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Twenty-two years ago, the San Francisco 49ers pulled a rabbit out of their hat at the last minute against the Cincinnati Bengals to win Super Bowl XXIII. On Thursday, the 49ers did a similar feat against Cincinnati with free-agent safety Donte Whitner.

Cincinnati thought it had Whitner, who agreed to terms to a two-year deal with the Bengals Thursday afternoon. It would have been the Bengals' biggest free-agent acquisition to date.

But San Francisco swooped in late with a better contract for three years at $11.5 million, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Whitner accepted the offer, while leaving the Bengals empty-handed.

It's another strange episode for Cincinnati, which continues to have a poor offseason. It began when franchise quarterback Carson Palmer demanded a trade and threatened to retire in January. Since then, an offensive coordinator has been fired, No. 1 receiver Chad Ochocinco was traded, tailback Cedric Benson and cornerback Adam Jones were arrested, and the team lost its top in-house free agent in Johnathan Joseph.

Add the Whitner's last-minute swindle to the list. Credit the Bengals for making a good push to temporarily convince Whitner to join Cincinnati. But it wasn't enough.

Our popular and successful Power Rankings series continues next week with another interesting category that is sure to spark debate. Next week we examine who are the top-10 defensive players in the NFL.

There are a lot of wrinkles to this debate. For example, how do you rank a great linebacker such as Patrick Willis next to a great safety like Troy Polamalu? How would defensive lineman Haloti Ngata, who dominates the line of scrimmage, compare to cornerback Darrelle Revis, who shuts off one half of the field? These are all factors we have to consider when ranking the most dominant defensive players.

But our community doesn't have to wait for next week. Share your thoughts below on how you would rank the top defensive players in the NFL. ESPN.com will have its top-10 list complete on May 24.

Examining the most crucial event in the history of every team in the division.

Fly into the city of Pittsburgh, and there is no doubt what is the most memorable moment in Steelers' history.

Inside Pittsburgh International Airport there is a life-sized statue of Hall of Fame running back Franco Harris' "Immaculate Reception." Harris caught a deflection off teammate Frenchy Fuqua late in a 1972 AFC divisional playoff game to score the winning touchdown in a 13-7 victory over the Oakland Raiders.

One of the most unbelievable plays in NFL history turned out to be the biggest turning point for the Steelers. It was Pittsburgh's first-ever playoff victory and it jump-started the team's run to an NFL-best six Super Bowl titles, including four championships in the 1970s.

Msdmr writes: "[Pittsburgh] had only been to playoffs twice at that point. It got them out of the doormat category, gave them tangible proof that they could win."

Krankor watched the "Immaculate Reception" live on television nearly four decades ago: "I was a kid at the time, about 10 years old. What I remember most clearly was that, after the play, the delay while the officials decided what to call was unprecedented. I'd never seen anything like it, before or since."

Not everyone is impressed by the memorable play, especially those outside of Steeler Nation. Washed_up_ball_player writes: "Funny how the No. 1 selection, the 'Immaculate Reception,' is just a lucky play where the football gods smiled down on the Steelers. That sounds like the definition of the Steelers to me."

The "Immaculate Reception" led the way with 34 percent of the 40,000-plus votes as of 3 p.m. ET Tuesday, edging Pittsburgh's 1974 draft (31 percent) that included four Hall of Famers in linebacker Jack Lambert, center Mike Webster and receivers Lynn Swann and John Stallworth. The Steelers' 1974 draft is often considered the greatest in NFL history. We may never see four Hall of Famers drafted by one team in the same year again.

Former Steelers Hall of Fame coach Chuck Noll also had his share of supporters. Noll's hiring in 1969 received a solid 26 percent of the vote. Noll coached Pittsburgh to four Super Bowl wins in the 1970s before retiring in 1991. He started an impressive run of only three head coaches -- Noll, Bill Cowher and Mike Tomlin -- running the Steelers since 1969.

Jebei_espn also writes: "The Steelers were always bad before they hired Chuck Noll and have been consistently good since then. Noll turned the franchise around and with great support from the Rooney family they started a great tradition that continues to this day."

RAVENS: First draft was huge

Speaking of impressive draft classes, the Baltimore Ravens had one of their own during their inaugural season in 1996.

