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The bracket for the "Madden 13" video game cover contest is officially up and running, and the odds of an AFC North player repeating appear to be long.

But, after witnessing what the "Madden curse" did to Peyton Hillis, maybe this is a good thing.

It's set up like the NCAA basketball tournament, except there are 32 players instead of 68 teams. The AFC North representatives are Ravens running back Ray Rice, Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green, Steelers safety Troy Polamalu and Browns cornerback Joe Haden.

Why is the AFC North at a disadvantage to get a player on the cover this year? The highest-seeded player is Rice, who is fifth. One of the first-round matchups pits two division players against each other (Rice vs. Green). And Haden gets to go against Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who is my favorite to win it all.

My pick to pull the biggest upset of the first round is Polamalu, a No. 13 seed who is going against fourth-seeded Larry Fitzgerald. Knowing Polamalu's popularity among Steelers Nation, I see him advancing to face the winner of the LeSean McCoy-Reggie Bush matchup.

Here are the first-round matchups for the AFC North players:

• Aaron Rodgers (1) vs. Joe Haden (16)
• Ray Rice (5) vs. A.J. Green (12)
• Larry Fitzgerald (4) vs. Troy Polamalu (13)

Baltimore Ravens

Terrell Suggs weighs in on the New Orleans Saints' bounty program with Mike Preston of the Baltimore Sun.

The Sun's Matt Vensel wonders if Arian Foster's new deal will impact contract negotiations with Ray Rice.

Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals are hopeful wide receiver Armon Binns can go from scout-team star to contributor.

Joe Reedy of the Cincinnati Enquirer sees the Bengals selecting Stanford offensive lineman David DeCastro with their first-round pick next month.

Cleveland Browns

Cleveland linebacker Scott Fujita might have been involved with the New Orleans Saints' bounty program, according to NFC South blogger Pat Yasinskas.

Cornerback Joe Haden and offensive tackle Joe Thomas will represent the Browns in the online voting for the "Madden NFL 13" video game cover, writes Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said removing emotion from the equation was important when the team decided to part ways with Hines Ward, Aaron Smith and James Farrior.

Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says it wasn't a surprise that the Steelers didn't use the franchise tag on wide receiver Mike Wallace.

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

DEFENSIVE BACKS

1. STEELERS: Pittsburgh had the top-ranked pass defense, and it wasn't all about the pass rush this time. Actually, the pass rush was extremely inconsistent this season, so that No. 1 ranking is more of a reflection of the Steelers' secondary. Cornerback Ike Taylor and free safety Ryan Clark had career years. Taylor's season, though, was marred by a late-season decline that ended with him getting stiffed-armed by the Broncos' Demaryius Thomas on the touchdown that ended the Steelers' season. Clark had the best season of any safety in the division, which is saying a lot when Troy Polamalu and Ed Reed are in the AFC North. He finished second in the division with 100 tackles. Polamalu was solid, but didn't play up to his usual spectacular level. William Gay was a pleasant surprise, taking back the starting cornerback job that he lost in 2010. What could change: Gay is an unrestricted free agent, but it shouldn't take much to retain him. Look for rookie cornerbacks Cortez Allen and Curtis Brown to make more of an impact in their second seasons.

2. RAVENS: This group exceeded expectations, and did so in a surprising manner. Instead of starting Domonique Foxworth and Chris Carr at cornerback, the Ravens finished fourth in pass defense with Lardarius Webb and Cary Williams. Webb was the division's top cornerback, recording five interceptions and breaking up 20 passes (and that doesn't include three interceptions in the playoffs). Williams was a physical presence at corner. The biggest disappointment was Reed, who intercepted three passes -- his fewest in a season where he played more than 12 games. The Ravens' other safety, hard-hitting Bernard Pollard, provided more of an impact than Reed. First-round pick Jimmy Smith endured an up-and-down rookie season. What could change: Smith should take over for Williams as a starting cornerback this season. Foxworth is expected to get cut, and the same could happen to Carr. Both backup safeties, Tom Zbikowski and Haruki Nakamura, are free agents, but I suspect Nakamura will get re-signed.

3. BROWNS: Joe Haden showed signs of being a shutdown corner, even though he failed to make an interception. He held his own against some of the best receivers in the NFL, from Larry Fitzgerald to Brandon Marshall. His worst games came against Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green. While Haden is among the division's best cornerbacks, Sheldon Brown was the worst starting corner in the AFC North. Brown's biggest asset is the experience he provides to a young secondary. The defensive backfield was hurt by the loss of strong safety T.J. Ward, who missed the final 10 games with a foot injury. Teams took advantage of Ward's replacement, Usama Young. Free safety Mike Adams beat out Young for a starting job in training camp. Dimitri Patterson was a reliable nickelback, breaking up a dozen passes. What could change: The Browns might replace Adams, who is a free agent, and they could give rookie seventh-round pick Eric Hagg a shot at doing so. Cleveland is very interested in bringing Patterson back. It wouldn't be a surprise if Patterson starts in place of Brown.

