ESPN NFL

There's something twisted in the fact that the Baltimore Ravens are trying to end their bad run with No. 3 wide receivers with a player who became available, for the most part, because he couldn't hold onto the ball.

Jacoby Jones, who signed a two-year, $7 million contract with Baltimore on Tuesday night, becomes the latest veteran trying to add depth to the Ravens' wide receiver group.

In 2010, T.J. Houshmandzadeh caught 30 passes for the Ravens as the third receiver, which was his lowest catch total since his 2001 rookie year. He ended his disappointing season by dropping a fourth-down pass that sealed Baltimore's 31-24 playoff loss at Pittsburgh.

In 2011, Lee Evans had a career-low four catches as the No. 3 wide receiver in an injury-filled year and finished his painful season by having the winning touchdown pass stripped out of his hands with 22 seconds remaining in the AFC championship game.

Now, the Ravens turn to Jones, whose fumbled punt led to a Baltimore touchdown and caused the Texans to lose in the playoffs. Baltimore can only hope he has better hands in the postseason to avoid its bizarre trend of dropped passes.

Since Joe Flacco entered the NFL in 2008, the Ravens have tried four different receivers for that No. 3 spot (Evans, Houshmandzadeh, Kelley Washington and Demetrius Williams) and none has ever caught more than 34 passes in a season.

Sunday marks the 25th game between the Ravens and Browns. Here's a look at the series history:

Site: Cleveland Browns Stadium

Overall: Ravens lead, 17-7

Streak: Ravens have won last six

Coaches vs. opponent: Ravens' John Harbaugh (6-0), Browns' Pat Shurmur (0-0)

Last meeting at site (Dec. 26, 2010): Ravens 20, Browns 10. Joe Flacco only throws for 102 yards but he connects with T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Derrick Mason for touchdowns. Cleveland's only touchdown came on a 29-yard pass from wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi to Brian Robiskie.

TV broadcast: Bill Macatee, Steve Tasker.

Quote to note: “I’m aware of the history. It’s interesting, some of the young players don’t know the history of our game, it’s just because they’re young. I think the history of what’s going on here is important to know and at some point I’ll talk about that with them. But, professional football players, they find a way to play well regardless of whom the opponent is and the history of the organizations and I think that’s the focus. Watch who these guys are on tape, understand who their matchups are, understand what the plan is and go play. I think that’s the focus.” -- Browns coach Pat Shurmur on the Ravens

BALTIMORE -- The Ravens find themselves leading the AFC North race because of the speed of Torrey Smith.

The second-round pick is the wide receiver Baltimore has been desperately searching for over the past decade. Smith is fast. He's a playmaker.

Smith was the difference in the Ravens winning and losing at Pittsburgh. He was the difference between the Ravens losing to the Bengals last season and beating them 31-24 on Sunday.

"In past years, they've been able to put some pressure on us with their coverage, lock us up pretty tightly, and get some pressure with their front four," Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco said. "But with Torrey out there, he definitely has the speed and can hurt them in man-to-man coverage. That helped us out today."

With the game tied at 7-7 in the second quarter, Smith burst past Cincinnati cornerback Nate Clements down the right sideline for a 49-yard over-the-shoulder catch, which set up the go-ahead touchdown. His 38-yard touchdown grab early in the fourth quarter-- which came with him beating a cornerback and splitting two safeties -- put Baltimore up 31-14.

Smith is fast learning how to handle the ups and downs of a first season in the NFL. He's made some big drops, but he's always responded with bigger catches.

The dangerous part of Smith's game is that his confidence is at an all-time high. It was apparent in the huddle right before his fourth-quarter touchdown.

"We all knew it was time for us to get seven," Smith said. "We knew what type of play it was."

Thanks to Smith's six catches for 165 yards, the Ravens (7-3) are in first place and control their playoff fate. They have the same record as the Steelers but hold the tiebreaker advantage by having swept them.

To elevate themselves past the Steelers, the Ravens made it a priority to find a wide receiver to complement Flacco's big arm, which has been the one blemish on the team's spectacular draft résumé. The Ravens have drafted 16 wide receivers -- from Patrick Johnson to Travis Taylor to Mark Clayton -- and none became consistent downfield threats.

Baltimore had to look to free agency to find wide receivers. Defenses respected the likes of Derrick Mason and T.J. Houshmandzadeh, but they fear Smith.

His 27.5 yards-per-catch Sunday should cause the Bengals defensive backs to pull out their hair -- instead of pulling Smith down by his.

"I think we did envision the type of player he was going to be," coach John Harbaugh said. "That's why we drafted him."

Before the season began, if you saw Smith's statistics for the Bengals-Ravens game, you would have expected A.J. Green or Lee Evans to put up those numbers. But Green was inactive with a knee injury, and Evans has been surpassed by Smith on the depth chart because of an ankle injury.

While Green and Atlanta's Julio Jones have garnered most of the attention when it comes to rookie receivers, Smith is starting to close the gap on them after posting the top two receiving performances by a rookie (as far as receiving yards) this season.

He now has two games of at least 150 yards receiving during his rookie season. According to ESPN Stats & Information, the only other rookies in the past 15 years to accomplish this are Randy Moss with the Vikings in 1998 and Marques Colston with the Saints in 2006.

"He's been a guy that we thought could go get the deep ball," Harbaugh said, "He kind of put it in another gear at the end and go chase down a ball."

