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The major question facing each team in the AFC North as summer break looms:

Baltimore Ravens: How do the Ravens replace the leadership void left by Ray Lewis and Ed Reed? Leadership has never been a problem in the Ravens' entire existence. This was Lewis' team for 17 years, and Reed was a major influence in the locker room for the past decade. With Lewis retired and Reed on the Houston Texans, the Ravens need to prove they can move on. Don't expect one player to step up and become a polarizing leader like Lewis. It will likely be leadership-by-committee for now. Linebacker Terrell Suggs has to become the voice of the defense, and running back Ray Rice has to be the vocal leader for the offense. Quarterback Joe Flacco, who has become the new face of the franchise, is expected to lead through his take-charge attitude.

Cincinnati Bengals: Who is the starting center? There will be other position battles for the Bengals. Cincinnati will find out in training camp who will take over spots at No. 2 receiver and strong safety. But the most important competition is on the offensive line. Trevor Robinson and Kyle Cook both started games for Cincinnati at center. And the offensive line surprisingly played better with Robinson, an undrafted rookie last season, than Cook, a four-year starter. The Bengals have the two best offensive tackles in the division in Andrew Whitworth and Andre Smith. Right guard Kevin Zeitler looks like a future Pro Bowl player. To elevate this line to another level, Cincinnati needs either Robinson or Cook to take control of center spot.

Cleveland Browns: Can running back Trent Richardson stay healthy? The Browns and Richardson have downplayed the latest injury, a pulled muscle in his shin. And, honestly, many concerns will be quelled if Richardson is taking handoffs when training camp opens in late July. But, based on Richardson's history (knee, ribs, ankle and now shin) over his 14-month NFL career, it's valid to wonder if Richardson will ever play at full strength. There are certainly other questions for the Browns: inside linebacker, cornerback and free safety. Still, none of those issues will impact the Browns more than Richardson's ability to break long runs and punch the ball in the end zone. Perhaps the Browns should reconsider their stance on Pro Bowl fullback Vonta Leach, who would make a great lead blocker/bodyguard for Richardson.

Pittsburgh Steelers: When will tight end Heath Miller return? Many assume Miller will be ready for the regular season, or at least not miss any significant time, because the Steelers didn't take a tight end in the draft or sign a pass-catching one in free agency. That's just speculation at this point because team officials won't give a timetable and Miller was vague about a return date when asked about his recovery from ACL surgery last month. Miller did say there's a "chance" he could play in the Sept. 8 season opener against the Tennessee Titans. Miller led the Steelers with 71 receptions last season and tied for the team lead with eight touchdowns. The departure of No. 1 receiver Mike Wallace to the Miami Dolphins only increased the need to get Miller back as quickly as possible.

The latest update on Cleveland Browns running back Trent Richardson's leg injury comes courtesy of ESPN Radio in Cleveland, which is reporting that he will be out until August. A source "very close to Richardson" told the website that there's a concern that the lower leg strain could turn into a stress fracture.

ESPN Radio in Cleveland doesn't specify when Richardson is expected to return in August, which is crucial in gauging the importance of the report. If Richardson is projected to come back in early August, he would only miss a week or two of the start of training camp. That would not really be breaking news considering Richardson was expected to miss this week's mandatory minicamp, which is the last on-field work until training camp.

But, if Richardson is out until the middle or end of August, then there's a much bigger problem. Under that timeframe, there would be increased questions about Richardson's availability or impact for the Sept. 8 season opener against the Miami Dolphins. In the big picture, that's the bottom line with any injury in the offseason or training camp.

Browns officials said they've been sitting out Richardson for these offseason camps as a precaution.

"We are being conservative with him," coach Rob Chudzinski said last week. ”This is just something that we are working through and he will be fine.”

Another question is what shape will Richardson be in when he gets back on the field in training camp. According to ESPN Radio in Cleveland, Richardson hasn't been able to participate fully in the Browns' weightlifting program because he's also taking medication for migraines. This has caused him to lose weight over the past two weeks.

So, I'm holding off on pushing the panic button with Richardson. Until there are more details, it's hard to know whether this is a relatively minor setback or a sign of a bigger one.

When players are injured, they rarely want to talk to the media. But, after sitting out Thursday's practice with a strained muscle in his shin, Cleveland Browns running back Trent Richardson seemed determined to set the record straight.

"It's not going to be like last year, being hurt and injured," Richardson said. "Injury prone is not going to be me. I just can't wait to get back out and running."

The problem is, when it comes to the "injury-prone" label, you can't shed it by talking about it. Richardson has to get out on the field and prove he can remain healthy for more than half a season.

By all accounts, this latest injury is a minor one. Head coach Rob Chudzinski emphasized the Browns are being conservative with him. Richardson said it didn't warrant an MRI. If there was a game on Sunday, he probably would play.

