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The Baltimore Ravens are among three teams interested in Steelers free-agent quarterback Dennis Dixon, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The St. Louis Rams and Denver Broncos are also in the running for Dixon, who is not expected to return to Pittsburgh.

The Ravens have been inconsistent in how they've addressed the backup quarterback position recently. In 2010, Baltimore spent $3.8 million on Marc Bulger to have veteran insurance behind Joe Flacco. In 2011, the Ravens went with rookie sixth-round pick Tyrod Taylor.

One reason why the Ravens could go with Bulger in 2010 was the uncapped year, but it's definitely a major philosophical switch to go from a playoff-tested quarterback in Bulger to a raw prospect like Taylor. Of course, Baltimore hasn't needed a backup, because Flacco has never missed a start in his four-year career (64 straight, the third-longest current streak in the NFL). But the Ravens' playoff chances would get decimated if Flacco got hurt, and the team had to turn to Taylor for an extended period.

Dixon, 27, the No. 3 quarterback last season for Pittsburgh, has made three career starts in his four seasons with the Steelers. He has a 2-1 record, with one touchdown and two interceptions. Dixon's first start came against the Ravens in 2009, when his interception in overtime set up the winning field goal.

Here are the backup quarterback situations for the rest of the AFC North:

BENGALS: Cincinnati is set with journeyman Bruce Gradkowski. When Andy Dalton was hurt in last year's season opener, Gradkowski rallied the Bengals to a 27-17 win at Cleveland.

BROWNS: At this point, the Browns are going with Seneca Wallace, the team's backup for the past two seasons. But the depth chart could get moved around if Cleveland drafts a quarterback in the early rounds. If the Browns don't take a quarterback, Wallace won't be competing with Colt McCoy for the starting job, the team said.

STEELERS: Besides Ben Roethlisberger, the only quarterbacks on the roster are Troy Smith and Jerrod Johnson. The Steelers likely will bring back Byron Leftwich or Charlie Batch. The favorite to return is Leftwich, who reportedly drew interest from the Colts.

The AFC North is running a series where every position will be ranked and what could change at that position.

QUARTERBACKS

1. STEELERS: Ben Roethlisberger remains the best quarterback in the division, and it's still not even close. Despite three injuries (sprained foot, broken right thumb and high ankle sprain), he threw 400 more yards than any other quarterback in the AFC North. Roethlisberger's highlights were throwing five touchdowns against Tennessee, out-dueling Tom Brady and beating Cleveland in the first meeting on one leg. He was the true most valuable player on the Steelers, even though Antonio Brown was named that by his teammates. When Roethlisberger hurt his ankle in early December, the Steelers offense was never the same. With a healthy Roethlisberger, the Steelers don't lose at Denver in the playoffs. In Charlie Batch's only start, the 37-year-old backup completed 15 of 22 passes for 208 yards against the Rams. What could change: The Steelers have to make a decision at backup quarterback. Batch, Byron Leftwich and Dennis Dixon are all unrestricted free agents. Leftwich is the favorite to get the No. 2 job.

2. RAVENS: The biggest frustration for the Ravens is that Joe Flacco can look like a championship quarterback one week and a confused one the next. Another uneven season included four games with 300 or more yards passing and seven with less than 200 yards passing. When Flacco was at his best, he threw three touchdowns in the first quarter at St. Louis, delivered a last-minute comeback at Pittsburgh and completed 79 percent of his passes in the regular-season finale at Cincinnati. His biggest moment came in the AFC championship game in New England where he threw the winning touchdown that sent the Ravens to the Super Bowl ... until the ball was stripped from Lee Evans. Rookie backup Tyrod Taylor threw one pass. What could change: The size of Flacco's contract. The Ravens have made it a priority to sign Flacco, who is entering the final year of his contract, to an extension. It should get done before the end of August because both sides don't want this issue to hang over their heads entering the regular season.

