ESPN NFL

Jacoby Jones' fumbled punt in last season's playoffs set up a touchdown for the Baltimore Ravens in their 20-13 win over the Houston Texans. Now, Jones is going to try to help Baltimore this time as a member of the Ravens.

Jones, 27, reached a two-year, $7 million deal with the Ravens on Tuesday, according to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

While Jones failed to reach his potential in Houston, he is a great fit for the Ravens. He becomes the No. 3 target on an unproductive wide receiver group and takes over as the primary punt returner.

The Ravens have been looking at wide receivers who can also be the team's primary returner, but they didn't sign Ted Ginn Jr. or Eddie Royal in free agency. Baltimore has been wanting to take the punt return duties away from Lardarius Webb, who recently signed a six-year, $50 million deal. Jones ranked 14th in the NFL in punt returns last season with a 10.6-yard average, which was two spots higher than Webb.

A third-round pick in 2007, Jones never developed into a consistent receiver and only caught 31 passes last season when Andre Johnson was sidelined for a large part of the season with injuries. Jones was scheduled to make $3 million this season before the Texans cut him on May 1.

Jones frustrated the Texans because he showed flashes and then made costly mistakes. The Ravens are right to take the risk considering the state of their wide receiver group. Baltimore only had two wide receivers (Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith) who caught more than four passes last season. Jones underachieved with the Texans by averaging 36 catches over the past three seasons, but the Ravens would gladly take that production from a backup receiver.

The Ravens have needed a No. 3 wide receiver since cutting Lee Evans, who failed to hold onto the winning touchdown catch in the AFC Championship Game. They can only hope Jones can hold onto the ball better, especially after what Baltimore saw first-hand from him in the playoffs.

» NFC draft analysis: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South


Despite talk of grabbing the best player available, it’s funny how often needs and picks seem to line up.

Of 31 picks, I count four that don’t technically qualify as addressing needs: Jaguars fifth-round linebacker Brandon Marshall, Titans fifth-round tight end Taylor Thompson, Jaguars sixth-round cornerback Mike Harris and Colts seventh-round quarterback Chandler Harnish.

We saw the Texans replenish at outside linebacker, on the offensive line and at kicker and add to their options at receiver. The Colts loaded up on help for No. 1 overall pick Andrew Luck -- seven of their other nine picks bring offensive players to Indianapolis . Jacksonville addressed its big needs right out of the chute, then made a couple of odd selections. Tennessee didn’t take two players at the same position.

BEST MOVE

The Jaguars came into the offseason in dire need of upgraded weaponry for Blaine Gabbert. They started last season with wide receiver Jason Hill as a starter, and he was cut before the season ended. Mike Thomas was miscast as a top-of-the-group guy when he should be a No. 3. Cecil Shorts showed he needs a lot of time to develop.

Mike Mularkey hired a solid receiver coach, Jerry Sullivan. He’s a tremendous upgrade from Johnny Cox, who was quickly fired after Jack Del Rio was dismissed during the 2011 season. Free agency brought Laurent Robinson, who should help, and Lee Evans, who’d be gravy if he can revive his career.

The Jaguars successfully sold pundits on the idea they’d be trading down, then only gave up a fourth-rounder to move up from No. 7 to No. 5 to draft Oklahoma State’s Justin Blackmon. He’s a dynamic receiver who can catch balls outside his frame and cause matchup problems.

Outside of Luck, no team in the division got a player who can cure an ill better than Blackmon can fix what ails the Jacksonville offense. Now it’s on Gabbert to show he can effectively get the ball to the new star receiver.

RISKIEST MOVE

The Titans didn’t touch a defensive end until Scott Solomon in the seventh round, and they didn’t add an offensive lineman at all. And pass rush and run blocking were two areas that qualified as weaknesses at the end of last season.

Tennessee hosted Scott Wells, Chris Myers, Jeff Saturday and Dan Koppen and saw all four sign elsewhere. On Saturday, coach Mike Munchak made those meetings sound like information-gathering get-togethers rather than courtships, a stance that’s pretty insulting to veterans who wouldn’t waste time making visits without the possibility of a contract.

The defense of incumbent starters on the interior -- Eugene Amano and Leroy Harris -- has entered a new round now. Munchak said the team felt no “dire need there” and that “we have guys we can win with.” Still, watch for a key undrafted addition or free agent or two.