The only reason why Richardon's injury is an issue is his history. In 13 months with the Browns, Richardson has had four injuries that have caused him to miss time on the practice field or in games.

Here's a quick rundown:

• In August, Richardson had a procedure on his left knee to remove a loose piece of cartilage. It caused him to miss the entire preseason.

• On Oct. 14 against the Bengals, he broke two ribs and played the rest of the season with a protective jacket. The injury forced him to miss the second half of two games.

• On Dec. 24 against the Broncos, Richardson suffered a mild high ankle sprain and left the stadium in a walking boot. This sidelined him for the season finale.

• Last week at practice, Richardson pulled a muscle in his lower leg and could miss next week's mandatory minicamp. The expectation is for Richardson to be ready for training camp in late July.

Based on his track record, you could make a convincing argument that Richardson has been injury prone in his short time with the Browns. It seems like Richardson hasn't been healthy since he signed his rookie contract with Cleveland. But I would give Richardson another season before lumping him in the same injury-prone category as Ryan Mathews and Reggie Bush. If Richardson can't stay healthy in his second season, even Richardson himself couldn't deny being injury prone.

Durability was the concern when the Browns drafted him No. 3 overall last year. But there is a difference between being injury prone and being soft. No one can accuse Richardson of being the latter after he averaged 21.7 touches while playing 10 games with broken ribs.

Still, Richardson won't be able to reach his potential if he's trying to shake off injuries and tacklers at the same time. It was admirable that Richardson was able to run for 950 yards and score 12 touchdowns with all of those injuries last season. But injuries obviously affected his average yards per carry (3.6) and his effectiveness down the stretch.

Chudzinski said the team isn't concerned about Richardson's history of injuries.

"I know he is healthy from all the things from this past season," Chudzinski said. "This is just something that we are working through and he will be fine.”

The Cleveland Browns received some bad news last week, and for once, it didn't involve gas rebates or an FBI probe.

Running back Trent Richardson sat out last week's workouts with a pulled muscle in his shin and could be sidelined for next month's mandatory minicamp. That would mean the next time Cleveland would see Richardson on the field is training camp in late July.

Is it time to worry about Richardson's durability? Not at this point. Of course, the Browns would want Richardson to be running at full speed right now. And, when you consider his knee and rib injuries from a year ago, it seems like Richardson has been banged-up since he put on a Browns uniform.

What you have to keep in mind is the Browns are doing this as a precaution. This is the time of year to be extra cautious so injuries remain minor. It's hard to question Richardson's durability after last season, when he played 702 snaps, the ninth most among NFL running backs.

Richardson, though, needs to be healthy if he wants to break out this season. He has the potential to be a top-five back in this league, especially under Norv Turner's play calling. Richardson can do it all because he has speed and power. He can play all three downs and punch the ball across the goal line when in the red zone. But, if Richardson continues to deal with injuries, critics will once again question whether it was smart to use the No. 3 overall pick on a running back.

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How does each AFC North team look at running back, and what still needs to be done?

Baltimore Ravens: Ray Rice is only 26, but he has taken a lot of hits. Although he put together a fantastic season, as usual, in 2012, he looked worn down late in the year and during the Ravens’ Super Bowl run. He has four straight regular seasons with more than 250 carries, and has caught at least 61 passes in each of those seasons. Even though he is still extremely potent, Baltimore might be wise to deflect a few more early down carries toward Bernard Pierce to extend Rice’s effectiveness. Pierce isn’t close to the receiver Rice is, and is still learning pass protection. However, he was very impressive late in the season, and you could argue he was running more effectively than Rice in the postseason. A bigger back than Rice, Pierce averaged 4.9 yards per carry as a rookie, and could make a big impact in games in which Baltimore has the lead. Bobby Rainey enters his second season as well. He is a shorter back with a thick build, good balance and good feet. Expect him to take a step forward in his second season, but he helps the Ravens mostly on special teams.

Cincinnati Bengals: BenJarvus Green-Ellis will open training camp as the Bengals’ top running back. But don’t expect him to keep that distinction for long, as Giovani Bernard is sure to pass him. Green-Ellis gets what is blocked, has some power to drag tacklers, and is very reliable with his ball security. What you see is what you get with Green Ellis -- and it isn’t good enough. Bernard is an exciting prospect with loads of big-play ability. He can run inside with quick feet and more power than you might suspect, but also is very dangerous on the perimeter with his long speed and elusiveness in the open field. Green-Ellis will surely be superior in pass protection than Bernard to start the season, but Bernard is far more dangerous as a receiving option. Cincinnati also brought back Bernard Scott before the draft, but with the selection of Bernard, Scott’s roster spot is far from certain. The Bengals also drafted Rex Burkhead, who does everything well and is an underrated prospect overall. In time, I expect Burkhead to be a fine complement to Bernard as Cincinnati’s second running back.

Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson battled numerous injuries during his rookie campaign, and that is the only concern I have about this 21-year-old. New offensive coordinator Norv Turner has an outstanding history of utilizing a true feature back, and Richardson fits that mold with his rare blend of vision, power, lateral agility and speed to go along with excellent receiving skills. There isn’t much on Cleveland’s depth chart behind Richardson, so maybe the Browns will keep their eyes out for a veteran who gets released. For now, Montario Hardesty is No. 2. Injuries have been a big problem for him, but he does have a fair amount of ability. Also in the mix are Dion Lewis, Brandon Jackson and Chris Ogbonnaya. Jackson is bigger and runs with much more power than Lewis, but isn’t as quick. Both do their best work on third down, while Ogbonnaya is a big runner with some power, but he lacks any particular skill to wow you. A scat back with big-play ability would be a welcomed addition here.

Pittsburgh Steelers: The Steelers used this year’s second-round pick on Le'Veon Bell, as they felt that their running backs from 2012 were simply not getting the job done. Bell is very young, has good size and is quite established in the passing game, which is something Pittsburgh wasn’t getting from Isaac Redman or Jonathan Dwyer. Redman and Dwyer are similar players. They both have good size and initiate contact. They get what is blocked, but not much more and lack dynamic qualities. They are backups in the NFL. Last year, the Steelers drafted Chris Rainey to help as a returner and add a running back/wide receiver hybrid to their offense. Rainey didn’t work out, but Pittsburgh signed LaRod Stephens-Howling this offseason for the same reasons. Baron Batch is also in the equation. His most notable contributions come on special teams, but he is a serviceable runner, receiver and blocker. The Steelers were in talks with Ahmad Bradshaw before the draft. With the selection of Bell, you would think that ship had sailed, but you never know. Bradshaw will end up somewhere this season. It is also likely that either Redman or Dwyer is gone before the season.

» NFC Eight in the Box: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

A look at key players for each AFC North team who are coming back from injuries:

Baltimore Ravens: Cornerback Lardarius Webb. The Ravens need their top cornerback to return to his old form, especially with Cary Williams going to the Eagles in free agency. Webb tore his ACL in October and missed the final 10 games of the regular season. Ravens coach John Harbaugh said Webb "should be ready to roll" by training camp. Baltimore could bring him along slowly and limit his playing time in the preseason. But, based on this timeline, all signs point to Webb being ready to play in the season opener. If Webb isn't ready, the Ravens' top three corners would be Corey Graham, Jimmy Smith and Chykie Brown. Webb dealt with a torn ACL in 2009, when he hurt his knee in late December. He was able to return and play 15 games the following season. So, he's been able to recover from this injury quickly in the past.

Cincinnati Bengals: Wide receiver Mohamed Sanu. He's the favorite to be the Bengals' No. 2 receiver and start opposite A.J. Green. A third-round pick last year, Sanu had worked himself into the starting lineup before breaking his left foot late in the season and undergoing surgery on Dec. 3. He expects to be running at full speed by next week's minicamp. Coach Marvin Lewis has high hopes for Sanu, saying he's ahead of where Chad Johnson was going into his second NFL season. Sanu was starting to hit his stride before the injury. In his last three games, he caught 11 passes and four touchdowns. Sanu will still have to earn the job. His main competition is Marvin Jones, a fifth-round pick from a year ago.

Cleveland Browns: Running back Trent Richardson. He said last month that he was fully recovered from all of last year's injures, and he wasn't wearing a protective sleeve over his knee anymore. But, in March, Richardson told The Plain Dealer that he might always have to deal with lingering pain from broken ribs after undergoing some tests. Richardson did say at that time that he expected to be 100 percent by training camp. Other than Richardson, the Browns aren't dealing with any critical injuries. Left guard Jason Pinkston returned to practice this week after having a blood clot in his lung that ended his 2012 season. Wide receiver David Nelson is still recovering from a torn ACL and he hopes to get on the field for June's mandatory minicamp. At this point, he's projected to be the No. 4 receiver.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Tight end Heath Miller. He's the biggest question mark in the division. After excelling in the first season of Todd Haley's offense, he tore ligaments in his right knee in the second-to-last game of the season and had surgery on Jan. 2. He's no longer on crutches and was spotted walking without a limp last month. The Steelers have been vague on Miller's timetable. Some believe that Miller will be ready for the start of the season after the Steelers passed on Tyler Eifert in the first round and didn't take a tight end in the draft. But there's still a chance that Miller could miss the start of the season or be placed on PUP. Losing Miller would significantly impact Pittsburgh's passing game. Last season, Miller led the Steelers in catches (71) and tied for the most touchdown catches (eight). Without Miller, the top two tight ends on the roster are Matt Spaeth and David Paulson. Spaeth has averaged eight catches per season, and Paulson had seven catches last season as a rookie.