3. BENGALS: Andy Dalton was the best rookie quarterback in the AFC and would've been the top one in the NFL if not for that quarterback named Cam. A second-round pick in 2011, Dalton became the only rookie in NFL history to throw for 20 or more touchdowns passes while winning eight or more games as a starting quarterback. The most impressive part of Dalton's game is his anticipation. He gets rid of the ball before the wide receiver gets out of his break, which is quite a feat for a first-year passer. His biggest challenge is overcoming the best defenses in the division. In four games against Pittsburgh and Baltimore, Dalton had an 0-4 record with four touchdowns and five interceptions. Against the rest of the NFL, he was 9-3 with 16 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Backup Bruce Gradkowski replaced an injured Dalton in the season opener and led two fourth-quarter touchdown drives in rallying the Bengals to a 27-17 victory at Cleveland. What could change: The playbook is set to expand for Dalton in his second season. Dalton will progress as long as the Bengals improve his supporting cast. They need to upgrade the No. 2 wide receiver spot and find a more consistent starting running back.

4. BROWNS: No one questions Colt McCoy's leadership or toughness. It's his arm strength, accuracy, recognition of blitzes and ability to make plays in the pocket that are the question marks. You can argue that he doesn't have playmakers in the passing game and the Browns receivers were tied for the NFL lead in dropped passes. While all of that is correct, it's also true that McCoy is limited as a quarterback no matter who the Browns put around him. In his first full season as a starter, McCoy ranked 27th in completion percentage (57.2), 25th in passing yards per game (210.2), 33rd in yards per attempt (5.9), 27th in passer rating (74.6) and 25th in QBR (39.8). His season ended with a concussion that resulted in a vicious hit by Steelers linebacker James Harrison. Backup Seneca Wallace isn't the answer. He is 1-6 in seven starts for the Browns. Wallace didn't look like an experienced backup with his poor clock management at the end of the first half in Baltimore. What could change: The Browns need to find a franchise quarterback, whether it's signing Matt Flynn in free agency or trading up to draft Robert Griffin III, which is what I endorse. The fallback option is keeping McCoy as the starter for another season.

Feb. 20: Special teams; Feb. 21: Defensive line; Feb. 23: Linebackers; Feb. 24: Defensive backs; Feb. 27: Offensive line; Feb. 28: Wide receivers; Feb. 29: Tight ends; March 1: Running backs.

Rookie quarterback Andy Dalton looks like he'll be ready to start for the Bengals at Denver after returning to practice Thursday, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. He injured his right wrist during Sunday's win over the Cleveland Browns.

Per the Enquirer, Dalton didn't appear to have any problems throwing short passes to running backs or longer ones to wide receivers. A second-round draft pick, Dalton didn't throw during the media-viewing portion of practice Wednesday.

He was 10 of 15 for 81 yards and one touchdown in his NFL debut. If Dalton is unable to play, the Bengals would turn to backup Bruce Gradkowski.

Here are some thoughts on the Cincinnati Bengals' 27-17 victory against the Cleveland Browns at Browns Stadium:

What it means: It means the Bengals aren't the worst team in the NFL. The Bengals came in last twice in ESPN.com's Power Rankings, and I keep voting against it. Perhaps the Browns should be considered for the No. 32 spot. Cleveland lost at home to a rebuilding Bengals team playing its second-string quarterback (Bruce Gradkowski) for significant playing time. The Browns continued their longstanding trend of losing season openers. Cleveland is now 1-12 in Week 1 since returning to the NFL in 1999.

What I liked: The Bengals started fast and showed a lot of poise in the fourth quarter for a young team. Cincinnati jumped out to a 13-0 lead, gave up 14 unanswered points, then dominated the fourth quarter. Bengals running back Cedric Benson had a huge day, rushing for 121 yards and a touchdown.

What I didn't like: It's a new era in Cleveland, but the Browns looked similar to previous years with sloppy play. Cleveland committed 11 penalties for 72 yards. The Browns also started slow at home. That forced second-year quarterback Colt McCoy to throw way too many times (40), which wasn't Cleveland’s intention entering the game. Also, you never want to see a starting quarterback injured, particularly in his NFL debut. Bengals rookie quarterback Andy Dalton was knocked out of the game with an arm injury.

What’s next: The Browns will try to get their first win against the Manning-less Colts in Indianapolis next week. The Bengals, who are tied with the Baltimore Ravens atop the division, will play a road game against the Denver Broncos.

Here are the most interesting stories Thursday in the AFC North:

• Atlanta Falcons Pro Bowl receiver Roddy White will provide a good test for Baltimore Ravens first-round pick Jimmy Smith.