Smith's speed is different than what Pittsburgh's Mike Wallace shows on the field, according to former NFL wide receiver Qadry Ismail, who is on the Ravens' radio team. Ismail said Wallace accelerates immediately off the line, whereas Smith has that burst at the end to separate from receivers.

Flacco has gotten a feel for Smith's speed and has now thrown four touchdowns over 20 yards to Smith. He hasn't thrown more than three such touchdowns to any receiver in his previous three seasons, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

"Like I've always said, when the ball is in the air, he can separate," Flacco said.

That separation has led to some desperation for opponents. At one point, the Bengals saved a touchdown late in the second quarter when Adam Jones pulled Smith down by grabbing his hair. It's not a penalty because that's considered part of Smith's uniform.

Smith said it didn't hurt.

"I was surprised by it," Smith said. "It actually felt like I was getting pulled down by my jersey."

Is a new haircut in order?

"I honestly thought about it, but my grandma likes it a little too much," he said. "I'm a mama and grandmama's boy, at least for now."

Smith did provide a new look for the Ravens' passing attack against Cincinnati. Flacco has long struggled against the Bengals and their Cover-2 defense, averaging 178 yards passing in going 3-3 against them. Smith nearly matched that passing average by himself.

Some could argue that Smith's production earlier this season caught defenses by surprise. But defensive backs know about Smith now and they're still having trouble containing him.

His 165 yards receiving is third-highest for a Ravens receiver and is the most allowed by Cincinnati this season.

"Coming into the game, we knew he was a guy who could stretch the field," Clements said. "We just had to take away his strength and make him go elsewhere. We didn't do that today, and he made us pay for that."

Bengals-Ravens notes

Pro Bowl safety Ed Reed made a bizarre shout-out at a postgame session with reporters when asked about Jimmy Smith fumbling after making his first career interception. "It reminds me of my rookie year, they slapped it out of my hands and it wound up going back to him. But I’m glad we got it back," Reed said. "I’m kind of surprised you haven’t asked me about the Presidents Cup, though. Congratulations to those guys, Fred Couples and our team. That was huge." Never knew Reed was such a huge golf fan. ... Former kicker Matt Stover became the sixth member of the Ravens organization to be inducted into the team's Ring of Honor. ... George Clooney was spotted at Sunday's game between the Ravens and Bengals. He's dating Baltimore native Stacy Keibler. Yes, this isn't football-related. But this has to be the first time a movie star ever attended a Ravens-Bengals game, right?

PITTSBURGH -- So, show of hands, how many expected Joe Flacco to do that?

"No one outside this locker room," Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice said. "No one."

Flacco, the Ravens quarterback who takes as many hits on the field as from critics off of it, marched the Ravens 92 yards down the field and delivered the 26-yard winning pass to Torrey Smith with 8 seconds left in the game for a 23-20 win over the AFC North rival Pittsburgh Steelers.

It was equally improbable and incredible. He had to go the length of the field against the NFL's top-ranked pass defense. He had 2 minutes, 24 seconds to reach the end zone against a defense that held Tom Brady to a season-low 198 yards passing a week ago.

What does this say about Flacco? He's still not an elite quarterback. He's not even a consistent one. But the Ravens -- as well as the football world -- now know Flacco can take over that moment of the game when he's needed the most. With the defense that Baltimore has, that might be enough for the Ravens to get past that Pittsburgh roadblock and return to the Super Bowl.

The Ravens (6-2) are now tied with the Bengals (6-2) for the best record in the AFC and first place in the AFC North. They completed their first sweep of the Steelers since 2006. The way Flacco and the Ravens beat the Steelers wasn't just a statement. It was their grand declaration.

"This Steelers-Ravens game is for men, big men," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said defiantly. "You got to shine bright if you want to win this game. Nobody shined brighter than Joe Flacco in this game."

A different story was being written about Flacco before the eighth game-winning drive in the fourth quarter of his career. On his first drive of the fourth quarter, Flacco fumbled after getting hit by James Harrison. Ben Roethlisberger converted that into a 25-yard go-ahead touchdown in his classic style, rolling to his right and firing the ball downfield on the run.

Once again, it was Roethlisberger over Flacco. Well, not exactly.

After a three-and-out (all three incompletions), Flacco got the ball back at his own 8-yard line. Down by four points (20-16), he knew he needed a touchdown to win the game.

During the television timeout, the Heinz Field scoreboard showed Flacco's statistics (208 yards at the time) next to Roethlisberger's stellar numbers (310 yards) while the lyrics of the Lynyrd Skynyrd song "What's your name, little girl" played loudly.

Still, Joe Cool says he didn't feel under fire.

"You don’t have anything to lose," Flacco said. "You either score or you don’t score."

Flacco calmly completed 7 of 13 passes for 92 yards, converting two third downs as well as a fourth-and-one at a time when he didn't receive much help. On that game-winning drive, Smith let a pass go off his fingertips in the end zone and Anquan Boldin dropped a pass at the 10-yard line.

As somebody who knows what it feels like to have people doubt them, Flacco went back to Smith four plays after that drop for the winning score.

The sellout crowd of 64,851 couldn't believe it. In fact, Flacco didn't initially know it happened. As he jogged downfield after the throw, he saw the flag and thought the Ravens had the ball at the 1-yard line because of pass interference.

"I then saw Torrey coming from the back of end zone with the ball in his hands," Flacco recounted. "I was like, wait a second, did he catch that? I saw a couple of people going nuts, celebrating and running on the field. I was like, he must have caught the ball."