The Ravens landed two future Hall of Famers in the first round. Baltimore selected left tackle Jonathan Ogden with the No. 4 overall pick and middle linebacker Ray Lewis at No. 26 overall, which received an impressive 54 percent of the vote as of Tuesday afternoon. Both players were longtime stalwarts on offense and defense, and Lewis, 36, still leads the Ravens entering his 16th season.

DaReel2008 summed it up best by writing: "Drafting Lewis and Ogden was our defining moment, and the others mentioned -- even the Super Bowl -- aren't even close. Ray Lewis and Jonathan Ogden are two of the best players to ever play their positions. They not only helped carry the Ravens to a Super Bowl, but made us a perennial contender for most of the last 12 years. Our team prides itself on its character and its toughness, both of which are embodied by these two players, who will be in the HOF upon their first year of eligibility."

The Ravens also got a nice sleeper in the fifth round of the 1996 draft by getting receiver and return specialist Jermaine Lewis. He was the first of many gems Baltimore's front office was able to discover in the middle and late rounds.

Baltimore's Super Bowl XXV victory over the New York Giants following the 2000 season came in second place with 40 percent of the vote. It remains the Ravens' only Super Bowl victory.

Clifford from Baltimore makes a good case for Super Bowl XXV when he writes: "It solidified the identity of the franchise. The Ravens were a good defensive football team for two years or so before their Super Bowl run, but winning a championship with defense effectively defined the entire culture of the team as a whole."

BROWNS: Hard luck adds to Cleveland curse

Now we get to the downtrodden segment of our "Flash Points" series. After more than 50,000 votes -- the highest total in the AFC North -- "The Fumble" and "The Drive" led the way among Browns fans with 37 percent.

Cleveland's championship drought in pro sports is at 47 years and counting. The Browns' teams of the late 1980s were solid and had a chance to break that streak. But Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway and the Denver Broncos broke Cleveland's heart in back-to-back years with a pair of late-minute victories.

First, Elway drove Denver 98 yards for a touchdown with 37 seconds left to force overtime in the AFC Championship Game following the 1986 season. The Broncos got a field goal in overtime to win 23-20 and advance to the Super Bowl.

Denver and Cleveland met in the AFC title game one year later, and Earnest Byner's late fumble on the 3-yard line thwarted a chance for the Browns to tie the score in regulation. Following a late safety, Denver held on to win 38-33.

Daffy87 writes: "I would lean towards 'The Fumble' and 'The Drive' since that's the first thing that comes to people's minds when they bring up the Browns. Anytime anything bad or strange happens in a game, announcers roll the film."

I interviewed Byner a few years ago to discuss his fumble. The play serves as a cruel reality, because Byner had a solid career, rushing for 8,261 yards, but he will be most remembered for one bad play.

"To be honest, it helped me be a better man and a better person," said Byner, who now is an assistant coach with the Jacksonville Jaguars. "Going through something like that really gives you perspective that life is not over when you have something tragic happen or something that definitely challenges you."

Both Denver teams lost in the Super Bowl. Cleveland fans can always wonder if those Browns teams would have been a better representative for the AFC and perhaps won at least one championship following the 1986 or 1987 season.

BENGALS: Downhill since Montana

The Cincinnati Bengals have had some highs and lows in their history. But an overwhelming 49 percent of Bengals fans chose Joe Montana's late, game-winning drive to lead the San Francisco 49ers over the Bengals in Super Bowl XXIII as Cincinnati's biggest turning point.

GreatestBengalsFanOfAllTime writes: "The last-minute loss to the 49ers defines the Bengals, forever and always. Many fans like to say it was the Mike Brown era, but the truth is, the Bengals weren't exactly legends under Paul Brown, either. The last-minute loss to the 49ers accurately sums up the entire history of Bengaldom in one simple phrase: 'So close, yet so far.'"

Trailing 16-13, the 49ers needed to drive 92 yards in the final three minutes to win the Super Bowl. Montana got in rhythm and connected with receiver John Taylor with 34 seconds left to win the game, 20-16. It was the last Super Bowl appearance for the Bengals, who in turn have struggled mightily for the past two decades.

Bengals owner Mike Brown taking over the franchise was a distant second with 27 percent. Brown's father, Hall of Famer Paul Brown, starting the franchise in 1968 was third with 13 percent, and drafting left tackle Anthony Munoz in 1980 was fourth with eight percent.

What key event significantly changed the fortunes of the Bengals -- for better or worse? Give us your take and we’ll give you our definitive moment May 18.