» NFC Eight in the Box: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Who is one potential breakout player for each AFC North team in 2013?

Baltimore Ravens: Kelechi Osemele. It can be argued that Osemele did, in fact, break out at the end of his rookie season. And it could be argued that the Ravens’ shuffling of their offensive line -- moving Osemele to left guard from right tackle, Michael Oher from left tackle to right tackle and inserting Bryant McKinnie at left tackle -- was the single biggest reason for their spectacular Super Bowl run. But while the argument holds true that Osemele excelled at left guard, I believe he is just scratching the surface and will become a Pro Bowl-caliber player and one of the elite guards in the game. Still new to the position, Osemele is a massive human being with extremely long arms and huge, powerful hands. But unlike some offensive tackles who move inside, leverage and pad level is not a problem for this extremely talented young man.

Cincinnati Bengals: Mohamed Sanu. There wasn’t a Bengals player who jumped up as a breakout candidate, unlike with the other three teams. That isn’t to suggest that Cincinnati has drafted poorly. I view young players Kevin Zeitler and Vontaze Burfict as already having broken out. Last year’s first-round pick, Dre Kirkpatrick, certainly is a candidate, but we haven’t seen enough at the NFL level to judge him. The same is true for Devon Still and Brandon Thompson. That left receivers Sanu and Marvin Jones, who logged about double the snaps as Sanu in 2012. Either could develop into a quality second option opposite the great A.J. Green, but Sanu is the better prospect in my opinion. While he isn’t a perimeter burner like Green, he is a sure-handed, big-bodied wideout who fits well with Andy Dalton, who gets the ball out quickly and allows his receivers to perform after the catch. Like the defensive players mentioned above, there isn’t a lot of film of Sanu to go off. He caught just 16 passes before a Week 12 foot injury ended his rookie season, but he should be penciled in as a starter and see plenty of favorable matchups.

Cleveland Browns: Jordan Cameron. There were easier choices for the Browns than Cameron, namely on the offensive side of the ball, from their impressive rookie class from a year ago. Trent Richardson, Josh Gordon and even Mitchell Schwartz all have extremely promising young careers after impressing as rookies. I expect all three to drastically improve and for Richardson to be one of the top running backs in the league in 2013. But I went with Cameron, a relatively unknown tight end, because of his abilities, the coaching and a major increase of snaps. Cameron is the typical athletic former basketball player with the long frame to really excel against safety and linebacker coverage. But why do I really expect this breakout? Look no further than Cleveland’s new head coach, Rob Chudzinski. Going back to his days as the tight ends coach at the University of Miami, Chudzinski has a spectacular track record for developing great talent into great production at this position. Cameron is his latest project; expect it to go very well.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Cortez Allen. Recent first-round selections David DeCastro and Cameron Heyward crossed my mind for this honor, but I went with Allen over those linemen. Allen fits the mold of what Pittsburgh does at cornerback to a T. On a regular basis, the Steelers draft big, developmental cornerbacks in the middle rounds. Those players tend to have nondescript rookie seasons while making their bones on special teams and learning “The Steeler Way” in Dick LeBeau’s defense. In Year 2, these cornerbacks often take a step forward, playing in sub packages and filling in for injured starters. And if that development goes well, as it did for last year’s starting cornerbacks, Ike Taylor and Keenan Lewis, they take over a starting position. It’s Allen’s turn to do exactly that. The Steelers allowed Lewis to leave for New Orleans, showing they have all the faith in the world in Allen. They did sign William Gay -- another corner they once drafted and who fits this mold -- but Gay is a depth player who is obviously familiar with the system and franchise. Allen gets the opportunity to step up. Expect big things.

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Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 17:

Running wild: While it's unknown how much the Ravens starters will play, it's proven that Baltimore increases its chances of winning by giving the ball more to running back Ray Rice. After getting fewer than 25 touches in each game during the Ravens' three-game losing streak, Rice got 30 in the Week 16 win over the Giants. Since the Ravens drafted Rice in 2008, they are 23-3 in games in which he gets at least 25 touches, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Rice also is the key to success against the Bengals. He has run for 363 yards in his past three games against them, with 301 of those yards coming before initial contact. That’s the most rush yards before contact for any player against a single opponent since the start of the 2011 season.

Going for the elusive sweep: With a 20-14 win over the Steelers already under their belt, the Browns are looking for their first season sweep of Pittsburgh since 1988. How long ago is that? Cleveland running back Trent Richardson was 3 years old at that time, and the Browns' wins came at two places that no longer exist -- Three Rivers Stadium and Cleveland Municipal Stadium. Since that sweep, the Browns have gone 10-33 (.233) against the Steelers and have been swept by Pittsburgh 11 times.