The Titans added one big piece this offseason to its insufficient pass rush in the form of free-agent end Kamerion Wimbley, who was a cap casualty in Oakland. He may provide a big boost but also probably shouldn’t be on the field for every play. Tennessee’s only attempt to bolster itself on the edges came with the 211th pick, end Scott Solomon from Rice.

The Titans face a pretty good slate of quarterbacks this season. Those passers may have a lot of time to throw.

MOST SURPRISING PICK

We hit it hard Saturday night, but the Jaguars' selection of Bryan Anger in the third round was a baffler. Yes, the team will benefit from a big leg and stands to gain field position.

But Jacksonville overrated special teams’ impact by deciding to draft Anger so early rather than addressing other needs where it could have selected a player with a chance to play.

The Jaguars have a recent history of messing up at the position, and teams that struggle with stability at a spot are prone to overreach in an effort to correct it.

I believe that’s a good piece of what happened here. They could have gotten him or a punter who still would have been a big upgrade later.

The Jaguars found Terrance Knighton, Derek Cox and Will Rackley in the third round in Gene Smith’s previous three drafts. They are all starters who affect games more than a punter can.

They can rationalize this pick. And we can stridently disagree.

FILE IT AWAY

Six receivers came into the division -- Blackmon, Kendall Wright in Tennessee, T.Y. Hilton and LaVon Brazill in Indianapolis and DeVier Posey and Keshawn Martin in Houston. That’s two first-rounders, two third-rounders, a fourth-rounder and a sixth-rounder.

The countermeasures?

Just two incoming cornerbacks -- Titans fourth-rounder Coty Sensabaugh and Jaguars sixth-rounder Harris.

Secondary depth could be severely tested by good quarterbacks and receivers, especially when the division faces the NFC North and the high-powered passing offenses of Green Bay, Detroit and Chicago.

The Colts have no proven corners beyond Jerraud Powers. The Texans lost Jason Allen, who played a reasonable amount. The Titans need to unearth a new nickelback now that Cortland Finnegan is gone. Only the Jaguars have fortified the spot, adding two-time Super Bowl winner Aaron Ross, presumably getting Cox and Rashean Mathis back healthy and drafting Harris.

The AFC South is a big running back division, but it’s become more equipped to sling it and may not have the people needed to cover offenses with a lot of downfield weapons.

“It tells you that this is a wide-open league, the offensive focus is on scoring points probably more than ever,” Titans general manager Ruston Webster said. “It’s becoming more of a quarterback-wide receiver league probably every day.”

Blaine Gabbert finished last year throwing to Mike Thomas, Jarett Dillard, Chastin West and Cecil Shorts.

General manager Gene Smith was charged with giving a quarterback he traded up for last season better people to aim for.

And Smith has come through, trading up from seventh to fifth and nabbing Oklahoma State receiver Justin Blackmon. He’ll join free agent additions Laurent Robinson and Lee Evans, a reclamation project, in trying to transform the Jacksonville passing offense.

Blackmon stands to be the team’s best receiving option since Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell.

The Jags gave up No. 7 and No. 101 in the fourth round to Tampa Bay for No. 5 and the right to add Blackmon.

Hard to find any issue at all with that.

If they find a pass-rusher next, this will be a rousing success.

Todd McShay set off alarms as he considered if NFL teams drafting sixth (St. Louis Rams) and 10th (Buffalo Bills) might consider selecting wide receivers with those choices.

The alarms grew louder as McShay, speaking in the video above, noted that Oklahoma State's Justin Blackmon, widely rated as the top receiver in the 2012 NFL draft, did not possess prototypical size.

Blackmon, though obviously talented, doesn't fit the physical mold for receivers drafted among the top three overall choices over the past 25-plus years. We discussed the reasons back at the combine, when the Rams held the second overall choice and Blackmon was a consideration for them.

The Rams subsequently traded the second overall choice to Washington. They now hold the sixth overall choice. Blackmon would be a more logical value there than at No. 2, except for those alarms going off.

Consider recent draft history.

First, take a look at receivers drafted among the top five overall choices since 2000, listed in the first chart below.

Three of the seven are superstars: Calvin Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald and Andre Johnson. Another, A.J. Green, is coming off an impressive rookie season. Braylon Edwards has enjoyed sporadic success. The other two, Charles Rogers and Peter Warrick, fell far short of expectations.

Those seven players have combined for 12 Pro Bowl appearances (Fitzgerald 5, Johnson 5, Johnson 1, Edwards 1).