Despite their struggles the past two decades, the Cincinnati Bengals also have a collection of good moments in their history. Using our SportsNation poll, we ask Bengals fans to sift through the good and bad to select the most defining moment in franchise history.

Was it in 1968, when Hall of Fame coach Paul Brown started the franchise? Brown was a great football mind who brought his knowledge and successful track record to Cincinnati.

Twelve years later, the Bengals made their best draft pick by selecting left tackle Anthony Munoz, another Hall of Famer. Munoz protected quarterbacks Ken Anderson and Boomer Esiason and helped lead Cincinnati to two Super Bowl appearances.

Speaking of Super Bowls, was the last-minute loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XXIII Cincinnati's defining moment? The Bengals nearly won it all for the first time before 49ers quarterback Joe Montana worked his magic. Cincinnati hasn't come close to winning a Super Bowl since.

Or was Mike Brown taking over as owner the team's biggest defining moment? Brown has been criticized heavily in Cincinnati, which hasn't won a playoff game in 20 years under his leadership.

Let us know the Bengals' most defining moment. If you vote Other, give us your suggestion in the comments area below.

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

• It will be Harbaugh vs. Harbaugh when coach John Harbaugh's Baltimore Ravens host Jim Harbaugh's San Francisco 49ers on Thanksgiving night.

Morning take: This is cunning for the NFL to promote a sibling rivalry on Thanksgiving. Both brothers are fiery and competitive. So don't expect either to hold back in this one.

• Continuing the brother angle, Cincinnati Bengals backup quarterback Jordan Palmer, not Carson Palmer, is rallying the team to workout together in the offseason.

Morning take: Credit Jordan Palmer for taking a leadership role, but he likely won't be the Week 1 starter in Cincinnati. The Bengals are looking for Carson Palmer's replacement in the draft or free agency.

• Former NFL coach and ESPN analyst Jon Gruden talks up Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy.

Morning take: Browns president Mike Holmgren and Gruden, two West Coast proponents, both like McCoy's potential in the offense. This will be a big second season for McCoy to show what he can do.

• Will the Pittsburgh Steelers be more interested in Miami corner Brandon Harris and Colorado corner Jimmy Smith?

Morning take: Smith is the good prospect. But he comes with character concerns, which likely could scare off the Steelers for a safer draft pick.

In the "Madden NFL 12" cover tournament, Cleveland Browns tailback Peyton Hillis is trying to put together a run similar to Virginia Commonwealth's basketball team.

Hillis, a No. 10 seed coming off a breakout season, is close to pulling off a huge upset against popular Atlanta Falcons quarterback and No. 2 seed Matt Ryan. As of Thursday, Hillis led Ryan by fewer than 1,000 votes. You can cast your votes here before the second-round ballots close this week.

Pittsburgh Steelers receiver and No. 2 seed Hines Ward also is facing No. 7 seed Patrick Willis of the San Francisco 49ers. The winners will advance to the Elite Eight and will be announced next week.

Thanks to Carson Palmer, there is a dark cloud of uncertainty hanging over the Cincinnati Bengals. Cincinnati's $100 million quarterback wants out in the worst way and has threatened to retire if he doesn't get his wish.

Palmer's stern demands have put the Bengals in a huge bind this offseason, as the franchise now scrambles to find contingency plans in the event Palmer stays true to his word. Not only that, Cincinnati is coming off a disappointing 4-12 season and has plenty of needs throughout its roster.

Bengals ownership has held firm in saying it will not trade Palmer, leaving both parties at a stalemate. But there are many wrinkles to this saga that have yet to unfold.

With that in mind, here are five questions and answers on Cincinnati's quarterback issue:

Question No. 1: Who is currently on the roster?

Answer: For years, the Bengals have put off drafting an eventual successor at quarterback, and the team is now paying for it with Palmer's surprising threat to retire. Cincinnati's in-house options aren't very good. Carson Palmer's younger brother, Jordan Palmer, is the No. 2 quarterback on the roster. The four-year veteran has seen limited action in four career games and has a 34.4 passer rating. Jordan Palmer is trying to take a leadership role in Cincinnati and rally the receivers to work out together in the offseason. Second-year quarterback Dan LeFevour, No. 3 on the depth chart, is unproven. The Bengals picked up LeFevour off waivers from the Chicago Bears as a rookie last September. Neither quarterback is starting material and it would be surprising if Cincinnati starts next season with either player under center.