Sophomore sizzle: Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green has 160 catches in his first two seasons, which is the fourth-most in NFL history. He needs nine catches against Baltimore to surpass Marques Colston for the most receptions during the first two seasons in the league. His 2,381 yards receiving is the sixth-most in a player's first two years in the NFL. With 116 yards receiving this past Sunday, Green has produced five games with at least 100 yards receiving this season. No player in Bengals history has ever had six such games in one season, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

Finishing strong: The Ravens and Steelers are among the best in the NFL when it comes to finishing off the regular season. Since 2000, Baltimore and Pittsburgh are 10-2 in the last game of the regular season. Only the Packers, who are 11-1, have a better record. In fact, the Steelers' only losses in the regular-season finale during that span have been to Baltimore. The Ravens have won six straight regular-season finales and 10 of their past 12 overall. The Packers and Chargers are the only other teams to win each of their past six regular-season finales.

Touchdown terror: Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton has thrown 46 touchdown passes in 31 career games. The only quarterbacks who have passed for more in their first two seasons in the NFL are: Dan Marino (68), Peyton Manning (52) and Carson Palmer (50), according to ESPN Stats & Information. But, in three career games against Baltimore, Dalton has thrown one touchdown and four interceptions. His minus-3 touchdown-to-interception differential is his worst against any opponent, and his career passer rating against Baltimore is 63.8.

Here's my thoughts on the Cleveland Browns' 34-12 loss at the Denver Broncos:

What it means: The Browns are packing it in for coach Pat Shurmur, losing the last two weeks by a combined 39 points. Cleveland fell to 5-10, which is the ninth time in 10 years that they've recorded double-digit losses. The Browns are now 1-6 on the road. Denver (12-3) won its 10th straight game.

Top picks injured: As the season continues to end on a sour note, the Browns watched their top two picks, running back Trent Richardson and quarterback Brandon Weeden, leave the game with injuries. Richardson got his left leg rolled up on Cleveland's final (and meaningless) drive. He's getting X-rays for a possible broken ankle. Weeden was knocked out of the game with a right shoulder injury in the third quarter, when Von Miller slammed him to the ground. Weeden told reporters after the game that he's fine.

More records for Richardson: Before leaving with that late injury, Richardson surpassed Jim Brown's franchise rookie rushing record with 53 yards on nine carries. That raised Richardson's season total to 950. Brown's mark of 947 was in a 12-game season in 1957.

Tough day for Brown: The Browns were down 14-3 by the second quarter, and cornerback Sheldon Brown had to shake his head. Despite good coverage, Brown was beaten for touchdowns by Demaryius Thomas (22 yards) and Eric Decker (10 yards) in the first half. Then, before halftime, Brown was knocked out of the game with a concussion after colliding with Brandon Stokley. This depletes an already banged-up secondary.

McCoy gets some work: Backup quarterback Colt McCoy got his most playing time of the year and took advantage of it. McCoy produced the Browns' only touchdown drive of the game, moving them 80 yards on 10 plays. He converted a fourth down-and-five with a swing pass to Richardson and then hit Greg Little for a six-yard touchdown pass. McCoy was 9-of-17 for 79 yards, and Weeden was 12-of-19 for 104 yards.

What's next: The Browns wrap up their season at Pittsburgh.

The Browns' slim playoff hopes ended in Sunday's 38-21 loss to the Redskins. Any chance of coach Pat Shurmur returning next season is likely gone, too.

A week ago, Shurmur was being praised for his creativity. On Sunday, he was being questioned by his own players for being too one-dimensional. The Browns threw 35 times and ran 15.

The final decision on Shurmur's future will be made by owner Jimmy Haslam and chief executive officer Joe Banner. But, based on what the players said Sunday, they are ready to move on from Shurmur.

Running back Trent Richardson seemed puzzled by the play calling. In the first half, Richardson scored two touchdowns, carrying nearly half of the Redskins defense in the end zone on one of them, and had 28 yards on nine carries. In the second half, he received two carries and produced zero yards.

Richardson was asked why he only had two carries in a game where the Browns didn't trail by two scores until midway through the third quarter. "It's shocking," he said. "But like I said, the game's much bigger than me. I've got to let Coach do what he does."

What Shurmur didn't do Sunday was find a way to get the ball to the team's top playmaker. Just like most teams that will face the Browns, the Redskins' game plan was to shut down Richardson. But the Browns have to figure out a way to keep Richardson involved in the game. They used the No. 3 overall pick on Richardson for a reason.

“When you get one-dimensional, it’s impossible in this league to do it for an extended amount of time,” quarterback Brandon Weeden said. “But that’s on us.”