As Steve Muench points out in his piece about the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine, teams should look at Browns cornerback Joe Haden on how much weight to give it.

Haden ran in the 4.6-second range at the 2010 combine, which might have caused him to drop on some draft boards. But the Browns selected him seventh overall and they aren't regretting it. Haden is among the best young cornerbacks in the NFL.

Muench looks at five prospects who won't run top 40-yard dash times at this week's combine and why that won't hurt their stock on draft day. Here are two prospects who could be on the Bengals' radar:

Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama: His above-average man-to-man skills could land him in the middle of the first round, where the Bengals have two picks and are looking for an eventual replacement to Nate Clements. The interviews at the combine could carry more weight than his 40 time. Jenkins was arrested twice for marijuana possession last year. The Bengals, who have had their share of players in legal trouble, would have to look past Jenkins' issues. Jenkins is challenging Alabama’s Dre Kirkpatrick as the second-best corner in this draft.

Bernard Pierce, RB, Temple: Pierce's power and determination would make him a strong candidate to replace Cedric Benson, who is an unrestricted free agent. Pierce, who is 6 feet, 218 pounds, is forgoing his senior year after scoring 27 touchdowns last season. "I've been working really hard these past several weeks to improve myself and really show the scouts just what I can do," Pierce told the Philadelphia Daily News. "I believe that my stock can only change for the better."

Every morning, grab a cup of coffee and get your AFC North wake-up call here:

Browns cornerback Joe Haden believes the team will make a significant turnaround next season.

"I'm not going to make any guarantees," Haden told the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "I'm not going to be that guy. I won't go there. ... But I will say this: I expect us to be much better in 2012. I expect us to have a strong year, and I know my teammates do, as well."

Remaining optimistic is tough for the Browns these days after their season ended with a six-game skid and they lost 11 or more games for the fourth straight season. Haden doesn't want to put the "rebuilding" label on the Browns.

"As players, we can't think like that," he said. "We can't be hearing about three, five, seven years down the road because we might not be here. We want to win as soon as possible."

Hensley's slant: The Browns' defense certainly played better than a 4-12 record would indicate. Cleveland held teams to 20 points or less 10 times. If the Browns want a turnaround, the pressure is on the offense to carry its weight.

BENGALS: Former Cincinnati quarterback Boomer Esiason thinks the Bengals can challenge the Ravens and Steelers for the division crown in 2012. “Absolutely, because of two things,” Esiason told the team's website. “Baltimore is old on defense and Pittsburgh isn’t blowing up their whole team but they’re going to lose a lot of players. I think the Bengals have a chance now. If they do it right. They’ve got to get some good players in there and with a couple of good draft picks this could be a team that is a formidable foe for both Pittsburgh and Baltimore.” Hensley's slant: Whether the Bengals can win the AFC North in 2012 depends on if quarterback Andy Dalton plays better against the top-notch defenses from Pittsburgh and Baltimore. Cincinnati can help him by strengthening his supporting cast. But Dalton has to cut down on the mistakes against them (five of his 13 interceptions came in those four meetings).

RAVENS: The Ravens are interested in signing cornerback Lardarius Webb to a long-term deal. Webb is a restricted free agent after coming off his best season. “I think it would be best for this organization," general manager Ozzie Newsome said, via the team's website. "The sooner you strike, the better deal you can get for yourself.” Hensley's slant: The Ravens would free up over $8 million in cap room at that position if they cut Domonique Foxworth ($5.6 million salary next year) and Chris Carr ($2.5 million). There is a chance that Foxworth's playing career is over. The Ravens have quickly developed a talented young cornerback group in Webb, Jimmy Smith and Cary Williams, and it will be interesting to see how long they can keep them all together.

STEELERS: If the Patriots beat the Giants, it would mark Bill Belichick's fourth Super Bowl title, which would allow him to join the Steelers' Chuck Noll as the only NFL coaches to win that many. "I have a tremendous amount of respect for Chuck and the job he did with his team and the organization," Belichick said, via USA Today. "So it is very flattering to be mentioned in the same sentence with Chuck Noll." Hensley's slant: Some would say it was easier to win in Noll's era because there wasn't any free agency. But, even if Belichick wins, there will still be one difference between the coaches. Noll never lost a Super Bowl.

It's time to unveil the defense for my All-AFC North team, which is based on performance this season, and not past reputation. There were many difficult decisions, and there should be. All four defenses in the division finished in the top 10 (Pittsburgh was No. 1, Baltimore was No. 3, Cincinnati was No. 7 and Cleveland was No. 10).

The All-AFC North team will wrap up tomorrow with offense. Of course, tell me who I left off, who should have been on and any other opinions in the comments section below.

