnati Bengals (5-2). In two losses, Benson rushed for a combined total of 120 yards. He averaged 3.6 and 2.8 yards per carry, respectively, in defeats to the Denver Broncos and Houston Texans. On Sunday, Benson has a rare opportunity to rush for 100 yards twice against the Baltimore Ravens (4-3) in the same season. On Oct. 11, Benson gained 120 yards in a 17-14 victory, ending Baltimore’s 39-game streak of keeping tailbacks under 100 yards.
Andre the Giant: Sunday could mark the much-anticipated debut of Bengals rookie first-round pick Andre Smith, who is listed as questionable. The right tackle missed all of training camp in a contract dispute and the first seven games of the regular season with a broken bone in his foot. Although Smith is practicing, Bengals coach Marvin Lewis has been mum on the subject all week. But the Bengals plan to bring him along gradually, as opposed to rushing him into the starting lineup.
Second chance: Can the Ravens' secondary do it again? After struggling all season, Baltimore's pass defense was solid in last week’s 30-7 victory over Denver. The Ravens had two weeks to correct their issues, and for one game, they appear to be heading in the right direction. An improved pass rush also helped, which is an area Baltimore struggled in its first game against Cincinnati. Doing it a second time on the road against the Bengals' passing attack will make a statement that Baltimore's defense is back to its usual form.
Extended break: Not only did the Pittsburgh Steelers have a bye. But playing on "Monday Night Football" will give the team 15 days of preparation before they meet the Broncos. The Steelers are well-rested and they heavily emphasized ball security during the break. Pittsburgh fumbled the football five times, losing four, in its last two games. The fumbling didn't result in any losses for the Steelers but could in the second half of the season if the trend continues. Pittsburgh is handling the football kind of similar to the way I'm handling it here.
A look ahead: Strength of schedules are hard to quantify before the season. But now that we separated some of the contenders and pretenders through eight weeks, we have a much better indication of the challenges ahead for the four AFC North teams. Right now the Ravens have the toughest strength of schedule in the division for the remaining games with a .523 winning percentage, which is also fifth in the NFL. Pittsburgh’s is No. 13 with a .462 opponent winning percentage. The Cleveland Browns (.439) are No. 15 and the Bengals (.433) are right behind Cleveland at No. 16. This could play a huge factor as three division teams vie for the playoffs down the stretch.
Fellow NFL stars Larry Fitzgerald and Terrell Owens are in the developmental stages of creating phone applications, according to Rock Software president John Shahidi. Fitzgerald agreed to terms to do a personalized "app" this week, while Owens' has been in the works for about a month.
"Wide receivers are very interesting," Shahidi said. "Larry is not as wild as Chad and Terrell. But at the same time, a lot of people look up to Larry. He’s just a really stand-up guy, and his is going to be based more on that, more inspirational. We like that personality part with Larry."
Ochocinco was the first athlete to put a phone application on the market this year. It includes features such as a question-and-answer session with Ochocinco, and a GPS device where you can track the receiver's whereabouts.
Shahidi is partners with Bengals backup quarterback Jordan Palmer. The idea began in training camp when Ochocinco learn Palmer was working on various phone applications and thought it would be interesting to create one for himself.
Consider Ochocinco a trailblazer in this department. Other NFL athletes who recently signed deals include San Diego Chargers linebacker Shaun Phillips and Dallas Cowboys tight end Martellus Bennett. NBA All-Star and Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard also is in negotiations and expects to have a deal in place soon.
"Everyone is recognizing that technology is moving towards the cell phone," Shahidi said. "People are now associating computers with work, and now phones are the fun part."
When asked what an ESPN.com AFC North blog phone application would look like, Shahidi had some interesting ideas.
"I would make it a trash-talking app," Shahidi said. "It’s between four teams with four crazy groups of fans. That’s the first thing I would do. And then you have some interesting characters with Ray Lewis and Troy Polamalu and Chad, so it would be some stuff built around them as well."
Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh spent most of his coaching career with the Philadelphia Eagles, and it appears his NFC East ties still run deep.