Morning take: This is a tough matchup for Smith before the regular season. White is big and physical, and these are the type of No. 1 receivers Smith was drafted to stop.

• Will the Cincinnati Bengals only carry two quarterbacks?

Morning take: Andy Dalton and Bruce Gradkowski are locks to make the team. Dan LeFevour may be expendable if Cincinnati wants to use a roster spot on another position.

• Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Doug Legursky will be the team's starting guard this season.

Morning take: Legursky is a blue-collar player who fits the Steelers well. Tony Hills had the first chance but didn't take advantage in the preseason.

• Young players on the Cleveland Browns will try to impress against the Chicago Bears.

Morning take: The Browns are not a deep team. So I'm curious to see which young players step up and make the team for backup roles.

GEORGETOWN, Ky. -- The Cincinnati Bengals began their second week of training camp with a full-padded practice Monday night.

Here are several notes and observations:

• Bengals receiver Jerome Simpson was the star of this practice. Simpson caught a pair of impressive deep balls from backup quarterback Bruce Gradkowski in team drills. One was a jump ball over a defender for 20-plus yards and the other was a streak down the right side of the field for a touchdown. Simpson is out to prove that last season's strong finish was not a fluke.
• Similar to Cleveland, the Bengals' new West Coast offense still has some kinks to work out. There were three false starts in team drills by Simpson, rookie receiver A.J. Green and right tackle Andre Smith. Rookie quarterback Andy Dalton's timing also looked off with several receivers. Dalton threw an interception right to middle linebacker Rey Maualuga in what likely was a miscommunication between the quarterback and receiver.
• Keep an eye out for undrafted rookie tight end Colin Cochart. I don't know much about him -- Cochart is from South Dakota State. But Cochart made several really nice blocks against the first-team defense on Monday. The rookie could be an early sleeper in training camp.
• On the injury front, Bengals defensive end Carlos Dunlap had a wrap around his knee and did not practice. Backup running back Bernard Scott (hamstring) and corner Adam Jones (neck) also sat out. Cincinnati safety Gibril Wilson (knee) is returning from an ACL tear and practiced for the first time. He got into a brief scuffle with running back Jonathan Williams in team drills.

The Cincinnati Bengals could not get Carson Palmer to return and mentor rookie quarterback Andy Dalton this season. Therefore, the Bengals went to Plan B Wednesday, agreeing to a two-year contract with veteran quarterback Bruce Gradkowski, who most recently played for the Oakland Raiders.

Gradkowski has 20 career starts, which could be needed if Dalton falters this season. Dalton, Cincinnati's second-round pick, enters the season as the starting quarterback despite zero NFL experience.

Gradkowski and veteran backup Jim Sorgi were considered the two favorites to take the place of Palmer, who demanded a trade and threatened to retire. Both free agents have a lot of experience, while at the same time won't threatened Dalton's place as the new franchise quarterback.

This week, Gradkowski will join Dalton, Jordan Palmer and Dan LeFevour as Cincinnati's quarterbacks in training camp.

PITTSBURGH -- Here are some early thoughts on the Steelers' 35-3 victory against the Oakland Raiders:

What it means: The Steelers played one of their best games of the season, bouncing backing from an embarrassing loss last week to the New England Patriots. Pittsburgh is 7-3 and keeps pace with the Baltimore Ravens (7-3) in the AFC North.

What I liked: Pittsburgh started fast offensively and defensively in a big game for both teams. The Steelers scored 21 straight points in the second quarter to take a 21-3 halftime lead. I also liked Pittsburgh's improved pass rush. The Steelers rattled Oakland quarterback Jason Campbell with their blitz and sacked Campbell four times before he was benched in favor of backup Bruce Gradkowski. Pittsburgh receiver Mike Wallace (three catches, 116 yards) also continues to make big plays and recorded a touchdown catch for the third straight games.

What I didn't like: A rash of penalties were the only concern for Pittsburgh in a blowout win. The Steelers set a team record with 163 penalty yards. There were several debatable personal foul and roughness calls as the league continues to crack down on big hits, which we will get to later.