Defensive end: Carlos Dunlap, Bengals. Tough call over Pittsburgh's Brett Keisel. Before being slowed by a hamstring injury, Dunlap was getting to the quarterback like no other defensive end in the division. Despite missing four games, he recorded 4.5 sacks and led the Bengals with 27 quarterback pressures, which was four more than anyone else on the team.

Nose tackle/defensive tackle: Haloti Ngata, Ravens. He didn't seem as dominant as last year, but it's hard to argue his impact. Ngata finished with five sacks, five batted-down passes, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. He was a cog in the middle for the NFL's second-ranked run defense and he returned a fumble 28 yards for his first career touchdown in Week 3. Some would go with Casey Hampton, but he slipped at the age of 34 and so did the Steelers' run defense, which gave up 33 percent more yards rushing than a year ago.

Defensive tackle: Geno Atkins, Bengals. While the Bengals' run defense faltered in the second half of the season, their front four pressured the quarterback like no other in the AFC North and perhaps the league. And Atkins was a huge part of that by collapsing the pocket up the middle. He tied Oakland's Tommy Kelly for sacks by an interior lineman in the NFL with 7.5. He is the first Bengals interior lineman to top the team in sacks since 1996, when Dan Wilkinson led with 6.5.

Outside linebacker: Terrell Suggs, Ravens. He was the best defensive player in the division and arguably the best in the NFL this season. Suggs made an impact all over the field, becoming the only NFL player this season to finish with at least five sacks, five passes defensed and five forced fumbles. Critics would argue that his production came in three games (season opener against Pittsburgh, San Francisco and Indianapolis), where he totaled nine sacks and six forced fumbles.

Inside linebacker: D'Qwell Jackson, Browns. The comeback player in the division, Jackson finished second in the NFL with 158 tackles. That's 58 more tackles than anyone else in the AFC North. This is after Jackson missed the previous 26 games due to two separate pectoral injuries. He also tied for the AFC lead with three defensive fumble recoveries.

Inside linebacker: Ray Lewis, Ravens. There's no doubt that Lewis isn't the same player that he was five years ago and he had trouble getting off blocks after returning from a toe injury. But there's not a better run stopper in the division. With Lewis as the leading tackler, the Ravens finished tied for first in fewest rushing yards per carry (3.5) and second in fewest rushing yards per game (92.5).

Outside linebacker: James Harrison, Steelers. Many would consider nine sacks (which tied for tops on the Steelers) and two forced fumbles a solid season. But Harrison did this after having two back surgeries in March, missing four games with a fractured orbital bone near his right eye and getting suspended one game following his infamous hit on Colt McCoy. Harrison's ability to get to the quarterback was a big reason Pittsburgh finished No. 1 in the NFL in pass defense.

Cornerback: Lardarius Webb, Ravens. If you didn't know what a great season Webb was having, you did in the postseason when he picked off three passes. He led the division with five interceptions and 20 passes defensed. Not bad for a defender that everyone projected to be a nickelback this season. The Ravens also gave up the fewest touchdown passes this season (11).

Cornerback: Joe Haden, Browns. Haden was the headliner for the NFL's second-ranked pass defense and has the potential to be a shutdown corner. He finished sixth in the league (and second in the AFC North) with 19 passes defensed this season. Haden had three games this year with at least three pass breakups, including a career-high five in the season opener against Cincinnati. There were some slips, such as allowing a game-turning catch to A.J. Green and a game-sealing touchdown to Antonio Brown. Haden barely edged out Pittsburgh's Ike Taylor for this spot.

Strong safety: Troy Polamalu, Steelers. This wasn't his finest season, but Polamalu was a major presence on the NFL's top-ranked defense. Always lurking around the line of scrimmage, he finished third on the team with 91 tackles to go along with two interceptions and one sack. His best game came in the last one of the regular season, when his interception set up the game's only touchdown and his sack came from him breaking through the line after perfectly timing the snap.

Free safety: Ryan Clark, Steelers. The obvious choice would be Ed Reed. But even Reed would acknowledge that he struggled for most of the season. He managed three interceptions, his fewest for a 16-game season, and missed tackles toward the end of the season because of a shoulder injury. Clark enjoyed the best season of his 10-year career, leading the NFL's top-ranked defense with 100 tackles. That also ranked second in the AFC North. If you questioned Clark's impact, look at how the Steelers fared without him in Denver, when he had to sit out the playoff game because of a blood condition.

Every morning, grab a cup of coffee and get your AFC North wake-up call here:

Dick LeBeau will return as the Steelers' defensive coordinator in 2012, sources told The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

LeBeau, 74, has been the team's defensive coordinator since 2004, his second stint with the Steelers. Considered the father of "zone blitz," LeBeau has long been regarded as one of the NFL's top defensive minds.

Coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that he wanted both of his coordinators back and LeBeau had told him he wanted to return. The Pittsburgh defense finished first in fewest yards and points allowed.

Hensley's slant: The Steelers have decided not to get younger at defensive coordinator, but it will be interesting to see if they choose to get younger with personnel. The return of LeBeau ensures continuity. Plus, it would have been a shame to see LeBeau go out on a defensive performance like the one in Denver.

BENGALS: Now that the Bengals have a long-term go-to wide receiver in A.J. Green, the next step is to find the No. 2 option. According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, it looked like the team would bring back either Jerome Simpson or Andre Caldwell (both of whom are free agents) but there is a chance both could be gone. “Of course, Jerome had moments of greatness and moments of what is going on?” offensive coordinator Jay Gruden said. Hensley's slant: Simpson and Caldwell are too undependable as route-runners, which is not what you want for a young quarterback like Andy Dalton. Look for the Bengals to find a more consistent presence in free agency. Cincinnati's passing attack already has a strong start with Green and tight end Jermaine Gresham.

BROWNS: Browns defensive backs coach Jerome Henderson will join the Dallas Cowboys as their secondary coach, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. The deal is expected to be finalized by Monday. Henderson, 42, will reunite with defensive coordinator Rob Ryan with the Cowboys. Hensley's slant: This might seem like a minor move, but the Browns' defensive backs improved in Henderson's three seasons. Cleveland's pass defense went form 29th to 18th to second this season. The new defensive backs coach has the luxury of coming into a situation with rising young talent at cornerback (Joe Haden) and safety (T.J. Ward).

RAVENS: Ravens right guard Marshal Yanda revealed that he had emergency surgery on his lower right leg on Christmas Eve and still played in the regular-season finale seven days later. Yanda’s leg swelled up and surgeons had to split the muscle to relieve the pressure. “It was a nasty scar and a [crappy] way to spend Christmas Eve, but that’s what it was,” Yanda said, via The Baltimore Sun. Hensley's slant: Head coach John Harbaugh called Yanda the toughest player he's ever coached, and everyone is finding out why. He's the Ravens' best offensive lineman and made the Pro Bowl this season. And, if there was any doubt, he will be starting Sunday's playoff game.

Every morning, grab a cup of coffee and get your AFC North wake-up call here:

Even though the Bengals will play Saturday in the cozy confines of Houston's Reliant Stadium, the team practiced outside in the frigid weather for the second consecutive day.

The Cincinnati Enquirer reported that the windchill was 27 degrees when Wednesday's practice ended. That was a little warmer than Tuesday, when the windchill was 14 degrees.

When Cincinnati reporters asked why the Bengals didn't practice at the University of Cincinnati indoor facility, team spokesman Jack Brennan said: “The coaches determined there was not sufficient reason for us to get out of our regular element this week.”

The Bengals reached an agreement to practice at the University of Cincinnati when it allowed the school's football team to play two games at Paul Brown Stadium. According to The Enquirer, the Bengals still have to pay to use the facility and the school can't give the team a reduced rate. The paper estimated that it would cost $2,500 to rent the facility for four hours.

Hensley's slant: After making all the right moves this offseason, the Bengals are making the same old mistakes again. There's no reason to practice in the cold when the game will be played in 70-degree weather. Take out the wallet and practice indoors.

BROWNS: The Browns have the fourth overall pick in the 2012 draft, which isn't exactly familiar territory for team president Mike Holmgren and general manager Tom Heckert. According to the Canton Repository, they have picked in the top 10 only three times between them, which resulted in the selections of cornerback Terrell Buckley (fifth overall, 1992), wide receiver Koren Robinson (ninth overall, 2001) and cornerback Joe Haden (seventh overall, 2010). Hensley's slant: If the Browns can hit on an offensive player like they did with Haden, they will be headed in the right direction. Of course, the Browns could trade out of the top 10 like they did last season. But Cleveland will face a lot of criticism if it trades out again with the likes of quarterback Robert Griffin III, wide receiver Justin Blackmon and running back Trent Richardson on the board.

RAVENS: Ray Lewis insisted he is happy with the level that he's playing at this season. "If you ask my peers, why wouldn't I be?" Lewis said, via MASN Sports. "You go through a resume of all of the great ones, and you can always go back to when they had their downs, they had their ups, but they were able to overcome that and keep going." There has been criticism that the 36-year-old linebacker is declining and needs to take some plays off. Hensley's slant: The Ravens will need Lewis to be on top of his game next weekend if Houston or Denver comes to Baltimore for a divisional playoff game. The Texans and Broncos are the top two rushing offenses in the NFL. The Ravens, meanwhile, finished No. 2 in run defense.