That kind of uncertainty is typical with the Ravens quarterback. When it comes to Flacco, it's hard to gauge which quarterback will show up from game to game, from half to half, or even from drive to drive.

Just take a look at the last two times Flacco was on national television. It was a month ago when Flacco failed to compete a pass in two quarters against the New York Jets. It was two weeks ago when Flacco couldn't produce a first down in the first 40 minutes of the game at Jacksonville.

The Ravens, though, have never publicly wavered in their support of the 2008 first-round pick.

"I don’t get all the stuff everybody talks about with Joe," Ravens offensive coordinator Cam Cameron said. "Just turn on the TV and look around this league, these are good defenses in the NFL. Even the great ones have their issues. I’ve been fortunate to be around a lot of really good ones. At Joe’s age, he’s a great one. And he’s going to do nothing but get better and better. But we know expectations are high. As we say around here, Joe’s just the man for the job."

Harbaugh drew upon Theodore Roosevelt in defending Flacco.

"It's not the critic who counts," he said. "It's the man who is in the arena whose face is covered with blood, sweat and dust. he will never be with those poor and timid souls who know no victory or defeat. So that's what I say to all the people. They don't count."

This isn't the first time that Flacco has won in Heinz Field. It's not the first time that he's thrown a game-winning pass in the final minute.

On Oct. 3, 2010, Flacco hit T.J. Houshmandzadeh for an 18-yard winning touchdown with 32 seconds remaining. This inspired Flacco to tell his teammates that they did it before when they reached midfield Sunday night.

But this was different. Flacco only had to drive the Ravens 40 yards last year and Roethlisberger wasn't on the field.

What Flacco did Sunday night was what all quarterbacks dream about, right?

"I don’t know. I think you live for the 50-0 blowouts," Flacco said with a grin. "If you got to make it tough on yourself, this is probably the most exciting, and in the end, the most fun way to do it."

Flacco has thrived when the pressure has been the highest. Last Sunday, he rallied the Ravens from 21 points down to beat Arizona, something his teammates pointed out Sunday night.

"Take the second half of the Arizona game and take this game," Rice said, "and Joe Flacco is playing better than any quarterback in the NFL."

So, everyone on the Ravens' sideline believed Flacco was going to lead a comeback win over the Steelers, right?

"I’m like, either one of two things was going to happen: Either we’re the same team from last year or we’re going to show the world how we’ve grown up in a year -- and he did just that," Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs said. "This is the toughest place in the world to win. It says something about our team. It definitely says something about our quarterback."

Observations from the Ravens' 34-31 preseason win over the Washington Redskins on "Monday Night Football":

Baltimore Ravens fans were treated to a rare sight in the second quarter of Thursday's preseason game.

Ravens fourth-year quarterback Joe Flacco threw a beautiful deep ball that sailed high in M&T Bank and into the hands of speedy receiver Lee Evans. Baltimore's newest receiver blew by Redskins corner DeAngelo Hall for the 35-yard touchdown.

The Ravens hope to see many more big plays from Flacco and their offense in 2011. Baltimore's inability to get deep was a major reason the Ravens were ranked No. 22 in total offense last season.

As a result, Baltimore released receivers Derrick Mason and T.J. Houshmandzadeh and tight end Todd Heap. Evans, rookie Torrey Smith and Ed Dickson are some of the new, more athletic pieces the Ravens are counting on.

Time will tell whether the Ravens are better on offense this season. But they are certainly faster.

Here are some additional observations:

1. Baltimore's receivers look ready. The offense still has work to do in some areas. But starting receivers Evans and Anquan Boldin look ready. Both veterans caught touchdown passes from Flacco on Thursday night. Evans' score was a deep ball, while Boldin beat the zone over the middle for a 12-yard score. Both bring different strengths and are playing well off each other. Boldin and Evans combined for eight receptions and 133 yards in limited playing time.

2. Running back Ray Rice is getting to the next level. Baltimore is making a concerted effort to improve the running game this season. That starts with getting Rice to the second level. Pro Bowl fullback Vonta Leach is blocking well at the line of scrimmage, and Rice is exploding through the holes. He rushed for 72 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries against Washington. Rice averaged 5.5 yards per run.

3. Baltimore needs offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie. Baltimore's offensive line remains in flux, particularly with pass protection. The Ravens hope free-agent signing McKinnie is the answer. Rookie tackle Jah Reid still has a long way to go. He gave up another sack against fellow rookie Ryan Kerrigan of the Redskins. McKinnie didn't play Thursday but likely will play left tackle for Baltimore. That would push Michael Oher to right tackle and give Reid more time to develop.

4. The Ravens' pass defense remains a work in progress. Washington quarterback Rex Grossman had a lot of success against Baltimore's first-team defense. Grossman threw for 112 yards and connected with Redskins receiver Santana Moss for a 24-yard touchdown before halftime. The play featured a blown coverage by Ravens rookie corner Jimmy Smith.

5. Ravens rookie quarterback Tyrod Taylor took another step toward becoming Flacco's backup. The sixth-round pick continues to be a pleasant surprise. He was 11-of-18 for 125 yards and a touchdown. There is a lot of discussion in Baltimore about whether the Ravens can go into the season with a rookie backup. Next week Taylor likely will get a majority of the reps to put his final stamp on a solid preseason.