Weeden never called out Shurmur by name but there were plenty of subtle jabs at Shurmur's offense. In praising the play of Redskins rookie quarterback Kirk Cousins, Weeden said, "Coach [Mike] Shanahan put him in a great spot. They tailored what he does well."

When asked about having four passes batted down, Weeden said those mostly occurred on the underneath throws about two or three yards beyond the line of scrimmage. “It’s been one of our better plays," he said.

Marla Ridenour of the Akron Beacon Journal thinks these comments sound like veiled indictments of the Browns coaching staff, and it's tough not to see it that way. The Browns offense ranks 26th in total yards and 24th in points scored.

All of the good feelings from a three-game winning streak vanished with Sunday's dismal home finale.

"Today we let ourselves down and we let the whole city of Cleveland down -- especially, the season-ticket holders," Richardson said, via The Plain Dealer. "I feel bad for them and I want to say as a man, I just want to come to them and apologize because this was the last home game. We're supposed to go out with a blast. It was a big ballgame and we didn't do what we were supposed to do."

My thoughts on the Cleveland Browns' 38-21 loss to the Washington Redskins:

What it means: The Browns' faint playoff hopes ended along with their three-game win streak. This drops the Browns to 5-9 and clinches their 12th losing season in 14 years since returning to the league. The 38 points were the second-most allowed by Cleveland this season (the Browns gave up 41 points to the Giants). The Redskins (8-6) won their fifth straight game to move into a tie for first place in the NFC East.

No RGIII, no problem: The Browns thought they had caught a break when Robert Griffin III was ruled out with a knee injury. But Cleveland couldn't stop a rookie fourth-round quarterback making his first start. Kirk Cousins completed 26 of 37 for 329 yards and two touchdowns, looking quite comfortable throwing off rollouts. This is a Browns defense that had allowed four offensive touchdowns during the three-game winning streak.

Weeden again struggles at home: For some reason, quarterback Brandon Weeden has played poorly at Cleveland Browns Stadium and that trend continued Sunday. Weeden was 21 of 35 for 244 yards with two interceptions and four deflected passes. The game turned when Weeden was intercepted on the second play of the second half. After the interception was returned to the Browns' 15-yard line, the Redskins needed three plays to get into the end zone -- on an Alfred Morris three-yard run -- to go ahead, 17-14.

Mixed day for Richardson: Rookie running back Trent Richardson scored two touchdowns, including one in which he carried most of the Redskins defense into the end zone. He now has 11 rushing touchdowns this season, which surpassed Jim Brown for a new Browns rookie record. Brown reached his mark in 12 games while Richardson needed 14. Outside of the scores, Richardson was held in check. He finished with 28 yards on 11 carries.

What's next: The Browns play their last two games of the season on the road, starting with a trip to Denver (11-3). The Broncos have won nine straight.

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

Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 15:

Big Ben looking to bounce back: Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger looked rusty at times in his first game back since injuring his rib and shoulder. His two turnovers led to touchdowns, as the Chargers pulled the upset. But Roethlisberger has had one of the most consistent seasons of his career. He has thrown a touchdown pass in 10 straight games, tied with 2007 for the longest single-season streak of his career, according to ESPN Stats & Information. He has 20 touchdowns and five interceptions this season, and that plus-15 differential trails only Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning and Josh Freeman. The Cowboys have made only six interceptions this season, the fewest in the NFL.

No home losing streaks for Harbaugh: The Ravens had their 15-game home winning streak ended by the Steelers this month. But Baltimore has never lost back-to-back home games in the five-year John Harbaugh era. The last time it happened was December 2007. This streak will be tested by Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning, who has won five straight in Baltimore. Since the Ravens' loss to Manning in Week 11 of 2009, the Ravens have won 22 straight home games against teams other than the Steelers.

Surpassing Jim Brown: It's impressive that running back Trent Richardson could pass Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown on a couple of Browns rookie records. It's remarkable that he has done this while not being healthy for most of the season. Richardson missed the entire preseason after having his left knee scoped. He then injured his rib, an injury that likely won't heal until the offseason. Still, his nine rushing touchdowns are tied with Brown for the most by a Browns rookie. Richardson needs 74 yards to pass Brown for the most rushing yards by a Browns rookie.

Dominating the NFC: The Steelers have lost three of their past four games following a four-game win streak. But all of those losses have come against the AFC. When it comes to playing the NFC, few teams in the AFC are better than the Steelers. Pittsburgh has won four straight against NFC opponents and 12 of their past 14 against that conference. The Steelers' interconference record since 2009 (12-3) is second-best in the NFL, according to ESPN Stats & Information. The Steelers' last game in Dallas was 2004, when they overcame a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter and sealed the win with a Jerome Bettis touchdown in the final minute. It was Roethlisberger's fourth career start and he finished 21-of-25 for 193 yards and two touchdowns.