Question No. 2: What is available via trade or through free agency?

Answer: Although the Bengals traditionally aren't major players in free agency or the trade market, Cincinnati must an exception if the team wants an experienced quarterback to replace Palmer. As far as trades, Kevin Kolb of the Philadelphia Eagles would be a solid fit for the Bengals. He's young, has some starting experience and is well-versed in the West Coast offense, which Cincinnati is implementing under new offensive coordinator Jay Gruden. Kolb is a backup in Philadelphia to Michael Vick, who was an MVP candidate last season. So for the right price, the Eagles could listen. Other options include Vince Young of the Tennessee Titans and Washington Redskins quarterback Donovan McNabb, who are both on the outs with their teams. The Titans, in fact, could be a good landing spot for Palmer if the Bengals are willing to move him. (We will get to that later.) The free-agent market is thinner. But an interesting option, at least in the short term, could be Ryan Fitzpatrick of the Buffalo Bills. Buffalo has expressed interest in re-signing Fitzpatrick (3,000 yards, 23 touchdowns) after a career year. But the Bills are also could draft their long-term solution at quarterback with the No. 3 overall pick. Fitzpatrick was Palmer's backup in Cincinnati in 2008.

Question No. 3: Who is available in the draft?

Answer: This is the safest route for the Bengals to grab "Palmer insurance." With labor uncertainty, there will no be trades or player movement until a new collective bargaining agreement is reached. But there is guaranteed to be an NFL draft at the end of April. Cincinnati would be wise to grab one of the top quarterbacks in the draft. The Bengals have the No. 4 overall pick and could have a shot at top quarterback prospects Cam Newton of Auburn and Missouri's Blaine Gabbert. But investing such a high pick at quarterback when the team is still unsure about Palmer's future may not be the best route. A quality prospect at the position likely would be available at the top of the second round. Quarterbacks such as Ryan Mallett of Arkansas, Christian Ponder of Florida State and Andy Dalton of TCU could be possibilities there. Mallett showed great throwing ability at the combine but has some off-the-field concerns. But the Bengals have typically gone after those types of players in the past.

Question No. 4: What is Palmer's trade value?

Answer: Palmer is a 31-year-old quarterback whose best years are behind him, but he still has value. He put up a lot of yards (3,970) but not a lot of wins (four) last season. He also tied a career high with 20 interceptions, although some were the result of receivers freelancing and running their own routes. When looking at trade value, you have to examine recent examples. Last year the Eagles traded McNabb to Washington for a second-round pick and a future third- or fourth-round pick, which was conditional. This type of deal seems on par with what the Bengals could receive. Teams just don't give up first-round picks anymore because they're too valuable. So for a veteran such as Palmer, the Bengals could probably land a second-rounder and another pick or two in the middle rounds. Cincinnati also wouldn't have to worry about the $50 million owed to Palmer over the next years. If the Bengals try to call Palmer's bluff and he retires, they get nothing.

Question No. 5: Which teams are potential trade partners?

Answer: Palmer still has a few good years left and could be a solid quarterback in a winning situation. About a third of the league has questions at quarterback. But that doesn't mean every team is a good fit for Palmer. He doesn't want to be part of another long rebuilding process, which is what's going on in Cincinnati. So the Minnesota Vikings, San Francisco 49ers, Tennessee, Miami Dolphins and Oakland Raiders would be ideal landing spots for Palmer, who could be the missing piece to turning these teams into playoff contenders. Other teams with quarterback needs, such as Buffalo and the Arizona Cardinals, have a lot more work to do and are in the same spot as Cincinnati. So Palmer probably would be less interested. All of this is contingent, of course, on the Bengals' willingness to trade Palmer.

Considering all of these factors, Palmer vs. the Bengals is undoubtedly a must-watch situation this offseason.

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

• No matter how you cut it, this offseason will present a steep price tag for the Baltimore Ravens to keep Pro Bowl defensive lineman Haloti Ngata.

Morning take: Ngata is looking to become one of the NFL's highest-paid defensive linemen, and he's earned it. For Ravens fans thinking they can sign Ngata and cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha in the same offseason, forget about it.

• Could Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer land with the San Francisco 49ers?

Morning take: Palmer is from California and San Francisco needs a quarterback. It makes sense. But it remains to be seen if the Bengals will entertain trade possibilities.

• Former Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Deshea Townsend will join new Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator Ray Horton.