Here is a link to NFC East blogger Matt Mosley, who relays some pointed comments Harbaugh made about the Dallas Cowboys in a new book. In a somewhat related note, the Ravens defeated the Cowboys last year, 33-24, in the final game in Texas Stadium.
Analysis: The Broncos proved against Baltimore that they don’t match up well against the physical teams in the AFC North. Pittsburgh is not only physical, but well-rested.
Pick: Steelers, 21-14
Last week's record: 2-0
Overall record: 17-7
Comment: Picking games in November will be brutal this year.
Here are the most interesting stories Friday in the AFC North:
It appears Pittsburgh Steelers safety Ryan Clark will not play in Monday's game against the Denver Broncos.
Morning take: Although the team hasn’t made it official, this would be the right call to make. Clark’s long-term health is at risk playing in Denver and it's not worth it.
Cleveland Browns tailback Jamal Lewis hasn't changed his mind about retiring after the season.
Morning take: Lewis isn’t the type of player who talks just to be heard. I believed him the first time.
The playing status of Cincinnati Bengals rookie first-round pick Andre Smith remains up in the air.
Morning take: The Bengals are doing the right thing by not rushing him back and giving him too much responsibility too early. But if healthy Smith should get his feet wet in some capacity this weekend.
According to Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Greg Mattison, there is a good chance defensive lineman Haloti Ngata (ankle) will play against Cincinnati.
Morning take: The Ravens are deep up front but could still use their best defensive lineman. This is an all-hands-on-deck type of game for Baltimore.
The Cleveland Browns enter the bye 1-7 and in last place in the AFC North.
Here are some things the Browns can do to improve during the break:
1. Make a quarterback change
At some point, the Browns have to end this run of quarterback futility with Derek Anderson, and that time is now. Anderson has the worst passer rating of any starting quarterback in the NFL with an abysmal mark of 36.2. He had a 10.2 passer rating in Cleveland's most recent loss to the Chicago Bears.
Former starter Brady Quinn, who was benched after 10 quarters, played in garbage time in Chicago. It could (and should) signal the start of another quarterback switch moving forward.
Whether you believe money played an issue in Quinn's benching is up to you to decide. But the fact is Quinn can no longer reach his 70 percent playing-time incentive. So there should be no barriers to give Quinn another shot in the second half of the season.
2. Get young WRs ready
Similar to the way the Baltimore Ravens got rookie defensive back Lardarius Webb up to speed during their bye, the Browns need to do the same with rookie receiver Brian Robiskie.
The second-round draft pick has looked lost since coming to Cleveland. Despite the reputation of being polished, Robiskie had a slow training camp and it's carried over to the regular season as he was inactive at the start and currently not productive.
Fellow rookie Mohamed Massaquoi is further along but could also work on his consistency. If this is the future of Cleveland's passing game, the coaching staff needs to put a lot of effort into making the pair better with the extra prep time.
3. Overcome distractions
When a team is in the news all week for firing its general manager just eight games into the season, it can impact a locker room. The Browns have already dealt this season with a quarterback switch and trading receiver Braylon Edwards. Add in George Kokinis' firing and it’s no surprise Cleveland is failing to maintain continuity.
The Browns need to overcome this latest distraction. Probably the biggest challenge for head coach Eric Mangini during this bye is to convince his team it's business as usual.
Players will spend some time this week away from the facility and the media, so that should help. But the Browns need to take a workmanlike approach to getting better before their next game against the Baltimore Ravens (4-3).
Carson Palmer has enjoyed success during his career against the Ravens.
Posted by ESPN.com’s James Walker
CINCINNATI -- It's the statistic no one likes to talk about in Baltimore.
It's also a topic those in Cincinnati would rather keep under wraps.
But here are the facts: Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer is 7-3 in 10 career starts against the Ravens. He's given the vaunted Baltimore defense more trouble over the years than any quarterback not named Peyton Manning.
"If you say we’ve had success, that’ll be your line," said Bengals coach Marvin Lewis, eluding the topic.