Grounded in December: Running back Ray Rice gained a season-high 121 yards last Sunday, and that shouldn't come as a surprise. During the Harbaugh era, Baltimore has rushed for 159.1 yards per game in December and January. Only the Panthers (175.3) have averaged more. That trend could continue against the Broncos. In his two games against Denver, Rice has 217 yards rushing yards and three touchdowns. Rice needs 83 yards from scrimmage to reach 1,500 for the fourth consecutive season.

Can the New York Giants' pass rush perk up and help a Big Blue defense that held the Falcons offense scoreless during the playoffs last season repeat that performance Sunday in Atlanta?

Can the two men the Dallas Cowboys brought in to be shutdown cornerbacks keep the Steelers receivers covered while Ben Roethlisberger scrambles to keep plays alive?

Can the Washington Redskins scheme, adjust and work around their defensive personnel shortages for another week, keeping Trent Richardson in check and daring Brandon Weeden to beat them in Cleveland?

These are the key storylines Sunday as the NFC East race spins into its final weeks. Amend them with different opponents, and they are likely to remain the key storylines in this division the rest of the way. Although the quarterbacks get all the attention in this division and statistically there's not a top-10 defense in the bunch, the team that plays the best defense in these final three games is the one most likely to emerge with the division title.

The NFC East race is a jumble. The defending champion Giants hold a one-game lead, but they have road games the next two weeks in Atlanta and Baltimore and are far from assured of winning out. The Falcons and Ravens are a combined 11-1 at home this season and 65-11 the past five. Sure, New York is a defending Super Bowl champion that has shown it can win anywhere, but there's not a team out there that could safely assume it would go 2-0 in those games. The Giants are going to have to play the way they played in January, not the way they've played for most of the past month and a half, if they're going to keep control of the division. To do that, they need to be more ferocious on defense.

The Giants have 31 sacks -- tied for 12th most in the league. Jason Pierre-Paul leads them with 6.5. Osi Umenyiora has six. Justin Tuck has only three.

The numbers are fine, but they're not Giants numbers. This is a pass rush that took out Matt Ryan, Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady en route to its second Super Bowl title in five years. Unless someone gets more than one sack a game the rest of the way, they're going to finish the regular season without anyone in double figures. That doesn't compute, and it has as much to do with why the Giants haven't already put away this division as anything.

It's possible that seeing Ryan and the Falcons will rekindle memories of how dominant they were up front 11 months ago, and if that's the case, the Giants could be the team that gets on the defensive run that gives them the division title.

The Cowboys sit one game back of the Giants, tied with the Redskins for second place. Statistically fine for much of the season, the defense has endured a brutal rash of injuries. Both starting inside linebackers, a starting safety, a starting defensive lineman and their nickel cornerback are on injured reserve. This week, star pass-rusher DeMarcus Ware (elbow) and starting cornerback Morris Claiborne (concussion) have already missed practice. Nose tackle Jay Ratliff remains in doubt, and his backup, Josh Brent, is out because of his well-publicized issues. The Cowboys are running short of players on defense, which could take them right out of this picture if it continues.

But they've made it this far in spite of their deficiencies. They've won four of their past five games. Running back DeMarco Murray is back in the fold, red-hot wide receiver Dez Bryant apparently is determined to play in spite of a broken finger, and the offense is humming.

The defense has to hold it together, and the key is in that secondary. Ware and Anthony Spencer are playing well at outside linebacker, and the defensive line is average and going to stay that way. The defense is counting on Claiborne and fellow corner Brandon Carr to shut down receivers, especially in a game such as this Sunday's against Pittsburgh's receivers. If Claiborne can't go, the responsibility falls to Sterling Moore, who has looked good in his short time in Dallas.

Carr and Claiborne have been occasionally brilliant but generally inconsistent in coverage this season. The price the Cowboys paid for Carr in free-agent money and for Claiborne in draft picks says they're big-time talents who need to play that way. If they can shut down opposing receivers the next three weeks, the Cowboys' chances of coming from behind and stealing this division are a lot better.

In Washington, all eyes are on rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III, who has a knee injury and may not play Sunday in Cleveland.

But the Redskins aren't really worried about their offense. They can run the ball with Alfred Morris, Pierre Garcon can get open down the field for backup Kirk Cousins, and they can score enough points.

Defense has been the Redskins' issue all season. They rank 28th in total defense and 31st against the pass. A secondary that didn't look all that great to begin with is now missing two starting safeties and a starting cornerback. The defense is also missing its best pass-rusher, Brian Orakpo, and starting defensive lineman Adam Carriker. It has been a struggle.