Oakland controversy: Look for Oakland defensive lineman Richard Seymour to receive a big fine for his hit to the face of Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. The Steelers scored their third touchdown late in the second quarter and Seymour hit Pittsburgh's quarterback, resulting in a brawl between the Steelers' offense and Oakland's defense. With the way the NFL is protecting quarterbacks, Seymour will likely get a large fine and possibly a suspension.

What's next: The Steelers have a solid chance to win next week at the Buffalo Bills, who overcame a 21-point deficit to beat Cincinnati. But it could be a trap game if Pittsburgh isn't careful. On Dec. 5, the Steelers will play at Baltimore, where they will try to avenge an early-season loss.

Last week the AFC North blog took a look at five possible destinations for former Cleveland Browns quarterback Brady Quinn, and we hit at home run by listing the Denver Broncos No. 2 on the list.

So let's continue that hot streak and take a look at Baltimore Ravens quarterback and restricted free agent Troy Smith, who has just a fifth-round tender. Interest should pick up for Smith soon as most of the decent unrestricted free-agent quarterbacks are signed.

5. Cleveland Browns

Skinny: Let me first say that I don't believe this will happen. But the fact Smith himself made it clear Cleveland, his hometown team, is his first choice makes it worthy to put on the list. But the feeling doesn't seem mutual and the Browns appear ready to move on with Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace.

4. St. Louis Rams

Skinny: The Rams need everything, particularly a quarterback. Whether the team takes rookie Sam Bradford with the top pick, quarterback depth is still needed on the roster. But Smith may not fit their system.

3. Carolina Panthers

Skinny: Matt Moore is the starter in Carolina, but who knows if he's the real deal. Smith wouldn't be a bad second option for a fifth-rounder in case Moore falters or gets injured.

2. Buffalo Bills

Skinny: I'm convinced Trent Edwards is not a starting NFL quarterback. In a head-to-head competition, Smith might be able to beat him out.

1. Oakland Raiders

Skinny: Raiders offensive coordinator Hue Jackson coached Smith in Baltimore and could want a familiar face who knows the system. A possible competition among Smith, JaMarcus Russell and Bruce Gradkowski would be interesting.

» NFC Final Word: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 16:

Help wanted: The defending champion Pittsburgh Steelers (7-7) aim to keep their playoff hopes alive in a rivalry game against the Baltimore Ravens (8-6). Pittsburgh needs a lot of help and victories over Baltimore and the Miami Dolphins (7-7) in the final two weeks to have a chance at the wild card. Beating the Ravens won’t be easy. They are playing their best football of the season, outscoring their last two opponents 79-10. The Ravens also won the previous meeting against Pittsburgh, 20-17 in overtime on Nov. 29.

Secondary issues: Pittsburgh's best shot at victory Sunday is to attack Baltimore's ailing secondary. Rookie cornerback Lardarius Webb (knee) is out for the season. Pro Bowl safety Ed Reed (groin, foot) has missed the past three games, so his status is up in the air, and former starter Fabian Washington (knee) was put on injured reserve last month. It also helps the Steelers that quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is on fire. He threw for a career-high 503 yards last week in a victory over the Green Bay Packers.

Holmgren is watching: This will be an interesting two weeks for the Cleveland Browns now that Mike Holmgren is the team’s president. Holmgren has a lot of work to do to fix the Browns (3-11). That’s why he will be watching the final two games closely to get a feel for players and coaches he wants to keep in 2010. With new leadership, Cleveland's stretch run has become a team-wide audition.

Frye returns: An interesting subplot when the Oakland Raiders visit Cleveland on Sunday is the return of former Browns quarterback Charlie Frye. He was a third-round pick in 2005 and once considered the future of the franchise. But things didn't pan out for Frye in Cleveland, and he spent the rest of his Browns career as a backup. Frye is getting another chance to start with the injury to Bruce Gradkowski (knee) and poor play of former No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell.

Time to clinch: The Cincinnati Bengals (9-5) can do themselves a favor by ending a two-game skid and beating the lowly Kansas City Chiefs (3-11). A win at home would clinch a playoff berth and the AFC North title. That would be a big relief for the Bengals heading into Week 17. A loss Sunday could create a scenario where Cincinnati has to beat the New York Jets (7-7) on the road to clinch.

PITTSBURGH -- Months from now when we look back at the 2009 Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday's fourth-quarter meltdown against the Oakland Raiders could turn out to be the defining moment of their season.