The truth is, Palmer brings his "A" game against Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and Co. The two-time Pro Bowl quarterback has thrown for 2,506 yards, 13 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 10 career meetings with the Ravens.
The trend gained even more traction when Palmer led the Bengals to another game-winning drive in the final seconds of Cincinnati's 17-14 victory over Baltimore on Oct. 11. Palmer, who carved up the Ravens secondary with 271 yards, connected with receiver Andre Caldwell for a 20-yard touchdown pass to help catapult the Bengals into first place in the division.
Palmer's success will be something to closely monitor Sunday when Baltimore (4-3) visits Cincinnati (5-2) in a huge game for both teams. Cincinnati can improve to 4-0 in the AFC North, while Baltimore has a chance to tighten the division standings and ensure that it remains a three-team race.
"I actually wasn’t aware of that," Palmer said of beating the Ravens in seven of 10 career starts. "We’ve always had good game plans against them. We’ve matched up pretty favorably against them. I think because Marvin was there and he won a Super Bowl, Baltimore week is always a real big deal."
It's difficult to pinpoint Cincinnati's biggest rival in the division, as a strong case can be made for the Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers and the in-state Cleveland Browns. But it’s clear the Bengals have no problem gearing up for games against Baltimore.
Cincinnati receiver Chad Ochocinco has said on many occasions that his battles with the Ravens are the most enjoyable games of the season. Palmer also admits the respect factor plays a big role in getting ready for these games.
"I love the challenge," Palmer said.
Not only has Palmer been up for the challenge, he's often conquered it.
Matching wits and physical prowess with Baltimore's defense is never easy. But Palmer, at times, has made it look routine. Manning also is 6-2 with 16 touchdown passes in his career against the Ravens, and New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is 3-0 with three touchdowns.
"[Palmer] is a smart football player that does well against these guys, and we see Baltimore a lot more often than other quarterbacks," Bengals left tackle Andrew Whitworth said. "These guys kind of have that shock factor. I think we saw that a little bit with Denver last week.
"When you get out there and see how big and physical they are, and athletic, if you're not used to it and expect it when you get on the field with them it has a chance to overwhelm you."
As Whitworth mentioned, Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton certainly fell victim to the "shock factor" last Sunday.
Orton, who was an MVP candidate through six games, appeared uneasy and out of rhythm from the first play from scrimmage when Baltimore linebacker Jarret Johnson turned the corner for a quarterback sack. From there, Orton took several additional hard shots and rushed a lot of his throws, as the speed and physicality of the Ravens' defense rattled him.
In Cincinnati's first meeting with Baltimore, Palmer was sacked just once and had the kind of pass protection needed to have success. Baltimore's secondary, for the most part, has struggled this year. So Palmer had no problems picking the Ravens apart.
Look for the Ravens to give Palmer less time to throw in their second meeting.
"The way things are set up right now, as tough as it is to cover on the back end, you’ve got to get the quarterback," Baltimore coach John Harbaugh said this week. "If you don’t get to the quarterback, it’s going to be impossible to defend the pass."
Consider this divisional game a window into what to expect in the second half of the season.
If Baltimore wins, the Ravens, Bengals and Steelers (5-2) will all have at least five victories after this week's games. But if the Bengals win, it virtually would end Baltimore's hopes of winning the AFC North this year and create a major uphill climb to earn a wild-card spot down the stretch.
"We know that they have to beat us," Palmer said of the Ravens. "They're in a must-win situation. But we also feel we're in a must-win situation, too."
Walker joined ESPN.com in 2008 after three seasons covering the Cleveland Browns for the Columbus Dispatch. He also covered the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Cavaliers at the Dispatch. Walker grew up in Hyattsville, Md., before attending Temple University, graduating in 2001 with a B.A. in communications and mass media. He resides in the Cleveland area.
Walker joined ESPN.com in 2008 after three seasons covering the Cleveland Browns for the Columbus Dispatch. He also covered the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Cavaliers at the Dispatch. Walker grew up in Hyattsville, Md., before attending Temple University, graduating in 2001 with a B.A. in communications and mass media. He resides in the Cleveland area.