STEELERS: Pittsburgh expects no dropoff when Ryan Mundy replaces safety Ryan Clark in the starting lineup, and Clark is among those saying that. According to Clark, starting Mundy couldn't come at a better situation than against the Broncos and the top-ranked run offense in the NFL. "They are going to try to run the ball, and those two guys (Mundy and Troy Polamalu) are the best two in-the-box run defenders," Clark told The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "Maybe in a way it turned out to be the perfect week for this to happen to us." Clark will sit Sunday because it could be dangerous for him to play in the high altitude of Denver with his blood condition. Hensley's slant: Clark is being a little too humble. He has played at a Pro Bowl level and led the Steelers this season with 100 tackles. So, there will certainly be a dropoff. Luckily for the Steelers, they are playing a Broncos offense that averaged 13.2 points in its last four games.

» NFC Wrap-ups: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Arrow indicates direction team is trending.

Final Power Ranking: No. 28
Preseason Power Ranking: No. 29

Biggest surprise: Cleveland changed defensive coordinators last offseason, going from the maverick ways of Rob Ryan to the calming influence of Dick Jauron. The style changed as well, from Ryan's frenetic schemes to Jauron's emphasis on fundamentals. The result: the Browns went from the 22nd-ranked defense in 2010 to the 10th-ranked this year. The yards and points went down and the sacks went up. The Browns allowed just 307 points this season, which is their lowest figure since allowing 301 in 2005. In Cleveland's four wins, the defense allowed an average of 12 points.

Biggest disappointment: Peyton Hillis went from being on the cover of the Madden video game to being the perfect example of what not to do in a contract season. The running back's frustrations over the lack of a new deal spilled onto the playing field, where his total yards dropped 56 percent from a year ago (1,654 to 717). It became a soap opera with Hillis this season when he missed a game on the advice of his agent because of strep throat, failed to show up for a scheduled appearance at a Halloween party for children, and got married in Arkansas instead of getting treatment at the Browns facility for his injured hamstring. It would be surprising to see the Browns invest a contract in Hillis after this year's antics.

Biggest need: The Browns desperately need offensive playmakers and lots of them. Their list includes: a strong-armed quarterback, a No. 1 receiver, a game-breaking running back and a big-play threat at tight end. It's easy to see why the Browns scored the third-fewest points in the NFL (13.6 points per game) under first-year coach Pat Shurmur. Cleveland produced only six pass plays for more than 40 yards (third-fewest in the league) and one run for that same distance. It seemed like the Browns ended up with more concussions than touchdowns this season.

Team MVP: The backbone of the NFL's second-ranked passing defense was cornerback Joe Haden. It was a breakout year for the seventh overall pick of the 2010 draft. He finished sixth in passes defensed and has the potential to be a shutdown corner. He didn't have an interception, but that will come if the Browns can increase the pressure on quarterbacks. Some would argue that linebacker D'Qwell Jackson is the Browns' MVP because he finished second in the NFL in tackles. But Cleveland allowed the third-most rushing yards in the league, which is a reflection of the middle linebacker.

Big decision: Look for the Browns to add a quarterback in the draft or free agency after Shumur said Colt McCoy will have to win the job next season. In his first full season as the starter, McCoy ranked 26th in completion percentage (57.2), 25th in passing yards per game (210.2), 32nd in yards per attempt (5.9) and 25th in passer rating (74.6). Some argue that McCoy's statistics are low because the Browns are tied for the most drops in the NFL (33), according to ESPN Stats & Information, and have struggled to protect him. Others say McCoy isn't a starting quarterback at this level because he lacks arm strength.

» NFC Pro Bowl: East | West | North | South » AFC Pro Bowl: East | West | North | South

Perfect sense: Headlining the six Pro Bowl starters for the Ravens is outside linebacker Terrell Suggs, who is an NFL defensive player of the year candidate. He leads the AFC with a career-best 13 sacks to go along with six forced fumbles, five passes defensed and two interceptions. Steelers wide receiver Mike Wallace is third in the AFC in receiving yards (1,182) but he has the highest yards-per-catch average (16.6) of any receiver with more than 70 receptions. Ravens running back Ray Rice leads the NFL with 1,869 yards from scrimmage and is tied for first in the AFC with 10 rushing touchdowns.

Made it on rep: Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis is still the best inside linebacker in the division, but others (namely Houston's Brian Cushing) have had better seasons. Baltimore went 4-0 when Lewis was injured, and he's been a nonfactor in the two games since he returned. There's no argument that the Browns' Joe Thomas is the most talented left tackle in the AFC, but he didn't have a stellar season. He has tied a career high with seven penalties and has been part of an offense that ranked 30th in the NFL in scoring. The same goes for center Maurkice Pouncey, who didn't play as well as last season because of illness and injuries.