Morning take: Townsend and Horton spent plenty of time together in Pittsburgh and will bring some of that flavor to Arizona.

• Cleveland Browns head coach Pat Shurmur confirmed he will serve dual role as offensive coordinator next season.

Morning take: It can be done, but this is a lot of responsibility for a first-year coach. This will be something to monitor closely next season.

FORT WORTH, Texas -- In his 50 years of experience with scouting, personnel and eventually media, Gil Brandt has seen all the football dynasties come and go in the NFL.

In Brandt's eyes, this current group of Pittsburgh Steelers can put its name into that elite category with a third championship in six seasons.

"You have to, yes," the former Dallas Cowboys player personnel executive said of considering Pittsburgh a dynasty. "We have some teams that have been in the NFL 45 years and haven't won a Super Bowl."

The Steelers have a lot on the line Sunday in Super Bowl XLV against the Green Bay Packers. Not only is Pittsburgh playing for another Lombardi Trophy, but the franchise can make a strong case to be the NFL's latest dynasty -- a term that applies only to teams winning multiple titles in a concentrated period of time.

Pittsburgh has all the ingredients for sustained success: good coaching, stellar defense, a franchise quarterback and future Hall of Famers. These are many of the same attributes of past dynasties, such as the old Steelers of the 1970s, the San Francisco 49ers of the 1980s, the Cowboys of the 1990s and, most recently, the New England Patriots of the past decade.

So where would Pittsburgh potentially fit?

"I think if we win this [Super Bowl], you have to put this organization down as being one of the dynasties of the 2000s,” said Steelers 13-year receiver Hines Ward. "We know what's at stake. For us, it's another opportunity to win another Super Bowl. We're 2-0 in Super Bowls and we don't want to experience the other side."

What exactly counts as a dynasty in today's NFL, and how much has the definition changed?

Here is some food for thought: Since free agency began in the spring of 1993, only two teams (the Denver Broncos and Patriots) have won back-to-back Super Bowls. The Cowboys' Super Bowl titles bridged the start of modern free agency. They won Super Bowl XXVII to mark the end of the 1992 season. After the era began with Reggie White's departure from the Philadelphia Eagles to join the Packers in April 1993, the Cowboys still managed to win the Lombardi Trophy that season. Although the 49ers claimed the 1994 season's title, Dallas would later cement its dynasty status by winning a third championship in the modern free-agency era during the 1995 season.

The NFL landscape has changed dramatically in the past 15 or so years where players rarely play for one team. That makes it much harder to consistently stay on top.

"I think if you can get three in a decade, those teams are up for dynasties," Steelers safety Ryan Clark said. "So I think if you get three titles in six years, you have to be considered."

Even if Pittsburgh wins Sunday, the biggest knock on the Steelers would be this current group has never won back-to-back Super Bowls. But this is a league where parity rules. Eight different teams have represented the NFC in the Super Bowl in the past eight seasons.

"Back-to-back titles is obviously huge, because that to me is the hardest thing to do," said former tailback and Super Bowl champion Ricky Watters with the Niners. "But to stay up there is hard, too. We see teams that get there and then they’re gone. Then they may get back up there, and they’re gone again. So I think the staying power is important."

The Steelers have never won back-to-back titles the past six seasons, but they also never had a losing season. Including playoffs, Pittsburgh holds a 71-35 record over that span.

"Well, I don’t know if it's necessary because it's really hard to win back-to-back," Brandt explained. "The reason it's hard to win is because the competitive balance in this league is so good."

Now more than ever, the NFL has become a coaching and quarterback league. This is a major reason Pittsburgh has been able to sustain its success.

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger doesn't put up gaudy numbers but is arguably the most clutch quarterback in the NFL. He is 10-2 in the playoffs and has a chance to improve to 3-0 in Super Bowls this Sunday. Earlier this week, the AFC North blog examined whether a third championship cements his status as a future Hall of Famer.

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has a chance to win his second Super Bowl in just his fourth season. Tomlin could surpass his predecessor, Bill Cowher, who won one championship in Pittsburgh in 15 seasons.

Both are young for their respective positions. Roethlisberger, 28, and Tomlin, 38, will be stalwarts in Pittsburgh for a long time with a chance to win multiple championships together.

"We have a great relationship. He's a player's coach and I like playing for him," Roethlisberger said this week of Tomlin. "He's one of the reasons we want to win football games. We are blessed to have him as our coach."