6. Dickson might have a slight lead at tight end. The Ravens have a young tight end combo in Dickson and Dennis Pitta. They are in a close competition for the starting job. Pitta jumped out of the gate fast this preseason but Dickson is finishing strong. He recorded three catches for 57 yards against Washington.

7. Baltimore rookie defensive end Pernell McPhee continues to impress. The fifth-round pick recorded his first sack of the preseason in the second half. The Ravens were not counting on McPhee to come on this quickly. But he has been very good in training camp and is earning a spot in the rotation at defensive end.

Baltimore Ravens

Ravens wide receiver Donte' Stallworth: "There’s already been irreparable damage for the season. Look at a guy like Cam Newton. How is he supposed to compete with defenses like Baltimore when they haven’t had the opportunity to prepare? He’s going to get a few weeks and be expected to suit up and play like the No. 1 pick. That’s going to be tough."

T.J. Houshmandzadeh is hoping for a fresh start in 2011 after a bitter end to last season.

Cincinnati Bengals

Dhani Jones says "Jordan Palmer's not the answer" in Cincinnati.

Houshmandzadeh also weighed in on a few of his former teammates in an interview with the National Football Post.

Cleveland Browns

The team on Thursday announced plans for a one-hour radio show that will air weekdays from 6-7 p.m. on ESPN 850 WKNR.

Defensive lineman Travis Ivey has resorted to wearing cloth shoes as part of his rehabilitation process.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Willie Colon's agent isn't optimistic about the offensive tackle returning to Pittsburgh. "They haven't called about Willie in three years," said agent Joe Linta. "I'm not expecting them to call because they haven't yet. That's the way they do business, and that's fine. But if they do call we'll pick up the phone."

On Friday we took at look at the most underrated players in the AFC North division. The list included left tackle Andrew Whitworth of the Cincinnati Bengals, linebacker Jarret Johnson of the Baltimore Ravens, tight end Benjamin Watson of the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Brett Keisel.

But those aren't the only players under the radar. Here is a look at several more players in the division to keep an eye on in 2011:

Jordan Shipley, WR, Bengals

Analysis: The Bengals were looking for a slot receiver in last year's draft and found a good one in Shipley. Cincinnati has struggled in that area since the loss of T.J. Houshmandzadeh, but Shipley did well with 52 receptions for 600 yards and three touchdowns in 2010. The rookie quickly became a favorite of quarterback Carson Palmer, who liked Shipley's smarts, good routes and sure hands. The Bengals are switching to a new West Coast offense this season under Jay Gruden, and it will be important to keep Shipley involved.

Isaac Redman, RB, Steelers

Analysis: Redman, who was undrafted in 2009, impressed Pittsburgh's coaching staff in training camp and on the practice squad as a rookie. But he finally received a shot to make the Steelers 53-man roster as a backup last season and made the most of his opportunities. Spelling Rashard Mendenhall, Redman punished defenses to the tune of 4.8 yards per carry in 2010. The Steelers probably will use him more in the offense this season. Redman is strong between the tackles and good at getting tough yards to move the chains.

Scott Fujita, LB, Browns

Analysis: Fujita was an under-the-radar signing by Browns president Mike Holmgren and general manager Tom Heckert, and it worked out in the first year. Fujita brought much-needed toughness and leadership to Cleveland's defense and finished with 51 tackles, 3.5 sacks and an interception in nine games. A knee injury eventually ended his season, and it was no coincidence Cleveland's defense went downhill after losing Fujita in November.

Sam Koch, P, Ravens

Analysis: Baltimore's kicking game was arguably the NFL's best last season, and half of that was due to Koch's punting. Place kicker Billy Cundiff received most of the publicity for his record-tying year with kickoffs and accurate field goals. But Koch was just as good punting the ball with an impressive 39 punts inside the 20. The Ravens showed their appreciation by signing Koch to a five-year extension before the lockout began this offseason.

While one dream was being made last week, another was coming to an end.

Saturday in California, former Stanford fullback Owen Marecic happily took a call from the Cleveland Browns in the fourth round. Marecic was excited to be entering the NFL and knowing his destination in 2011.

Soon after, current Browns fullback and pending free agent Lawrence Vickers' phone began buzzing constantly to let the veteran know Cleveland likely drafted his replacement.

"Honestly, my first reaction was 'Wow,'" Vickers told the AFC North blog this week. "I'm amazed. I was amazed I was still a free agent and wasn't signed [by the Browns] before the deadline. I didn't understand it. But at the same time I do understand, because nothing has ever come easy to me. So I was prepared for it.

"If they want me, they want me. If they don't, they don't. As a man, you have to be prepared for anything. But in the back of my mind I thought I would be in Cleveland."

Welcome to the harsh world of the NFL.

As teams were making draft picks last week, each move to replace players and plug holes could impact what AFC North teams do in free agency. Let's take a look at where each division team stands.

Cleveland Browns

Top draft picks: DT Phil Taylor, DE Jabaal Sheard, WR Greg Little, FB Owen Marecic

Potential impact: The Browns were in need of talented players and could have as many as four Week 1 starters in this year's draft class. Health permitting, Taylor and Sheard are heavy, heavy favorites to start at defensive tackle and defensive end, respectively. Cleveland doesn't have many bodies at those positions. Little will be thrown into a receiving corps that includes Brian Robiskie and Mohamed Massaquoi. Both have struggled and Little, who missed last season at North Carolina because of a suspension, will have every chance to compete for a starting role. But Marecic was the pick that turned some heads. The Browns were eerily quiet about Vickers' pending free agency this offseason, and speculation began to grow that the new coaching staff didn't feel he was a good fit for the West Coast offense. Those thoughts were confirmed Saturday, when Cleveland made a surprise pick for a fullback in the fourth round. Vickers, one of the top blocking fullbacks in the NFL, is expected to test the market, where he will surely get interest. The Browns did a good job of filling holes but still need to address certain areas. Safety and the right side of the offensive line remain glaring needs.