The next set of receivers, listed below, were drafted sixth to 15th overall. I selected that range because three NFC West teams -- the Rams, Seattle Seahawks (12th) and Arizona Cardinals (13th) -- hold picks in that area.

The 16 players listed in the second chart have combined for two Pro Bowls, one by Roy Williams and the other by Koren Robinson as a return specialist in Minnesota, long after Robinson had bombed as a receiver.

Receivers talented enough to command selection among the top few overall choices have fared better than the ones with enough question marks to push them down into the next tier.

That is something to consider when weighing how the Rams, Seahawks and Cardinals should use their first-round selections, even if the Rams did land Torry Holt with the sixth overall choice in 1999.

Just a look at what's happening around the AFC North, which appears to be having another quiet day:

BENGALS: No news on the Bengals' search for a new starting running back. Michael Bush wrapped up his free-agent visit Tuesday without a contract, and BenJarvus Green-Ellis met with the Bengals on Monday. The free-agent market has been slow for running backs. The only notable signings have been Peyton Hillis (Chiefs) and Mike Tolbert (Panthers).

BROWNS: The Cleveland Plain Dealer is disputing a report that says the Browns are interested in Bengals free-agent linebacker Manny Lawson. This is surprising because I thought Lawson's ability to stop the run would help the NFL's 30th-ranked run defense.

RAVENS: Baltimore free-agent wide receiver Lee Evans is visiting the Jaguars today, according to the Florida-Times Union. In other words, the Jaguars are really desperate at wide receiver. ... Also, the three-year deal for center Matt Birk is worth $8.52 million and includes a $2.1 million signing bonus.

STEELERS: The team announced it has signed tight end Wes Lyons and fullback Will Johnson, who were teammates at West Virginia from 2007 to 2009. Lyons was cut after training camp last year, and Johnson worked three jobs last year when he was out of football.

When the 2012 began, the AFC North represented two extremes in terms of the salary cap. The Cincinnati Bengals had the league's best cap situation ($44 million under), and the Pittsburgh Steelers had the worst ($25 million over).

The Steelers, though, have made significant progress this month to get under the cap. Pittsburgh restructured the contracts of linebackers LaMarr Woodley and Lawrence Timmons, creating $11.6 million in cap room. The Steelers also freed up $3.5 million in cap space by cutting cornerback Bryant McFadden and wide receiver Arnaz Battle. Those four moves represented a total of $15.1 million in cap room.

There's still plenty of work remaining for the Steelers, who are now a projected $10 million over the cap. Here are five players whose 2012 salaries account for $17.4 million, which makes them candidates to get restructured or released: nose tackle Casey Hampton ($4.8 million), wide receiver Hines Ward ($4 million), guard Chris Kemoeatu ($3.5 million), linebacker Larry Foote ($3 million) and defensive end Aaron Smith ($2.1 million).

The Ravens started the offseason in the middle of the pack as far as the salary cap ($8.5 million under). The retirement of running back Ricky Williams gives Baltimore $1.5 million in additional room. The Ravens will get nearly $19 million under the cap when they cut cornerback Domonique Foxworth ($5.6 million salary in 2012) and wide receiver Lee Evans ($3.2 million salary in 2012).

But a chunk of that cap space is expected to go to running back Ray Rice when they put the franchise tag on him. The franchise tag for running backs is expected to be $8 million this year. Baltimore is expected to place a first-round tender ($2.7 million) on their top restricted free agent, cornerback Lardarius Webb.

Like the Bengals, the Browns are among the teams with the most cap room. Cleveland is projected to be $21 million under the cap, which gives it freedom to be active in free agency. The Browns can spend on outside talent because they only have three of their starters heading to free agency (running back Peyton Hillis, linebacker D'Qwell Jackson and safety Mike Adams, in addition to kicker Phil Dawson).

For the Bengals, they once again have plenty of cap room entering free agency. Cincinnati has seven of its starters entering free agency, but the Bengals are looking to upgrade at a lot of those spots on offense: wide receiver, running back and both guard positions.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- One of the biggest heroes in the New England Patriots' locker room following their 23-20 victory against the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship Game was backup cornerback Sterling Moore.

With time running out in regulation, Moore made the biggest defensive play of the game when he stripped the ball out of Baltimore receiver Lee Evans' hands at the last second to negate a potential game-winning touchdown. The Ravens subsequently missed a 32-yard field goal that could have forced overtime.