Got robbed: Ten starters on the Steelers' defense, which ranks first in fewest yards and second in points allowed, got snubbed. Strong safety Troy Polamalu is the Pittsburgh defense's only representative. Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton should have been the third alternate after turning a four-win team into a playoff contender and becoming the fourth rookie with 20 touchdown passes. Another Bengal, Geno Atkins, outplayed the Ravens' Haloti Ngata at times this season and led all interior linemen with eight sacks. The Browns' Joe Haden has been the AFC North's top cornerback and broke up the third-most passes (19) this season in the NFL.

Rookie surprise: The Bengals' A.J. Green became the first rookie wide receiver to make the Pro Bowl since Anquan Boldin in 2003. He leads Cincinnati in receptions (63), receiving yards (1,031) and touchdowns (seven). A big-time playmaker, Green leads the NFL this season in catches of 35 or more yards (11).

Click here for the complete 2012 Pro Bowl roster.

BALTIMORE -- The Cleveland Browns are making this way too easy for the Baltimore Ravens, who lead 17-0 at halftime.

Already down by 17 points, the Browns made a head-scratcher of a decision to end the first half. On second-and-goal at the 3-yard line, the Browns chose to run the ball in the final seconds without any timeouts.

Peyton Hillis was stopped for no gain with about five seconds remaining. The Browns didn't even attempt to line up to spike the ball to stop the clock. I'm not sure if there was enough time to do it, but the Browns didn't even try. Beyond that, it was just a poor decision by coach Pat Shurmur, who should have either thrown the ball in that situation or kicked the field goal.

It was the second bad play call of the game. On the opening series of the game, the Browns drove into Ravens territory by running the ball and faced a third-and-1. Instead of running Hillis in between the tackles again, Cleveland decided to pass and Seneca Wallace was picked off. The Ravens converted the turnover into their first touchdown.

Other thoughts at halftime:

• Bad first half for Cleveland linebacker D'Qwell Jackson. He allowed both touchdowns in pass coverage -- a 5-yarder on a back-shoulder throw to Ed Dickson and a 42-yarder to Ray Rice on a wheel route.
• Rice is enjoying another great day at the expense of the Browns. He has 49 yards rushing and 48 yards receiving.
• Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco has a 133.7 rating in the first half. He has completed 8 of 12 passes for 105 yards and two touchdowns. You can also factor in a 60-yard pass interference penalty on Mike Adams. Rookie receiver Torrey Smith ran past Adams and Joe Haden on the Ravens' first offensive snap.
• Hillis has been running hard against the Ravens, gashing one of the best run defenses for 68 yards in the first half. But the large deficit takes him out of the game plan if the Browns want to play catch-up. But who knows what Shurmur is thinking these days?

Here are the major injuries in the division and what they mean:

BENGALS: WR Andre Caldwell (groin, doubtful) isn't expected to play after missing practice all week. Andrew Hawkins and Ryan Whalen will replace Caldwell in the slot. Eight others are probable, including WR A.J. Green (shoulder). RT Andre Smith (ankle) will start after missing two games.

BROWNS: QB Colt McCoy (head) is out and won't make the trip to Baltimore. Seneca Wallace will start for the second straight week. Four starters are questionable: WR Josh Cribbs (groin), CB Joe Haden (thigh), Mohamed Massaquoi (foot) and RT Tony Pashos (ankle). All practiced Friday and are expected to play.

RAVENS: WR Anquan Boldin (knee) is out for at least the next two games. Lee Evans will start with rookie Torrey Smith. K Billy Cundiff (left calf) is doubtful, which means Shayne Graham will kick for the Ravens. DE Cory Redding (ankle, questionable) is expected to play.

STEELERS: QB Ben Roethlisberger (ankle) is listed as questionable but he reportedly won't play. Charlie Batch is expected to start. Pro Bowl C Maurkice Pouncey (ankle) is out again and will be replaced by Doug Legursky. LB LaMarr Woodley (hamstring) is questionable after being limited the past two days in practice. He sat out Wednesday's practice. WR Emmanuel Sanders (foot) is out after not practicing Friday.

» NFC Stock Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

FALLING

1. Bengals' playoff chances: Only five weeks ago, Cincinnati was 6-2 and looked like a playoff contender. Now, after four losses in five games, the Bengals need some major help to reach the postseason. Cincinnati has to win out (final three games are against St. Louis, Arizona and Baltimore) and needs the Jets and Titans to lose another AFC game. At this point, the Bengals trail the Jets by a game for the sixth and final playoff spot in the AFC. Cincinnati has made the playoffs only twice since 1990.

2. Fear of throwing in the direction of Browns CB Joe Haden: He's still the most talented cornerback in the division, and most quarterbacks prefer to attack Sheldon Brown's side of the field. But that hasn't been the case recently late in games. In a three-game span, Haden gave up the game-changing, 51-yard pass to Cincinnati's A.J. Green and the 79-yard touchdown to Pittsburgh's Antonio Brown. In Haden's defense, he was making the right read against Brown but he slipped. Still, teams aren't avoiding Haden in the fourth quarter.