Cincinnati Bengals

Top draft picks: WR A.J. Green, QB Andy Dalton, OLB Dontay Moch, G Clint Boling

Potential impact: Cincinnati's first two picks were not a surprise, but both were telling. It likely signaled the end of the Chad Ochocinco-Carson Palmer era with the Bengals. Both veterans, who have been the faces of the franchise for years, are under contract. But Ochocinco is in the final year of his deal and is expected to be traded or released following the acquisition of Green. Palmer wants to be traded or he plans to retire, which is why the Bengals drafted Dalton. Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis is already projecting Dalton to be the Week 1 starter. Cincinnati should get all the value it can for Ochocinco and Palmer. It's questionable whether any team is willing to trade and pay the approximate $6 million for one year with Ochocinco. But it takes only one team. With Palmer, there will be several teams lined up and ready to pounce if the Bengals put him on the market. Cincinnati's coaching staff appears ready to move on without Palmer, so it will come down to ownership. Bengals owner Mike Brown said recently that the team has no intention of trading Palmer. The Bengals did not draft a cornerback until the seventh round (Korey Lindsey), but that probably has no bearing on pending free agent Johnathan Joseph. Cincinnati isn't expected to retain Joseph, who will be one of the league's top free agents. But the team has Adam Jones for insurance to pair with starter Leon Hall. The Bengals also want starting tailback and pending free agent Cedric Benson back, as evidenced by the team not drafting a replacement.

Baltimore Ravens

Top draft picks: CB Jimmy Smith, WR Torrey Smith, OT Jah Reid, WR Tandon Doss

Potential impact: The Ravens took one of the biggest risks in the draft by selecting Smith of Colorado. He has a long list of off-the-field issues at Colorado, but the Ravens feel confident Smith will stay out of trouble. In terms of talent, Baltimore landed a player with the potential to be the team's first shutdown corner since Chris McAlister. Smith is expected to start right away, and this impacts two pending free agents in Josh Wilson and Chris Carr. Wilson played well for Baltimore once he earned the starting job in the second half of the 2010 season. With the pickup of Smith, Wilson and Carr are no longer huge priorities in free agency. The Ravens are getting Domonique Foxworth back from a knee injury and Lardarius Webb is still on the roster. The pick of Torrey Smith in the second round fills a need for a speedy receiver to pair with Derrick Mason and Anquan Boldin. He is expected to fill the No. 3 receiver role T.J. Houshmandzadeh will leave behind. Ravens coach John Harbaugh also spoke highly of Reid, the team's third-rounder. Former starting offensive tackle Jared Gaither was injured last season and has been in the doghouse for quite some time and isn't expected to return. In terms of holes, the Ravens still need an impact pass-rushing threat to pair with Pro Bowl defensive end/linebacker Terrell Suggs.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Top draft picks: DE Cameron Heyward, OT Marcus Gilbert, CB Curtis Brown, CB Cortez Allen

Potential impact: The Steelers stayed true to form by drafting for depth in the first two rounds with Heyward and Gilbert. Barring injury, both players will be put in the rotation but are not expected to start. But the third and fourth rounds are where things got interesting for Pittsburgh. The Steelers went with cornerbacks in back-to-back rounds with Brown and Allen. They hope one or both rookies can make an immediate impact. That might be asking a lot for the reigning AFC champions. Brown was the second-best corner on his team at the University Texas to Aaron Williams, on whom the Steelers passed in the first round. Allen played at a small school (Citadel) and will make a significant jump to the NFL. All of these factors increase the value of Ike Taylor, who is Pittsburgh's biggest free agent. The Steelers' No. 1 corner would fill an important starting role and take a lot of pressure off the team's young corners. That way Brown, Allen, Keenan Lewis and Crezdon Butler can all compete for reserve roles and develop at a more gradual pace. The price tag will be the biggest question. The going rate for solid cornerbacks this offseason has been about $10 million per season. It's doubtful the Steelers are willing to pay that much to retain Taylor. Also look for the Steelers to fill their kicker positions in free agency and perhaps add another backup tailback to replace Mewelde Moore.

Throughout the week, the AFC North blog has gone through every draft class of the past decade for the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers. Now it's time to rank the best of the best.

In our final installment, here are the top three drafts in the division since 2000:

No. 3: Steelers class of 2007

Best picks: LB Lawrence Timmons (first round), LB LaMarr Woodley (second round), TE Matt Spaeth (third round), P Daniel Sepulveda (fourth round), CB William Gay (fifth round)

Analysis: Pittsburgh's 2007 class finished third overall with a good combination of stars and depth. Timmons and Woodley are projected to be key cogs in Pittsburgh's linebacking corps for a long time. And Spaeth and Gay both play key backup roles in Pittsburgh, last season's AFC champions. Sepulveda has been an interesting case, because he's a solid punter when healthy. But a pair of ACL tears have cut two seasons short.

