Week 13 AFC North Round-Up
By Mel Payne
Dec 2, 2012; San Diego, CA, USA; Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Carlos Dunlap (96) recovers a fumble by San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers (not pictured) during the third quarter at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-US PRESSWIRE
Browns at Raiders
The last time that the Cleveland Browns won on the road was week two of 2011. After a 12 game skid, the Browns finally got a win away from Cleveland and bettered their record to 4-8. Brandon Weeden posted 364 passing yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions, leading his team to their second consecutive win. Richardson added 72 more yards on the ground and added a touchdown score of his own. Rookie receiver Josh Gordon led the Browns receiving group with 116 yards and one touchdown catch.
Carson Palmer’s team came up on the short end of the stick again. In the loss, Palmer threw for 351 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception in the fourth quarter. Oakland couldn’t get anything going on the ground. Their leading rusher was Jeremy Stewart who ended the game with 46 rushing yards. Tight end Brandon Myers led the team in receiving with 130 yards on 14 receptions and one touchdown.
Final Score: Browns 20, Raiders 17
Steelers at Ravens
With Ben Roethlisberger out with a rib injury, a lot of people counted the Steelers out in this matchup. They kicked the game off with three points in the first quarter and added another field goal in the second. However, Baltimore came ready to battle. They matched the Steelers’ two field goals in the second quarter and added a touchdown to go into the half leading Pittsburgh 13-6.
Both teams scored a touchdown in the third quarter, but Pittsburgh owned the fourth. Charlie Batch helped his team get two more scores to finish the game 23-20 over Baltimore.
Batch threw for 276 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Jonathon Dwyer and Isaac Redman split carries on the ground. Dwyer finished with 49 yards on 16 carries and one touchdown, while Redman 43 rushing yards on nine carries. Tight end Heath Miller was the beneficiary of several targets, completing the game with 97 receiving yards and one touchdown.
The Ravens’ quarterback Joe Flacco put up 188 passing yards and one touchdown on the scoreboard, turning the ball over one time on an interception. Ray Rice had another solid game for the team, rushing for 78 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries and Anquan Boldin led the team in receptions with five for 81 yards and one touchdown.
Final Score: Steelers 23, Ravens 20
Bengals at Chargers
In a game filled with turnovers from both teams, the Bengals managed to prevail on the road over a plummeting San Diego Chargers team. Cincinnati coughed up the ball three times; twice on an Andy Dalton interception and once on a Jermaine Gresham fumble. The Chargers committed two critical turnovers in the fourth quarter, both by Phillip Rivers to seal the deal for the Bengals.
Dalton put up 211 yards through the air and threw for one touchdown and two interceptions. The quarterback also ran for a touchdown on a six yard attempt. He wasn’t the only one in the running game, though. BenJarvus Green-Ellis rushed for another 100+ yard game, posting 118 yards for the Bengals. A.J. Green led the team in receiving with 85 yards on nine receptions. The only receiver to score a touchdown was Gresham, who picked up 35 receiving yards on four carries.
Phillips Rivers finished the game with 280 passing yards, one interception, and one lost fumble. The ground game for the Chargers was virtually non-existent. The Bengals made sure to shut them down early and often. Ryan Mathews ran for 26 yards on nine carries and Danario Alexander led the team with 102 receiving yards on just six receptions.
Final Score: Bengals 20, Chargers 13