"It was just a split-second decision and I'm glad it worked out," Moore said. "We do that drill everyday in practice, but it was the first time I had to use it in a game, and I just took what I learned from practice into the game."

Here is some reaction to Moore's ... ahem ... "sterling" play:

Patriots LB Brandon Spikes: "You have to play through the whole play. His technique was [good]. I’m not in the secondary, but throughout the whole week the coaches put a big emphasis on playing all the way through. [Evans] had the ball, but [Moore] knocked it out. That was big."

Patriots safety James Ihedigbo: "That is why you have to play through the whistle. Like I said, Sterling made an amazing play. He didn’t see the ball coming and his back was turned. And as the receiver caught it, and before he could put two feet down, he slapped it out of his hand. That‘s just a split second. That is just great thinking, an amazing play there."

Patriots coach Bill Belichick: "[Moore] made some plays. Not perfect out there, but he competes hard and he’s a tough kid. He’s got good ball skills. He gets around the ball."

The Patriots and Ravens were the two best teams in the AFC all season. There was a very thin line that separated them in the AFC Championship Game. The Patriots executed better than the Ravens in the final minute.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Two plays separated the Baltimore Ravens from reaching the Super Bowl. But it was those two plays that secured the Ravens' place in the NFL history of heartbreak.

Billy Cundiff's missed field goal and Lee Evans' drop in the end zone will long be remembered among the biggest flops ever in the playoffs. Cundiff is the new Scott Norwood, and Evans is the new Jackie Smith.

Teams can often pour their pain into one play. What makes the Ravens different is they received a double dose of bitterness and agony. While the Ravens players and coaches put on a composed face to reporters, a source said helmets were thrown in the locker room and then it became silent as everyone reflected on what might have been.

Cundiff should have made a 32-yard field goal. Evans should have made the catch in the end zone. Baltimore should have gone to Indianapolis. The scoreboard -- Patriots 23, Ravens 20 -- said otherwise.

That's why this is the most devastating loss in the Ravens' 273-game existence. Nothing comes close. There have been other crushing blows, but the Ravens have never had a ticket to the Super Bowl taken away from them twice in the final 22 seconds of a game.

The Ravens did everything on their checklist to win the game. Joe Flacco threw for 306 yards -- 67 more than Tom Brady. The defense held the Patriots to 23 points and held Brady without a passing touchdown. The team forced three turnovers and dominated time of possession (33:33 to 26:27).

It didn't matter because of two plays. The Ravens blinked when the game was on the line. They flinched when the pressure had reached its peak.

The Ravens' previous incarnation, the Browns, endured The Drive and The Fumble. The Ravens now have The Drop and The Kick.

Cundiff has gone from the top of his profession, a Pro Bowl kicker in 2010, to enduring the position's worst nightmare. By hooking that kick wide left, he joins the likes of Norwood, who will forever be remembered for missing a 47-yard field goal at the end of the game that cost the Buffalo Bills a Super Bowl XXV victory against the Giants.

"It's a kick I've kicked a thousand times in my career," a solemn Cundiff said. "I just went out there and didn't convert. That's the way things go. There's really no excuse for it."

The Ravens might have been able to avoid that miss. Cundiff was rushing out onto the field and barely got set up in time.

The snap and hold looked good, but Cundiff pulled it wide. If the Ravens had taken a timeout, Cundiff would have had more time to set up and might have made that kick.

Asked if he thought about using a timeout in that situation, Ravens coach John Harbaugh said, "That never occurred to me. I didn't think that. You know, looking back at it now, maybe there was something we could have done. But in the situation, it didn't seem like we were that rushed on the field. [I] thought we were in pretty good shape."

Baltimore punter Sam Koch, who is also the holder, acknowledged "we might have been" rushed.

"But it's something that we've practiced," Koch said. "I thought there was plenty of time for him to get set up and do his thing. I'm not sure how rushed he really felt."

You could argue that Cundiff should've never been put in that situation. Two plays before that kick, Evans had a 14-yard touchdown pass in his hands -- for a second. Undrafted rookie Sterling Moore slapped the ball away from Evans in the end zone when it looked like he seemed to relax. It didn't look like he had possession of the ball when his second foot landed.

Evans finds himself lumped in history withCowboys tight end Jackie Smith, who dropped a pass in the end zone after being wide open in the end zone in Super Bowl XIII against the Steelers.