The Steelers don't have to look far for motivation. Perhaps the greatest dynasty of all time was the dominant 1970s Pittsburgh teams that won four Super Bowls in a six-season span. That Steeler dynasty also had two back-to-back title runs.

This week several Pittsburgh veterans say they’re trying to live up to that standard. On their way to meetings at Pittsburgh's complex, Steelers players and coaches must walk by their NFL-high six Lombardi Trophies, including those four won by Terry Bradshaw, Jack Lambert, Lynn Swann and Co.

"We have what you can't buy, which is legacy," Tomlin said. "[It's] an unbelievable standard and expectation and all those great things."

No dynasty lasts forever. That is why it's important for this proud, veteran group of Steelers to seize this moment.

There are aging veterans older than 30 such as Ward, James Farrior, Casey Hampton and Brett Keisel going for their third ring, and there are no guarantees any of these Steelers will get another chance to win another Super Bowl.

"We're not worrying about what happens afterwards. It's a whole bigger issue than us after this game,” Ward said of potentially making history. "So is this the last run? Why would it be the last run? We have a huge opportunity to win our third Super Bowl, and we're trying to come down here and make the most of it and see if we can bring our seventh Super Bowl back to Pittsburgh."

When it comes to attaining dynasty status, consider Super Bowl XLV a "swing game" for the Steelers.

Beat the favored Packers at Cowboys Stadium and this Steelers group will forever be in the dynasty discussion. But lose to Green Bay, and that conversation abruptly ends.

The Pittsburgh Steelers (six) already have one more Super Bowl title than the Dallas Cowboys (five). But this week the Steelers surpassed the Cowboys in another important playoff category.

Pittsburgh's 31-24 divisional-round victory over the Baltimore Ravens placed the Steelers in the conference title game for an NFL-best 15th time since the 1970 merger. Pittsburgh broke the tie with the Cowboys (14) this season and continues to pull away from the San Francisco 49ers (12).

Sunday's home game against the New York Jets will mark the fourth time in the past seven years the Steelers will play in the AFC title game. Pittsburgh is 2-1 in the previous three games, with the only loss coming to the New England Patriots after the 2004 season.

The winner of the Steelers-Jets game will represent the AFC in Super Bowl XLV, which, ironically, will be held this year in Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said he's excited that his younger brother, Jim Harbaugh, has joined the NFL head- coaching fraternity. The San Francisco 49ers signed Jim Harbaugh to a five-year contract Friday.

Both brothers are extremely competitive. John Harbaugh said he shared the same bedroom with his brother when they were kids, so they have been "wrestling around for quite some time." Now their sibling rivalry will be revisited in the NFL as opposing head coaches.

The Ravens are scheduled to play the 49ers in Baltimore next season in a game with plenty of interesting storylines.

"I am very happy that he's not in the AFC," John Harbaugh said on a conference call Friday evening. "We will see him once every four [years], plus Super Bowls, right, if we find a way to get a couple of those. But my mom is very relieved that's the case. They're going to have a really tough time next year when they schedule that game. ... My dad said he's just going to go take a walk during the game and not watch any of it."

The Harbaughs have had great success the past few seasons. John Harbaugh has led Baltimore to three playoff appearances in three seasons with the Ravens (12-4), who will play the Kansas City Chiefs (10-6) Sunday in the wild-card round. Jim Harbaugh turned the Stanford program around and just completed a BCS victory in the Orange Bowl.

Perhaps partly due to John Harbaugh's success, Jim Harbaugh was the hottest coaching commodity at the college level. Recent history has shown collegiate coaches struggle making the jump to the NFL.

In the past week, Jim Harbaugh was heavily pursued by the 49ers, Miami Dolphins and Denver Broncos.

"I know some guys haven't made the transition from college, but I know Jim," John Harbaugh said. "I know that he's got a wide spectrum of talent and ability, especially relationship ability. I have no doubt in my mind that he will be successful."