No. 2: Ravens class of 2008

Best picks: QB Joe Flacco (first round), RB Ray Rice (second round), S Tom Zbikowski (third round), S Haruki Nakamura (sixth round)

Analysis: Flacco has led the Ravens to three consecutive playoff appearances. He is getting better every year and looks like the first long-term solution at quarterback for Baltimore in franchise history. Rice has already developed into one of the NFL's top running backs and has been to one Pro Bowl. He posted back-to-back seasons of at least 1,200 rushing yards in 2009 and 2010. Zbikowski and Nakamura are important reserves in the secondary and may compete for a starting job next season. Zbikowski started the first six games in 2010 and played solid football while Pro Bowl safety Ed Reed (hip) was on the physically unable to perform list.

No. 1: Bengals class of 2001

Best picks: DE Justin Smith (first round), WR Chad Johnson/Ochocinco (second round), RB Rudi Johnson (fourth round), WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh (seventh round)

Analysis: Surprise! The top draft class of the past decade in the division comes from the Bengals, whose infamous track record with personnel decisions have led to zero playoff victories in 21 years. But Cincinnati hit it big in 2001, landing four quality starters in Smith, Ochocinco, Johnson and Houshmandzadeh. This core led to Cincinnati's first of two playoff runs last decade in 2005. But the Bengals failed to take advantage and time eventually ran out for this stellar class. Smith, Johnson and Houshmandzadeh all bolted via free agency. Ochocinco remains the only player on the Bengals' roster from the 2001 draft, and he could be traded this offseason.

Tuesday we continue our week-long series on the top AFC North draft classes of the past decade.

Here is a look at the Cincinnati Bengals:

No. 3: Class of 2006

Best picks: CB Johnathan Joseph (first round), OT Andrew Whitworth (second round), DT Domata Peko (fourth round)

Analysis: Following the first playoff appearance under head coach Marvin Lewis, Cincinnati found three starters in the 2006 draft. Joseph, Whitworth and Peko are all solid players who later contributed to Cincinnati's playoff run and division sweep in 2009. The Bengals locked up Peko and Whitworth to long-term extensions and are negotiating Joseph, although it appears he's likely leaving Cincinnati for free agency. The Bengals also drafted third-round defensive end Frostee Rucker, who has been a backup in the rotation the past four seasons. This might not count for the Bengals, but in 2006 they picked up linebacker Ahmad Brooks in the supplemental draft. Brooks didn't do much in Cincinnati, where he started just seven games. But he's recorded 11 sacks the past two seasons with the San Francisco 49ers.

No. 2: Class of 2003

Best picks: QB Carson Palmer (first round), G Eric Steinbach (second round), FB Jeremi Johnson (fourth round)

Analysis: Coming off a 2-14 record the year prior, the Bengals owned the top pick of every round in the first year under Lewis. Cincinnati naturally hit big, particularly early. The Bengals took Palmer and Steinbach with back-to-back picks, and they were great additions during Cincinnati's first playoff run under Lewis in 2005. The Bengals gave Palmer a long-term extension and made him the franchise building block. They let Steinbach walk, which hurt the offensive line for several seasons. Steinbach signed with the division rival Cleveland Browns in 2007 and is having a good stint there. Johnson also was a quality find in the fourth round. He was a good blocking fullback for six seasons with the Bengals before weight issues caught up with him. A sleeper from the 2003 class was former third-round pick Kelley Washington, who didn't pan out as a top-flight receiver but was a good special-teams contributor during various stops in Cincinnati, New England and Baltimore.

No. 1: Class of 2001

Best picks: DE Justin Smith (first round), WR Chad Johnson/Ochocinco (second round), RB Rudi Johnson (fourth round), WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh (seventh round)

Analysis: Without a doubt this is the Bengals' best draft class of the past 10 years. In fact, Cincinnati's 2001 draft is in strong consideration as one of the top drafts in the division for the past decade, which we will reveal in the AFC North blog on Friday. The Bengals landed four longtime starters, and what's impressive is they did it from the top (Smith and Ochocinco), middle (Johnson) and bottom (Houshmandzadeh) of the draft. Even though Lewis didn't join the team for another two years, this class was the start of Cincinnati turning things around. Lewis was able to hit the ground running in 2003 after adding Steinbach and Palmer to this foundation. At one time Cincinnati was considered the team of the future with this young nucleus that included the 2001 and 2003 draft classes. But after the Bengals' wild-card loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2005, this group fell apart. Palmer and Ochocinco are the only remaining players from Cincinnati's top two drafts of the past decade, and both of their futures are in doubt this offseason. Palmer has demanded a trade and threatened to retire, while Ochocinco, now 33, could be moved in the final year of his contract.

On Wednesday we will take an in-depth look at the top draft classes of the Baltimore Ravens.

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

• The Baltimore Ravens' receivers ranked last in the division in yards after catch.

Morning take: This is a big part of any offense, and Anquan Boldin, Derrick Mason and T.J. Houshmandzadeh averaged only 3.0 YAC per reception. Adding a speedy deep threat will help in this category.

• Pending free-agent running back Cedric Benson says he's willing to return to the Cincinnati Bengals.

Morning take: Benson had issues with former offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski. But it appears new OC Jay Gruden wants to utilize Benson more in his switch to the West Coast offense.

• The Cleveland Browns are getting ready for a big week of pro days.