“Honestly, the most disappointing part of all this ... that I feel personally that I let everybody down," said Evans, whose began to brim with emotion. "This is the greatest team that I’ve been on, and I feel like I let everybody down. Yeah, it’s on my shoulders. I think Ray (Lewis) gave a good message coming in here. It’s hard to sit here and accept how and why things happened, but it’s the reality of it. It’s as tough as it gets.”

Flacco thought Evans had caught the ball and the Ravens had taken a 27-23 lead with 22 seconds remaining. He threw his hands up in the air and started running toward the end zone until he saw the referee signal incomplete.

"If you weren't celebrating, you weren't a Ravens fan," linebacker Ray Lewis said.

Ravens center Matt Birk is the only player who knows this pain. He was on the Minnesota Vikings when Gary Anderson missed a field goal wide right in the NFC championship game 13 years ago.

He understands the toll a loss like this can take on a franchise.

"This team, this group, this organization is a pretty mentally tough group," Birk said.

The Ravens had been building to this moment. Baltimore swept the AFC North. The Ravens went undefeated at home. They earned a first-round bye and a home playoff game.

It looked like this was the Ravens' time when Flacco marched them down 65 yards in 82 seconds. But then came The Drop and The Kick.

"When it's your job ... and get paid to make field goals, I think you have to take it personally," Cundiff said. "First and foremost is to stand up and face the music and move on."

The pressure will be ratcheted up even more on the Ravens next season to make the Super Bowl. The window of opportunity is closing for defensive stars Ray Lewis and Ed Reed.

But the Ravens must prove they can handle the pressure better than they did in this AFC Championship Game.

"We have to keep moving and keep building and remember this taste no matter how many times you go through it," Lewis said. "Because when you finally get it, you appreciate it more."

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh doesn't feel like a trip to the Super Bowl was taken away from the Ravens, but he was "surprised" that the officials didn't review Lee Evans' fourth-quarter drop in the end zone.

It looked like the Ravens had taken the lead in the AFC Championship Game when Evans had the ball in his hands in the end zone. But Evans had the ball stripped away by undrafted rookie Sterling Moore with 27 seconds remaining.

After Billy Cundiff's missed 32-yard field goal finished off a 23-20 loss to the New England Patriots, some Ravens wondered whether Evans had possession of the ball and both feet down before he lost the ball. A touchdown would have given the Ravens a 27-23 lead.

Because it was under two minutes, it becomes the officials' call whether to review the play.

"I tried to get [the officials'] attention and thought it would be looked at," Harbaugh said. "I thought they would have at least looked at it. I was surprised that they didn't look at it. Obviously, in that situation, I thought they would have looked at it."

Harbaugh said he never received an explanation from referee Alberto Riveron or any of his crew. League rules say the receiver must have both feet or any part of his body other than his hands on the ground before losing control of the ball. Replays suggest Evans lost his grasp of the ball before his second foot was down.

“Honestly, the most disappointing part of all this ... that I feel personally that I let everybody down," a visibly emotional Evans told The Baltimore Sun. "This is the greatest team that I’ve been on, and I feel like I let everybody down. Yeah, it’s on my shoulders. I think Ray gave a good message coming in here. It’s hard to sit here and accept how and why things happened, but it’s the reality of it. It’s as tough as it gets.”

Asked if he was surprised that the play wasn't reviewed, Evans said, “No, not really. Obviously, they didn’t feel like it was close enough to being reviewed.”

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, 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 sweeping 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 resume. 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 on 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 momma and grandmamma'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 President's 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?

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

FALLING

1. Browns' special teams: Yes, this group was on the list last week. But Cleveland's special teams dipped farther down after two field goals were blocked and punter Brad Maynard booted a 9-yard kick Sunday. The Browns would've allowed another return for a touchdown this week if not for a very questionable block in the back penalty. This unit is having a major meltdown this year.

2. Ravens' wide receivers: Other than Torrey Smith running a go route, no other receiver is getting open for Joe Flacco on a consistent basis. Lee Evans was supposed to provide speed to this group, but he's missed the past four games with an ankle injury. Anquan Boldin's physical style works in the red zone, but not elsewhere. The Jaguars used physical man-to-man defense to remove Baltimore's receivers from the game.