Yet the Redskins, which have managed to win their past four games to move within a game of the Giants, have a real chance. They have looked bad on defense for long stretches during the streak -- the second half against Dallas on Thanksgiving, the first half against Baltimore last week -- but they've managed to hold on. Coordinator Jim Haslett is doing an excellent job of changing up the game plan from week to week and half to half to maximize any advantage he can find. Outside linebacker Rob Jackson can be a disruptive pass-rusher for a half. DeAngelo Hall can be a decent cover corner for a couple of drives.

They mix, match and patch it together, and so far it's not falling apart. The key will be for the Redskins to keep walking that tightrope, and if they can do it for three more games, they absolutely have a chance.

So if you're trying to make sense of this NFC East race as it hits the home stretch, look not to the big-name quarterbacks and receivers but instead to the defenses. If one of these three teams can do something on defense it hasn't been able to do so far, that could make enough of a difference to decide the division.

My thoughts on the Cleveland Browns' 30-7 win to the Kansas City Chiefs at Cleveland Browns Stadium:

What it means: The Browns won their fifth game of the season, which is one more than their total last season. This rout was Cleveland's third win in a row, the Browns' longest winning streak since the end of the 2009 season. It was the largest margin of victory for the Browns in 29 games under coach Pat Shurmur and the largest for the Browns since 2003. The Chiefs fall to 2-11 with former Browns coach Romeo Crennel and former Browns quarterback Brady Quinn.

Making history: Trailing 7-3, Travis Benjamin returned a punt 93 yards for a touchdown on the first play of the second quarter. It was the longest punt return in the Browns' history. Benjamin is the first rookie with a punt return for a touchdown since Ben Davis in 1967.

Tying Jim Brown: Running back Trent Richardson wasn't the leading rusher for the Browns with 42 yards on 18 carries. But he did make this a memorable game. His two touchdowns pushed his season total to nine, which ties Jim Brown for the most rushing touchdowns by a rookie in Browns history. And Richardson has three games remaining. His second touchdown early in the fourth quarter gave the Browns a 27-7 lead and put away the Chiefs.

Tough start: Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles ran for an 80-yard touchdown on the first play from scrimmage. Charles went between the tackles on the left side and was never touched. But the Browns didn't give up another point for the remaining 59 minutes, 48 seconds. It helped that Ryan Succop hit the upright on a 27-yard field goal in the first quarter.

What's next: The Browns host the Redskins.

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

Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 14:

Return of Roethlisberger: The Steelers should get a boost with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger starting Sunday after missing three games with rib and shoulder injuries. In nine games with Roethlisberger this season, the Steelers scored 21 offensive touchdowns, including 17 through the air from the franchise's all-time leading passer. In three games without him, Pittsburgh scored four offensive touchdowns. Roethlisberger is also playing at Heinz Field, where he has been exceptional this season. He has thrown seven touchdowns and no interceptions at home for a 104.2 passer rating.

Off target: The Ravens aren't strong where the Redskins are vulnerable. Washington has allowed 10 completions longer than 40 yards, which is tied for the second-most allowed in the league. But the Ravens' Joe Flacco has struggled throwing the ball deep consistently this season. On passes beyond 10 yards downfield, his rate of overthrowing receivers (35 percent) is almost as high as his completion rate (39.3 percent), according to ESPN Stats & Information. In the Ravens’ past three games, Flacco has completed 2 of 14 attempts (14.3 percent) to Torrey Smith more than 10 yards downfield.

Keeping grounded: Running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis got off to a slow start in his first season with the Bengals. In his first nine games, when Cincinnati went 4-5, he ran for 537 yards, an average of 59.7 yards per game. In his past three games, all victories, Green-Ellis has nearly doubled that average per game (116), gaining 348 yards rushing. He is one of three running backs to gain more than 100 yards in three consecutive games. If Green-Ellis can crack 100 yards against Dallas, he will become the first Cincinnati back in 44 years to do so in four straight games (Paul Robinson did it in 1968).

Not so ordinary: In the past five games, Browns rookie running back Trent Richardson is averaging 95.8 rushing yards per game. Cleveland is 3-2 during that stretch. His three games with over 100 yards rushing is tied for the most ever by a Browns rookie. Richardson also leads AFC rookies with 827 yards. He needs 116 yards Sunday against Kansas City to surpass Hall of Fame back (and one-time Richardson critic) Jim Brown for most rushing yards by a Browns rookie.

Bad neighbors: The home stadiums for the Ravens and Redskins are separated by 33 miles. This regional rivalry hasn't been that close. The Ravens have won three of the four meetings with the Redskins. Baltimore has allowed a total of 47 points in those four games (an average of 11.7) and hasn't given up more than 17 points in any meeting with Washington. The only time the Redskins defeated Baltimore was 2000, which was the year that the Ravens eventually won the Super Bowl.