Pittsburgh's defense, which entered Sunday ranked No. 3 in the NFL, gave up three touchdown drives in the final 8:21 of the fourth quarter during a 27-24 loss to the Raiders (4-8), the Steelers' fourth straight defeat.

Defensive players were completely befuddled in the locker room afterward.

Cornerback Ike Taylor, who was beaten for a 75-yard touchdown catch by Oakland receiver Louis Murphy in the final quarter, wasn't sure if he should have had backside help on the play. Although there wasn't any, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said that should have been the case.

"I mean, if the coach said it, it is what it is," Taylor said. "But it’s tough having the receiver with a two-way [route] on a corner with that much field, inside or out."

Safety Ryan Mundy sat at his locker with a blank stare on his face. Mundy had a big personal foul penalty on a late hit that helped extend Oakland's game-winning drive.

"I’m just trying to make a play for my team, that’s all," Mundy said. "I felt like I was there at the appropriate amount of time. You got to accept the referee's call and you can’t let that affect you."

Steelers rookie cornerback Joe Burnett also dropped an easy interception when the ball went right through his hands. Five plays later, Raiders quarterback Bruce Gradkowski (308 yards, three touchdowns) connected with Murphy for the game-winning 11-yard touchdown.

"If I get 10 more [chances to make that catch], I’ll make it 10 times," Burnett said of the key drop. "That was one where I wish I could have that opportunity back. That normally doesn’t happen to me."

It was that kind of day for Pittsburgh.

In fact, it’s been that kind of season for the Steelers (6-6).

Blowing fourth-quarter leads is nothing new. The Steelers have blown leads in the final quarter in all six losses. Sunday's game against Oakland was just the most extreme case, considering it was at home against a bad team, and the Steelers were desperate for a victory.

Despite Tomlin's claim that Pittsburgh would "unleash hell" in December, the Steelers were flat throughout the game and didn’t play with much urgency until late.

Pittsburgh let the Raiders hang around in the first half. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who returned after missing one game with a concussion, failed to get a fourth-down conversion inside Oakland's 5-yard line. He also threw an interception in Oakland's end zone to thwart another potential scoring drive in the first half. The Steelers led 10-6 at intermission.

When the reigning Super Bowl champions failed to deliver a knockout blow early, the Raiders gradually gained more confidence at Heinz Field, particularly when they realized they were still in the game during a frantic fourth quarter.

In the NFL, the ball can bounce in strange ways in the final quarter, and Oakland made several tremendous plays offensively. Roethlisberger, who threw for 278 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, led Pittsburgh’s offense to two scoring drives that gave the Steelers the lead. But the defense couldn't hold down the stretch.

"We didn’t make a play to win that football game," Tomlin said.

The loss to Oakland may have sealed the Steelers' fate this season.

At the very least, Pittsburgh has to win its final four games to finish 10-6 with a shot at the playoffs. But the way the Steelers are playing, suddenly going on a four-game winning streak is a very tall task.

And 10 wins doesn’t even guarantee Pittsburgh a chance to defend its championship. The Steelers probably will need a lot of help.

The Denver Broncos (8-4) and Jacksonville Jaguars (7-5) currently hold the two wild cards in the AFC. The Baltimore Ravens (6-5) also have a chance to help their chances Monday night in a key game against the Green Bay Packers (7-4). The Miami Dolphins (6-6) and New York Jets (6-6) are in the mix, making for a crowded field where a lot has to go right for Pittsburgh in the final month.

If the Steelers don’t make the playoffs, it would be one of the most disappointing seasons for Pittsburgh in recent memory. How they found themselves in that position would be a question the Steelers would ponder all offseason.

Pittsburgh has a talented roster that was good enough to beat the Broncos, San Diego Chargers (9-3) and Minnesota Vikings (10-2). But the Steelers also were inconsistent enough to lose to the lowly Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs (3-9) during a four-game skid.

"It’s not about those teams, it’s about us," Steelers defensive back Deshea Townsend said. "Every time we go out to play, it’s about us. If we play the ball that we know we’re capable of playing, we have a chance to win every game. But when we don’t, we find ways to lose."