3. Anyone covering Mike Wallace. Cornerbacks are starting to have nightmares after watching the highlights of the Steelers wide receiver blowing past defenders. Wallace has caught a pass of 40 yards or longer in six straight games, which is the longest streak since 2001. His 95-yard touchdown reception at Arizona is the second-longest play from scrimmage in Steelers history. So, all those playing safety against Pittsburgh, take a few steps back before the ball is snapped.

RISING

1. Browns' drafting of defensive players. Two starters on the defensive line -- defensive tackle Phil Taylor and defensive end Jabaal Sheard -- were drafted in the first two rounds this year. Half of the starting secondary -- cornerback Joe Haden and safety T.J. Ward -- was selected in the first two rounds in 2010. This explains the resurgence of the Browns' defense, which has gone from 31st in 2009 (before these four starters were drafted) to No. 4 this week.

2. Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown. He stepped up when Hines Ward went down with an injury, delivering season highs in catches (seven) and yards (102). He also averaged 23 yards on two punt returns. Brown is such a dangerous playmaker because he always seems to make the most of his opportunities.

3. Record against NFC West. The AFC North is reaping the benefits of playing the NFC West with wins over Seattle and Arizona on Sunday, which improves the AFC North to 4-1 over that division this year. How weak is the NFC West? Take away the 49ers and the rest of that division (Seahawks, Cardinals and Rams) are a combined 3-15 (.166). It wasn't too long ago when the NFC West sent teams to the Super Bowl.

A look at Friday's injury report and what it means:


BENGALS

Out: LB Dontay Moch (foot)

Doubtful: G Otis Hudson (knee)

Probable: DE Jonathan Fanene (knee), DE Robert Geathers (shoulder), S Jeromy Miles (groin), DT Pat Sims (elbow), S Gibril Wilson (knee)

Impact: Of all the issues going on with the Bengals, injuries aren't among them, especially with the return of Geathers. Cincinnati will have running back Cedric Benson in the lineup because there's been no ruling on his three-game suspension. Receiver Jerome Simpson returns to the starting lineup after a drug bust at his house last week. ... The Bills will be without cornerbacks Terrence McGee and Aaron Williams, which further depletes a thin secondary.

BROWNS

Questionable: CB Sheldon Brown (groin), LB Titus Brown (ankle), WR Josh Cribbs (groin), DB Eric Hagg (knee), WR Mohamed Massaquoi (ankle), OT Tony Pashos (ankle), OT Joe Thomas (knee)

Probable: RB Peyton Hillis (illness), LB Chris Gocong (groin), WR Carlton Mitchell (finger)

Impact: The Browns will receive a boost with Pashos starting at right tackle for the first time this season. Pashos is expected to play barring a setback, coach Pat Shurmur said. Cribbs has improved since last week and should go back to handling returns. Of all the questionable players, only Hagg and Titus Brown aren't projected to play.

RAVENS

Out: WR Lee Evans (ankle), S Haruki Nakamura (knee), WR David Reed (shoulder), CB Jimmy Smith (ankle)

Doubtful: LB Dannell Ellerbe (thigh)

Questionable: CB Chris Carr (hamstring), G Ben Grubbs (toe)

Probable: C Matt Birk (knee), DE Cory Redding (toe)

Impact: There is increasing concern at cornerback especially if Carr can't play. He didn't practice Friday, which might indicate a setback. Other than starters Cary Williams and Lardarius Webb, the only other cornerbacks on the roster are rookie fifth-round pick Chykie Brown and recent practice squad player Danny Gorrer. With Evans out, rookie second-round pick Torrey Smith will make his second straight start. He will likely be covered by Jets conerback Antonio Cromartie, who is probable. Grubbs didn't practice Friday after being limited Thursday, which likely means Andre Gurode will start again at left guard. ... Jets center Nick Mangold is questionable.

STEELERS

Out: RG Doug Legursky (shoulder), LT Jonathan Scott (ankle), DE Brett Keisel (knee)

Questionable: LB Chris Carter (hamstring)

Probable: WR Arnaz Battle (knee), DT Steve McLendon (illness), WR Mike Wallace (ribs)

Impact: With two starting offensive linemen out, Ramon Foster will start at right guard and Trai Essex will step in at left tackle. Foster has potential and there might not be much of a drop-off from Legursky. Essex can't do much worse than Scott, who has struggled all season. It'll be interesting to see how this patched-up line holds up against a Texans pass rush that is led by Mario Williams. Ziggy Hood will start his second straight game in place of Keisel. ... Texans receiver Andre Johnson (knee and toe) is probable after being limited in practice the past two days. Running back Arian Foster (probable, hamstring) is expected to have a full workload after missing the last game, coach Gary Kubiak said. Struggling cornerback Kareem Jackson is questionable.