Here are seven notes and observations from Week 16 in the AFC North:

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AP Photo/Mark DuncanRavens cornerback Ed Reed intercepts a pass intended for Cleveland receiver Mohamed Massaquoi in the second quarter Sunday.
• Both literally and figuratively, Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed was on fire in their 20-10 victory against the Cleveland Browns. On the sidelines, Reed's jacket caught fire, which you can see here. But on the field, the future Hall of Famer took advantage of Cleveland rookie quarterback Colt McCoy's inexperience. Reed recorded two interceptions against McCoy, who threw three picks total. McCoy said Reed was reading his eyes the entire game to stay one step ahead. "Ed Reed is one of the greatest football players, and he has been over the last 10 years, and we knew that going in," McCoy said. "I told you guys I have to be aware of him. I have to know where he is at all times."
• When Reed gets hot, his interceptions can come in bunches. According to ESPN's Stats and Information, Sunday marked Reed's 10th career multi-interception game. Reed is the NFL's active leader in that category, two games ahead of Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Asante Samuel.
• Although the Browns played sloppily and committed four turnovers, there was nothing wrong with their effort this week. The Browns continued their season-long trend of getting up for good teams and admitted they were inspired by the trash-talking during the week by Baltimore's Ray Lewis. The Ravens' linebacker said Cleveland tailback Peyton Hillis' 144-yard performance in the first game wouldn't happen again. That prompted Cleveland fullback Lawrence Vickers to get into a pregame shouting match with Lewis, and Browns guard Eric Steinbach to mimic Lewis' dance during introductions. "I think everybody who reads [the comments] realizes that it was disrespectful," Browns left tackle Joe Thomas said after the game. "You don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure out if it was a lack of respect." In the end, Lewis got the last laugh. Hillis rushed for just 35 yards and was banged up after suffering a rib injury.
• Browns president Mike Holmgren's name is starting to come up as more coaching jobs are vacated around the NFL. But in our opinion, the only opening that could possibly test his commitment to Cleveland would be the San Francisco 49ers. As ESPN.com's NFC West blogger Mike Sando wisely pointed out, Holmgren has very strong ties to the Bay Area and learned his craft under Bill Walsh in San Francisco. That might make Holmgren at least give it a thought. But Holmgren's absolute control in Cleveland will be hard to match, and there is no guarantee he could get that in San Francisco or any other job opening. Plus, Holmgren seems genuinely dedicated to turning the Browns around. And if he wants to return to the sidelines in 2011 -- which is certainly a possibility -- Holmgren can do it in Cleveland with a roster he's helped build for the past year.
• Pittsburgh Steelers rookie receivers Emmanuel Sanders and Antonio Brown are proving to be good finds. Both are playing well late in the season. Sanders, a third-round pick, has taken over as Pittsburgh's third receiver and has 11 receptions for 132 yards in his past two games. Brown, a sixth-round pick, also has four catches the past two weeks and is making plays on special teams. In addition to receiver Mike Wallace, who was a third-round pick in 2009, Pittsburgh is having tremendous success finding wide receivers in the middle rounds.
• Speaking of receivers, could Jerome Simpson's sudden development signal the end for Chad Ochocinco with the Cincinnati Bengals? Simpson exploded in Sunday's win against the San Diego Chargers with six receptions for 124 yards and two touchdowns. Considering it will cost $6 million to keep Ochocinco in 2011, don't dismiss the possibility of the Bengals taking a $3.5 million buyout. Cincinnati is expected to rebuild and go with younger players next season. The team reportedly has no plans to bring back veteran Terrell Owens, and Ochocinco will turn 33 in a couple weeks and is coming off his second bad season in three years. The Bengals went through a 10-game losing streak with Owens and Ochocinco as starters, yet are winning down the stretch with Simpson, Andre Caldwell and Jordan Shipley. That could be a sign the Bengals' offense can move on without the six-time Pro Bowler.
• Finally, we want to give a special "Seven-step drop" birthday shout-out to Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer, who turns 31 today, and Ravens fullback Le'Ron McClain, who is 26. Both players should be happy on their birthdays after picking up victories Sunday. Palmer played one of his best games of the season (269 yards and four touchdowns) against the Chargers. McClain rushed for 19 yards and caught one pass in the win against Cleveland.