Morning take: Cleveland will get its final look at prospects up close before next month's NFL draft, as the team narrows its choices at No. 6 overall.

• Here is more on the Pittsburgh Steelers' hire of defensive backs coach Carnell Lake.

Morning take: Lake was a very smart player for Pittsburgh, and the Steelers believe that will translate into the coaching ranks.

The AFC North blog continues to rank the top 40 players in the division.

No. 36: Andrew Whitworth, left tackle

Team: Cincinnati Bengals

2010 stats: 16 starts

Last year's ranking: No. 36

Analysis: Whitworth is Cincinnati's best offensive lineman. He is underrated but versatile and received some Pro Bowl consideration this year. Whitworth helped pave the way for Bengals tailback Cedric Benson to have his second consecutive 1,000-yard season. Whitworth also took over the leadership role from the Bengals when longtime offensive tackle Willie Anderson left the team. The Bengals could use more veteran leaders and players like Whitworth, but they're in very short supply in Cincinnati, which finished fourth in the division at 4-12. Whitworth is durable and started all 16 games three of the past four seasons.

No. 35: Derrick Mason, receiver

Team: Baltimore Ravens

2010 stats: 61 receptions, 802 yards, seven touchdowns

Last year's ranking: No. 30

Analysis: Mason is 37 but continues to be productive for the Ravens. Despite sharing the spotlight last season with weapons like Anquan Boldin and T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Mason still recorded 61 receptions for 802 yards and seven touchdowns. Mason is quarterback Joe Flacco's security blanket. The two have solid timing on short and intermediate routes. Baltimore's offense as a whole didn't live up to expectations. The Ravens could use another deep threat to go with Mason and Boldin next year, which could make Baltimore an early contender. Mason is only playing for championships at this stage of his career and hopes to get one next season with the Ravens.

No. 34: James Farrior, linebacker

Team: Pittsburgh Steelers

2010 stats: 109 tackles, six sacks

Last year's ranking: No. 24

Analysis: Farrior, 36, is another aging player who continues to be productive for Pittsburgh. He was solid against the run this year (109 tackles) and also recorded six sacks. But the Steelers had their issues against the pass, particularly against very good teams. Opponents attacked the middle of Pittsburgh's defense by spreading the Steelers out, and Farrior is not as athletic in space as he once was. Pittsburgh has to find a way to mask this weakness. But Farrior's leadership is extremely valuable and he's good enough against the run that he remains an important member of the Steelers' defense. He said after Pittsburgh's Super Bowl XLV loss that there's still plenty of good football left in the team. The Steelers are counting on veterans like Farrior to prove the critics wrong again next season.

No. 33: Joe Haden, cornerback

Team: Cleveland Browns

2010 stats: 64 tackles, six interceptions, one sack

Last year's ranking: N/A

Analysis: Haden led all rookies with six interceptions. Haden always relied on his natural athleticism, but former Browns defensive coordinator Rob Ryan did a good job of teaching him proper technique. Once Haden combined the two, he really took off in the second half of the season. Haden continued to show improvement, eventually worked his way into the starting lineup and quickly established himself as Cleveland's No. 1 cornerback. He's a solid, fundamental tackler with very good ball skills.

We will continue "Walker’s Fab 40" on Tuesday and throughout the week in the AFC North blog.

The Baltimore Ravens finished another solid season at 13-5. But last week's 31-24 playoff loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers left an empty feeling for a Ravens team with Super Bowl aspirations.

Now it's time to look ahead to the offseason and where the Ravens can improve in 2011. Here is an early offseason preview for Baltimore from the AFC North blog:

What are the needs?

The Ravens have one of the best rosters in the NFL. But there are several areas that were exposed this season.

Look for Baltimore to be in the market for an offensive tackle. The Ravens' pass protection was very inconsistent, and quarterback Joe Flacco was sacked five times in Saturday's defeat to the Steelers.

With the season-ending back injury to Jared Gaither, Baltimore rotated players such as Tony Moll, Oniel Cousins and Marshal Yanda at right tackle. None of them was very stout. Former first-round pick Michael Oher also struggled at times playing his first season at left tackle. He excelled as a rookie right tackle. So if Baltimore can find a blue-chip left tackle, it may want to consider putting Oher back to the right side and upgrade both positions.

Another big need is help rushing the passer. The Ravens need someone to complement Pro Bowl defensive end/linebacker Terrell Suggs. Rookie Sergio Kindle was drafted to be that player. But his playing status is up in the air after fracturing his skull last summer and it's unknown if he can be counted on.

Baltimore's pass defense was improved this year, but the team could still use a legit shutdown corner via the draft or free agency. Injured cornerback Domonique Foxworth will return from a knee injury next season, which will help. A speedy deep threat at receiver could also help the development of Flacco, who throws a beautiful deep ball but didn't get many opportunities to show it.

Who are the pending free agents?

Baltimore was built to win this year. So there are a lot of pending free agents on this team.

The biggest name by far is Pro Bowl defensive lineman Haloti Ngata, who is a franchise building block. Ngata, who was drafted in 2006, finished his five-year rookie contract this season and is scheduled to become one of the highest-paid players at his position. The Ravens have made it clear keeping Ngata, who will turn 27 this week, is the utmost priority.

Other interesting names on this list includes fullback Le'Ron McClain, safety Dawan Landry, Gaither, Pro Bowl kicker Billy Cundiff, punter Sam Koch and receivers T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Donte' Stallworth. Out of these players, I think McClain is the one to keep an eye on. He has been frustrated with his lack of carries the past two years and likely will explore opportunities where he run the ball more in a different system. Gaither also is not expected to return.