Ravens wide receiver Lee Evans returned to practice Thursday and plans on playing at the Tennessee Titans, according to the Carroll County Times.

Evans sounded optimistic about his status a day after sitting out practice and wearing a protective boot for an injured left ankle.

"Absolutely, I plan on playing on Sunday," Evans said. "But we'll have to see. You got to take it day by day and see what happens."

The Ravens' wide receiver group is unproven after Evans and Anquan Boldin. If Evans can't play against the Titans, the Ravens would have to replace him with either David Reed or Torrey Smith, both of whom have never caught a pass in the NFL.

Ravens offensive coordinator Cam Cameron expressed confidence in the backups.

"Our young guys are getting better every day," Cameron told reporters at Ravens headquarters Thursday. "The young guys have the best collective attitude of any young group I’ve ever been around.”

Evans' speed will be valuable for the Ravens moving forward. In the season opener, Joe Flacco completed three passes of 25 or more yards, but only one went to a wide receiver (Boldin).

Everyone is familiar with star players like Troy Polamalu, Ed Reed, Peyton Hillis and Cedric Benson. But who will be the lesser-known X factors in these Week 1 matchups?

Here are some additional players who could make an impact Sunday's games in the AFC North:

Lee Evans, WR, Baltimore Ravens

Experience: Eighth season

Analysis: Baltimore traded for Evans to add speed to its receiving corps. Pittsburgh and other teams often stacked the box against Baltimore's offense. Opponents didn't respect the Ravens' ability to throw deep. That's where Evans can be a difference-maker. He has the speed to blow by defenders for long gains. If Evans makes a big play or two this weekend, that increases Baltimore's chances against Pittsburgh.

Antonio Brown, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

Experience: Second season

Analysis: The last time Brown played the Ravens, he got behind Baltimore corner Lardarius Webb for a huge catch in the playoffs to set up Pittsburgh's game-winning touchdown. Brown has carried that momentum into the preseason. He's been Pittsburgh's most productive receiver in exhibition games and won the job as the team's third receiver. The Ravens have to account for Brown, in addition to Hines Ward, Mike Wallace and Heath Miller.

Leon Hall, CB, Cincinnati Bengals

Experience: Fifth season

Analysis: The high-profile matchup between Bengals receiver A.J. Green and Browns No. 1 corner Joe Haden will get a lot of press. But in contrast, Hall will be asked to shut down Cleveland's passing game, led by quarterback Colt McCoy. Hall recently received a big contract extension. He would like nothing better than to make a few big plays against Cleveland in Week 1 to justify his pay raise.

Ahtyba Rubin, DT, Cleveland Browns

Experience: Fourth season

Analysis: The Bengals are not hiding the fact they want to run the football. Look for Benson to get a lot of carries to test the young defensive line of the Browns. That's where Rubin comes in. He's the only proven player on Cleveland's front four. Rubin will team with rookie first-round pick Phil Taylor as the biggest pieces to Cleveland's run defense. If Rubin is disruptive to Cincinnati's rushing attack, that will go a long way toward stopping the Bengals' offense.

Just three week ago draft bust Aaron Maybin reached a new career low. The Buffalo Bills, who went 4-12 last season, gave up on their former first-round pick and released Maybin after two unproductive seasons.

But several weeks later Maybin is on the verge of a stunning turnaround. The New York Jets signed Maybin several days after his release. Now, he's on the 53-man roster of a team that was one quarter away from the Super Bowl last season.

Maybin isn't in the clear yet. New York might still add free agents or waiver-wire pickups in the next few days, which would put his status in jeopardy. But it's obvious the Jets see something in Maybin that the Bills never did.

The question is, what is it?

Is Maybin a better fit in Rex Ryan's defense? Is Maybin finally motivated after getting released? Can a change of scenery help that much?

I was recently in Baltimore Ravens training camp and talked to receiver Lee Evans, who is Maybin's former teammate in Buffalo. Evans, an eight-year veteran and consummate professional, said he believes Maybin's maturity is finally getting to where it needs to be.

There are no guarantees in the NFL. Maybin might get cut before the Jets' Week 1 game against the Dallas Cowboys. But Maybin making New York's 53-man roster after Buffalo gave up on him a few weeks prior is a feat in itself.