Here are seven notes and observations from Week 15 in the AFC North:

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Mitch Stringer/US PresswireRay Rice rushed for 153 yards in Sunday's win over the Saints.
• Baltimore Ravens tailback Ray Rice entered Week 15 with fewer than 20 carries in each of his previous five games. But it appears that helped Rice, as he showed he had fresh legs in late December. Rice looked energized and was ready for the heavy workload in a 30-24 win over the New Orleans Saints. He rushed for a season-high 153 yards and a touchdown on 31 carries. He also led the team in receiving with five catches for 80 yards. It was a throwback performance for Rice, who put up these kind of numbers more often last season when the Ravens didn't have as many weapons. But getting the ball back in Rice's hands should continue to be a focal point for Baltimore's offensive coordinator Cam Cameron.
• If the season ended today, the Ravens (10-4) would travel to face the Indianapolis Colts (8-6) in the playoffs at Lucas Oil Stadium. Despite Indianapolis' record, we like Baltimore's chances better against any other playoff contender. The Colts have been an awful matchup for the Ravens. Quarterback Peyton Manning is 8-2 in his career against Baltimore, including Indianapolis' playoff win last season. The Kansas City Chiefs or Jacksonville Jaguars would be easier playoff opponents.
• We received a lot of emails regarding Carson Palmer's future since the AFC North blog reported the quarterback would not accept a pay cut to stay with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2011. Although there are no guarantees, it does increase the possibility that Palmer will wear another uniform next season. We came up with several logical destinations for Palmer. The Oakland Raiders, where former Bengals assistant Hue Jackson is the offensive coordinator, could be one option. The San Francisco 49ers, Minnesota Vikings and Arizona Cardinals are teams that could be searching for quarterback help. It's very early, however. The Bengals may choose to pay Palmer $11.5 million and make him one of the NFL's highest-paid players next season. But investing that much in a struggling quarterback is very risky.
• The Bengals did a smart thing by giving young, unproven players meaningful reps in their 19-17 victory over the Cleveland Browns. Tailback Bernard Scott (eight carries, 40 yards) and receivers Andre Caldwell (four catches, 89 yards) and Jerome Simpson (two catches, 30 yards) contributed, as Cincinnati tries to figure out who stays and who goes this offseason. Caldwell was particularly impressive. After Terrell Owens (knee) went down, Caldwell led Cincinnati in receiving and made big receptions, including a well-designed 53-yard screen pass.
• Browns rookie quarterback Colt McCoy reached a contract escalator Sunday. McCoy needed to play 35 percent of Cleveland's offensive snaps this year -- which is the equivalent of 5.6 games -- for his fourth-year salary to increase from approximately $500,000 to $1.15 million. That's a $650,000 raise. McCoy made his sixth start against the Bengals and will remain Cleveland's starter the rest of the season. Considering McCoy was not expected to play this season, it's an unexpected accomplishment for the third-round pick.
• Here are several additional things I learned about the Browns: McCoy has nice touch and a good play-action fake, Pro Bowl kick returner Josh Cribbs is more hurt than he's letting on, and John St. Clair is not the answer at right tackle.
• The Pittsburgh Steelers' loss to the New York Jets likely ensures Pittsburgh won't have the option to rest starters in Week 17. Baltimore and Pittsburgh (10-4) share the same record, but the Steelers own the tiebreaker. The Steelers host the Carolina Panthers (2-12) and the Ravens travel to face the Browns (5-9) in Week 16. Both 10-win teams are favored, which would set up a division race down to the final weekend.

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

• Baltimore Ravens defensive end/linebacker Terrell Suggs is ready for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Morning take: Suggs is playing well and Pittsburgh's offensive line is banged up. Suggs could have another good showing against his biggest rival.

• Former Steelers kicker Jeff Reed signed with the San Francisco 49ers.

Morning take: Pittsburgh has moved on with Shaun Suisham, who is kicking well. But I still will keep an eye on how Reed does in San Francisco.

• Cleveland Browns linebacker Matt Roth gets a chance to play his former team: The Miami Dolphins.

Morning take: Roth was cut by Miami last year and claimed off waivers but says he's not thinking about revenge. We're not sure we believe him.

• Cincinnati Bengals rookie defensive end Carlos Dunlap is adapting to the NFL.

Morning take: Dunlap has been one of the few bright spots in Cincinnati the last few weeks. The second-round pick has ability, but he needs to learn how to bring it every week.

Here are the latest happenings Thursday in the AFC North:

• Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco has a new cereal coming out called "Ochocincos."
• ESPN's fantasy football experts debate whether Ochocinco or Michael Crabtree is more valuable.
• After missing training camp with a knee injury, Cleveland Browns rookie running back Montario Hardesty returned to practice Thursday.
  
• Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is fine with former coach Bill Cowher's recent comments about maturity.
  
• Baltimore Ravens linebacker Jameel McClain (knee) intends to play Saturday against the New York Giants.