Here are the most interesting stories Friday in the AFC North:

• Cincinnati Bengals rookie linebacker Rey Maualuga is still going strong, making all 11 starts so far in his rookie year.

Morning take: I'm no scout, but it was pretty easy for me to see at USC that Maualuga was a player. I’m still surprised every AFC North team passed on him at least once. The Browns passed twice.

• How would you grade the 2009 draft of the Baltimore Ravens?

Morning take: It’s early, but it looks like Baltimore hit on its first three picks. Michael Oher, Paul Kruger and Lardarius Webb are all contributing to the team's playoff run.

• Oakland Raiders quarterback and western PA native Bruce Gradkowski is looking forward to returning home.

Morning take: Last time I remember Gradkowski against Pittsburgh, he was with the Cleveland Browns in 2008 and things didn’t go very well.

• San Diego Chargers tailback LaDainian Tomlinson needs 56 yards to pass Jim Brown on the career rushing list Sunday against the Browns.

Morning take: To do it in Cleveland would be a nice honor for "L.T." Against the Browns’ defense, he has a good chance to do it.

Here are seven notes and observations from an awful Week 11 in the AFC North:

Drew Hallowell/Getty ImagesThe Steelers should take a long look at free agent quarterback Jeff Garcia.




• If I’m the Pittsburgh Steelers, the first free agent I’m calling this week is quarterback Jeff Garcia. With the status of Ben Roethlisberger (head) up in the air this week and backup Charlie Batch out for the rest of the regular season, the Steelers need a veteran replacement. Although chances are slim that someone can come in and start right away against the Baltimore Ravens, if anyone has a chance, it’s Garcia. It will be interesting to see how Pittsburgh handles this if Roethlisberger isn't healthy enough to return. Would the Steelers really go with Dennis Dixon in a crucial game?
• If Pittsburgh isn’t convinced that drastic changes need to be made ASAP on special teams, I’m not sure they ever will be this season. Pittsburgh has allowed four kickoff returns for touchdowns and two in the past two weeks. These are huge blows in a game. Kansas City Chiefs tailback Jamaal Charles took the opening kickoff to the house in their overtime win over Pittsburgh Sunday, and that play gave Kansas City all the confidence it needed to hang in there and eventually pull off the upset. The Steelers have a wealth of talent, and it's time to take some of those backups and replace them with better players.
• We are getting a lot of e-mails in our AFC North inbox from Cleveland Browns fans regarding the frantic finish in a loss to the Detroit Lions. But the referees got this one right. Cleveland defensive back Hank Poteat clearly committed pass interference on the Hail Mary. Yes, Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford hurt his shoulder with no timeouts, but above all else a game cannot end on a penalty. Another huge mistake was Browns head coach Eric Mangini calling a timeout for an explanation, which allowed Stafford to return and throw the game-winning touchdown. Who knows if an ice cold Daunte Culpepper could have come in and successfully executed that play in the clutch?
• Here is a question for the Cincinnati Bengals: Why is Andre Caldwell returning kickoffs? It's been clear all season that Caldwell is not very good in that role. He dances too much and doesn't hit the hole or run a straight line. Caldwell burned the Bengals again on a kick return with a late fumble that set up the Oakland Raiders' game-winning field goal Sunday. Rookie tailback Bernard Scott was coming into his own in that role following a big touchdown return against the Steelers, and Scott or someone else should have been the player returning the final kick. Caldwell is a solid receiver but it's time to give that kickoff return experiment a rest.
• The Bengals also could not rush the passer against Oakland. Journeyman quarterback Bruce Gradkowski threw 31 times and Cincinnati had zero sacks. The Bengals also continued their season-long trend of not defending the tight ends. Oakland tight end Zach Miller led the Raiders with five catches for 65 yards. When you can't pressure the quarterback and constantly leave the middle of the field open that usually results in a loss.
• The replay of Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco’s final interception in a loss the Indianapolis Colts looks like he just decided to throw into triple coverage. But Flacco said he was fooled and never saw Indianapolis linebacker Gary Brackett drop on the backside. Brackett made a heady play by briefly engaging with an offensive lineman and then dropping into the spot where Ravens tailback Ray Rice was heading. According to Brackett, Baltimore ran the play earlier and he recognized the route. Ravens offensive coordinator Cam Cameron also said afterwards that he was fooled by Bracket's decision not to rush the quarterback.
• Let me finish by saying this was the worst weekend of football that I can recall in nearly two seasons covering the division. Three AFC North teams lost to awful opponents in sloppy fashion, and the one possible upset in the division was foiled by poor play in the red zone. I know it's just one Sunday, but group performances like this lead me to believe the AFC North is not as good as I once thought heading down the stretch of the regular season.