3. Bengals' defense: Cincinnati crumbled late in the fourth quarter against Houston, allowing the Texans and rookie fifth-round pick T.J. Yates to score 10 points in 5 1/2 minutes. The Bengals gave up a season-worst 412 total yards, including 300 yards passing to Yates (who had only 258 career passing yards entering this game). Cincinnati was the league's top-ranked defense at the end of October (giving up 278.5 yards per game), but the Bengals have been in a free fall ever since their bye. In the past seven games, Cincinnati has held only one team under 295 yards (the Cleveland Browns) and has allowed an average of 345.7 yards.

RISING

1. Ray Rice's carries: The Ravens have a history of turning to their running back in December, and it's no different this year. In the first nine games of the season, the Ravens running back averaged 15.3 carries. In the last four -- all wins -- Rice has received 24 carries per game. During this stretch, he has run for 470 yards and scored four touchdowns. Baltimore is 6-0 when Rice gets at least 20 carries and 4-3 when he does not.

2. Stinginess of the Pittsburgh defense: The Steelers have always ranked among the best in fewest points allowed, but this is taking it to the extreme. These are the points that Pittsburgh has allowed in its past three games: 9, 7 and 3. The last time the Steelers held three consecutive opponents under 10 points in the regular season was 2006. Pittsburgh is giving up 15.2 points per game this season, which ranks second to San Francisco. Over that three-game period, the Steelers have allowed one touchdown and forced seven turnovers.

3. Resiliency of the AFC North quarterbacks: The ability of Ben Roethlisberger and Colt McCoy coming back from serious injuries demonstrates the toughness of the quarterbacks in this division (even though McCoy shouldn't have been allowed to return). The AFC North is the only division where no starting quarterback has missed a game. In the AFC South and AFC West, six of the eight teams have had starting quarterbacks miss at least one game. This streak in the AFC North could end Sunday if McCoy is sidelined with a concussion, but it's still an impressive feat.

PITTSBURGH -- Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger isn't going to win the NFL most valuable player award. Aaron Rodgers will take that. Roethlisberger won't win the offensive player of the year honor, either. Give that to Drew Brees or Tom Brady.

If there was a trophy for grittiest quarterback, though, the unanimous pick would be Roethlisberger. When it comes to playing in pain, there is Roethlisberger, and then there is everyone else in this generation of football players.

You can break his nose. You can break his thumb. The problem is, no one has ever broken his will to win.

Even given his history of toughness, Roethlisberger outdid himself in gutting out a 14-3 Steelers victory over the Cleveland Browns on Thursday night at Heinz Field. After having his left leg bent in a way that it's not supposed to bend, Roethlisberger stepped up -- actually, hopped up, to be more accurate -- late in the fourth quarter to seal the much-needed win with a 79-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Brown.

"I just didn't want to let the guys down," Roethlisberger said. "We're in a tight race right now."

Roethlisberger's high ankle sprain forced him to throw off his back foot because he couldn't put weight on his left leg. He had to cut his dropbacks to two steps because anything else pushed it too far.

Many quarterbacks wouldn't come back with this injury. Others would and would struggle. Roethlisberger's mastery is such that you see him in pain but you wouldn't be able to tell by looking at the numbers.

Before the injury: 8-of-9 for 102 yards and one touchdown. After the injury: 8-of-12 for 178 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

Roethlisberger's toughness, stubbornness and dedication to the team moved the Steelers (10-3) one step closer to a playoff berth and put them a half-game ahead of the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North race.

"I’ll always give him the opportunity to show what he’s capable of," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. "We know what kind of competitor he is. We know his pain tolerance. We know what he’s capable of."

Roethlisberger still doesn't know the severity of the injury and will undergo an MRI on Friday. "We’ll find out how bad tomorrow," he said. "At least it takes the pain off my thumb."

When Roethlisberger was injured with 5 minutes, 59 seconds left in the second quarter, he was brought down in such a way by Browns defensive lineman Scott Paxson that you wondered whether he would return this season, much less this game. It was one of those types of replays that you grimaced in pain as much as Roethlisberger.

His first reaction: "I thought my leg was broke. Honestly. It was one of the most painful things I’ve ever felt. They grabbed [the leg], and it felt like my foot was outside of my leg."

Roethlisberger hobbled off the field with the help of two trainers and needed to get carted off to the locker room. When the X-rays on his ankle were negative, all that stood in his way of returning was a conversation with Tomlin.

Here's how that went, according to the coach:

Tomlin: "The doctor said you’re good to go; how you feel?"

Roethlisberger: "OK."

Tomlin: "You want to go?"

Roethlisberger: "Absolutely."

Tomlin: "All right, let's do it."

Roethlisberger came out of the locker room, threw a few passes on the sideline before halftime ended and limped onto the field. Even teammates who had seen Roethlisberger come back from injuries in the past couldn't believe what they saw.