Cundiff and Koch were vital on special teams and will be important for Baltimore to retain.

What about the coaching staff?

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh will likely get a contract extension. He deserves one after leading Baltimore to three straight playoff appearances and one trip to the AFC title game.

There has been a lot of talk surrounding offensive coordinator Cam Cameron after the Ravens were No. 22 in total offense this year. But Cameron is well-respected by the Ravens and around the NFL and will stay on board in 2011.

Quarterbacks coach Jim Zorn may also be a name to consider for coordinator interviews in the coming weeks and months. Zorn has a lot of experience as an assistant coach and head coach.

KANSAS CITY -- The Baltimore Ravens lead the Kansas City Chiefs, 10-7, at intermission.

Here are some notes at halftime.

• There was a lot of jawing between these teams. The Ravens are known to talk trash, and tailback Ray Rice and receivers Anquan Boldin and T.J. Houshmandzadeh got into it several times with Chiefs defenders. Kansas City defensive linemen Shaun Smith, who played against Baltimore most of his career in Cincinnati and Cleveland, also has been getting into it.
• One of the big storylines entering the game was whether Baltimore's fifth-rated run defense could slow down Chiefs Pro Bowl tailback Jamaal Charles. So far, Kansas City is getting the best of that battle as Charles has rushed for 87 yards on seven carries, including a 41-yard touchdown run in the first half.
• The crossing routes have been open for Baltimore and might be something the team wants to continue exploit in the second half. Ravens tight end Todd Heap has been very successful getting open on those routes, which have moved the chains. Heap has seven catches for 81 yards in the first half.
• Baltimore's pass protection in the past month has been shoddy and the Ravens struggled in this area in the first half. Kansas City registered three sacks of quarterback Joe Flacco. But Flacco has also done a good job of scrambling out of trouble for additional yards.

Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Cam Cameron didn't have to look too far back for playoff inspiration.

Cameron, despite an inconsistent offense, believes Baltimore is capable of putting together a playoff run comparable to the one put together by the 2007 New York Giants, who were the last wild-card team to win a Super Bowl.

"I went back and looked at the Giants' offensive stats when they won on the road, went all the way and won the thing," Cameron told the AFC North blog. "They were really struggling on offense." New York finished 16th overall in offense that season, and its passing game ranked 21st.

The Ravens -- and Cameron in particular -- have little interest in reflecting on the regular season. Baltimore was just one of four teams to win 12 games, but it wasn't always pretty. On Sunday, the Ravens will take a four-game winning streak into Arrowhead Stadium to face the AFC West champion Kansas City Chiefs (10-6) in the wild-card round.

Baltimore's offense has been quite an experiment. With so many new additions, Cameron experienced plenty of trial and error. Sometimes there were successes, and sometimes things blew up in Cameron's face.

With new receivers Anquan Boldin, T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Donte' Stallworth, Baltimore entered the season with perhaps the highest expectations offensively in franchise history. Yet the Ravens finished ranked 22nd in total offense. Things sometimes became heated on the sideline when players were unhappy with the offense.

But all of that can be erased if Baltimore's offense proves to be playoff-ready. The defense, as usual, has held up its end. But great play on both sides of the ball is the Ravens' best chance of making a Super Bowl run.

"We have to find more ways to score points," Cameron said. "We may have 17 points here and 13 points there, and we win those games. But you make it a little more difficult. With our defense, if we can get 24 points plus on the board, we're going to be tough to beat."

The success of Baltimore's offense will largely hinge on quarterback Joe Flacco, who set career marks for passing yards (3,622), touchdowns (25) and fewest interceptions (10) this season. Flacco has a solid 3-2 playoff record but has never thrown for more than 189 yards in five games. He has 660 yards passing, one touchdown and six interceptions in the postseason.

In my conversation with Cameron, I asked if the playoff criticism of Flacco is fair.

"Well, it depends on how you measure things," Cameron said. "If you measure winning and losing, it's pretty good. ... So it's always easy to pick at a guy. But the bottom line is he's a winner."

Kansas City seems to be a good matchup for Baltimore's offense. The Chiefs are average defensively and not particularly special at anything. Kansas City is ranked No. 17 against the pass and No. 14 against the run. The Chiefs' high-powered rushing attack has helped keep their defense off the field.

Baltimore must decide how it wants to attack Kansas City, whether it's on the ground or through the air. Despite solid personnel, that's been a question for the Ravens all season.

"I don't think they have a persona or a true identity," Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. said of Baltimore's offense. "Do they run first or do they throw first? I think they're at their best when [tailback] Ray Rice is the focal point of the offense, and they tend to get away from it. But Kansas City's run defense is starting to wear down and they're questionable up front."

The Ravens knew entering the season that it would be a challenge keeping everyone happy. Former Pro Bowl players such as Derrick Mason, Boldin and Houshmandzadeh have sacrificed personal statistics in favor of more victories and a chance to win the Super Bowl.

There have been times when Baltimore's best players have disappeared in the offense. But Cameron doesn't expect that to happen in the postseason.

"This time of year, you can't afford to come out of a playoff game without your top five or six players touching the ball -- period," Cameron said. "It just can't happen. So we're going to do everything we can to make sure our playmakers touch the ball going into the playoffs."