Here are the most interesting stories Monday in the AFC North:

• Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger says he felt alright after suffering a blow to the head in an overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Morning take: The player usually plays it tough when it comes to injuries. But if Roethlisberger suffered a concussion, the Steelers may be forced to sit him in Sunday’s big game against the Baltimore Ravens.

• Speaking of Baltimore, are the 5-5 Ravens a playoff team after falling to the Indianapolis Colts?

Morning take: The Ravens are good, but they just aren’t consistent enough to win the close games this year. That will cost them unless they get hot down the stretch.

• The Cincinnati Bengals remained winless in Oakland by fumbling away a game to the Raiders.

Morning take: I understand the turnovers. But I’m still trying to figure out how journeyman quarterback Bruce Gradkowski lit up Cincinnati’s defense in the clutch.

• The Cleveland Browns led by three touchdowns and found a way to lose to the equally struggling Detroit Lions.

Morning take: This was an exciting game between two bad teams. But someone had to win and someone had to lose.

» NFC Final Word: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 11:

No 'Sizzle' for Baltimore: The Baltimore Ravens have been inconsistent rushing the passer this season, and their defense will take another big blow without the services of Pro Bowl defensive end/linebacker Terrell Suggs Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts (9-0). Suggs suffered a sprained knee in last Monday’s win over the Cleveland Browns when quarterback Brady Quinn hit him low following an interception. Suggs doesn’t believe his injury is season-ending. But he is one of the few pass-rushers for the Ravens who can command and fight through double teams. So expect Colts quarterback Peyton Manning to have some extra time in the pocket this week.

Draft status: As much as teams dislike talking about this during the season, there is a good chance the No. 1 pick in the 2010 NFL draft could be decided Sunday when Cleveland (1-8) travels to play the Detroit Lions (1-8). Of the four one-win teams, the Browns and Lions are probably playing the worst football down the stretch. The winner of this game will double its victory total and thus fall behind in the race for the top pick with just six games remaining. Detroit had the top selection in 2009 and selected quarterback Matthew Stafford out of the University of Georgia.

Going vertical: If the Browns will ever attack defenses vertically with Quinn at quarterback, this is the week to do it. Detroit's defense is ranked No. 31 in the NFL, one spot ahead of Cleveland's. The Lions are also allowing 29.3 points per game. So Quinn should have more time in the pocket to allow his receivers to get downfield. The biggest knock on Quinn since coming to the NFL is that he doesn't have the arm strength or accuracy to stretch defenses downfield. In Monday's loss to Baltimore, Quinn was 0-for-7 on throws of 10 yards or more. Several of his deep throws at the end of the game weren't even close and didn’t stay in the field of play.

Potential trap: On the surface, the Cincinnati Bengals and Oakland Raiders shouldn’t be a close contest, right? The Raiders are 2-7 and starting quarterback Bruce Gradkowski against the first-place Bengals (7-2). But when you look deeper, consider the fact that Cincinnati has never won in Oakland in eight attempts. The Bengals are coming off a huge emotional win over the Pittsburgh Steelers (letdown factor?), and starting tailback Cedric Benson is not expected to play with a hip injury. This has all the makings of a trap game in the NFL. The Bengals have been a mature team all season. Winning in Oakland for the first time would be another huge step in that maturation process.

Balance is key: The Steelers' offense will try to get back on track after one of the worst performances of the season against Cincinnati. Offensive coordinator Bruce Arians received a lot of heat in the media this week for his unbalanced play calling last weekend (40 pass plays/18 run plays). It was a surprising stat considering the game against the Bengals was extremely close throughout and tailback Rashard Mendenhall entered the game with the hot hand. Look for the Steelers to get back to being balanced against the struggling Kansas City Chiefs (2-7). Kansas City has the No. 27-ranked defense in the NFL. So Pittsburgh should have an easier time executing.