"I was kind of surprised to see him come back in the second half," tight end Heath Miller said. "But when I step back and think about it, maybe I shouldn’t be. You know he’s going to be there with us if he’s able to stand on two legs."

Roethlisberger's return was crucial considering how ragged backup Charlie Batch looked in three series and how Pittsburgh clutched onto a 7-3 lead for most of the game.

Roethlisberger made his presence felt in the fourth quarter when he converted a third-and-20 by hopping up into the pocket and completing a 27-yard pass deep over the middle. He then appeared to throw a 24-yard touchdown to Mike Wallace, but it was reversed on replay because the receiver was down before crossing the goal line.

After the Steelers failed to score on the goal-line stand, Roethlisberger was intercepted on the next series. Like Roethlisberger, the Steelers continued to battle against adversity and gave the ball back to the two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback on William Gay's interception in the end zone.

Two plays later, Roethlisberger flicked a short pass to the right sideline, where Brown caught the back-shoulder pass and took advantage of cornerback Joe Haden slipping. Brown raced down the field, faked out safety Mike Adams along the way and scored the decisive touchdown with 2:52 left in the game.

"You could see he didn't have the same mobility, but in his eyes, he was the same Ben," Miller said. "He was ready to lead us and get our offense going."

Roethlisberger never sat down after the injury, and constantly paced up and down the sideline so the ankle wouldn't stiffen up. When he got knocked down a couple of times after returning, he needed to get pulled up by his teammates.

"It feels like my ankle is about to explode," he said.

This is the first time Roethlisberger has had a high ankle sprain, which is surprising because he's injured nearly everything on his body.

In 2005, he fractured his right thumb and tore cartilage in his right knee. In 2008, he separated his right shoulder. In 2010, he broke his nose and fractured a bone in his right foot. Even this year, he's already sprained his left foot and fractured his right thumb again.

Despite his continued heroics, Roethlisberger won't win the postseason awards. But he might win something else.

"That’s the effort that gets you to win championships," safety Ryan Clark said, "and we have a championship quarterback."

PITTSBURGH -- Thoughts on the Steelers' 14-3 victory over the Browns:

What it means: It wasn't pretty. It wasn't easy. It was extremely physical -- both starting quarterbacks were knocked briefly out of the game. The Steelers gutted out the much-needed win with limping quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, and without Pro Bowl center Maurkice Pouncey (ankle) and sacks leader LaMarr Woodley (hamstring). The Steelers (10-3) became the first AFC team to reach 10 victories, winning for the eighth time in nine games. Pittsburgh increased its chances for a wild-card spot (and could clinch a berth this weekend) and would take the lead in the division if the Ravens get upset by the winless Colts on Sunday. The Browns (4-9) clinched last place in the AFC North as well as their 10th losing season in 12 years since rejoining the NFL.

Roethlisberger plays in pain ... again: In a season in which he has endured a foot injury and broken thumb, Roethlisberger pushed through an ankle injury to complete 17 of 22 passes for 280 yards and two touchdowns. He hobbled off the field in the second quarter after getting sacked but returned for the start of the second half following X-rays that were negative. After the injury, Roethlisberger was 9-of-13 for 178 yards, despite not being able to put pressure on the left leg. He sealed the game with a 79-yard catch-and-run touchdown connection to Antonio Brown in the fourth quarter.

McCoy makes costly mistake: Knocked briefly out of the game five plays earlier, Browns quarterback Colt McCoy threw a critical interception on third-and-goal in the end zone. Steelers cornerback William Gay easily picked off the underthrown pass that was intended for Mohamed Massaquoi.

Browns don't back down: The Cleveland defense kept the game close with an impressive goal-line stand in the fourth quarter. After stopping Rashard Mendenhall on three runs inside the Browns' 3-yard line, Cleveland's D'Qwell Jackson and Mike Adams teamed up to stop Mendenhall on fourth down from the 1-yard line. The Steelers surprisingly went for the touchdown when a field goal would have given them a touchdown cushion.

Brown beats Browns: It seems like every week Antonio Brown makes the play when the Steelers need it the most. With the Steelers clutching a 7-3 lead in the fourth quarter, Brown caught a pass along the sideline against cornerback Joe Haden and then burst toward the end zone for a 79-yard touchdown. It's becoming more apparent that Brown is bypassing Mike Wallace as Roethlisberger's favorite receiver. He finished with five catches for 151 yards.

Harrison's costly hit: Steelers linebacker James Harrison put McCoy on the sideline for a couple of plays with a helmet-to-helmet hit in the fourth quarter. McCoy had pulled up before the original line of scrimmage prior to taking the shot from Harrison, who likely will receive a sizable fine.

What's next: The Steelers have an 11-day break before playing at NFC West champion San Francisco. The Browns head west for their next game, playing at Arizona on Dec. 18.