AFC North Battle between the Ravens and Steelers, Weeden Gets the Starting Nod

In a Thanksgiving Day AFC North battle, the Baltimore Ravens (5-6) will take on division foe, the Pittsburgh Steelers (5-6). Both teams are battling for a wildcard spot and the Steelers will enter the game with momentum on their side as they’ve won three straight games. Quarterback Ben Roethisberger won November’s AFC Player of the Month–a first for him–and some would say the team is coming together exactly at the right time.

Ben Roethlisberger

In November, the veteran quarterback went 97 of 157 passes (a 100.5 passer rater with a 63.3 pass completion), 1,118 yards, 11 touchdowns and three interceptions to help give the Steelers a 3-1 record. Last week Roethlisberger had two touchdowns in their 27-11 victory over the Cleveland Browns (4-7).

It’s hard to believe this same Steelers team started out 0-4.

Along with Roethlisberger’s strong play, a nod also needs to go out to the Steelers’ defense, especially in last week’s game. The group incurred a season-high five sacks and held the Browns to only 55 grounds. In the fourth quarter, cornerback William Gay put the nail in the coffin with his a 21-yard interception return for a score.

Helping the Steelers on Thursday will be defensive end Brett Keisel (foot) and safety Shamarko Thomas (ankle) who have been listed as probable to play after both have been absent in the team’s two previous games.

In their three-game streak, the Steelers have only allowed 4.97 yards per play and look for a fourth successful game on Thursday as the Ravens offense sits at No. 31 in the league with its 4.54 yards per play average.

Fortunately for the Ravens, its defense has also stepped up lately and in last week’s game against the New York Jets (5-6), they only allowed quarterback Geno Smith to compete 40.9 percent of his passes; he was sacked by them three times and intercepted twice by cornerback Corey Graham.

On Wednesday, the Ravens only starter who missed practice was defensive end Chris Canty (shoulder) but he is expected to play on Thursday night.

Questions are lingering on whether or not the Ravens will employ the wildcat this week and again utilize backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor to do so. It’s been a bone of contention for Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, who’s is not publicly not a fan of it.

His coach John Harbaugh didn’t really respond about it but said of whether this would change things to use it, he said via ESPN, “We’re going to do everything we can do to move the ball offensively. We’ve got guys that can play [and] that we’ll put on the field in different spots where we feel like we need to. And all our guys support that.”

The Ravens play well at home with a 4-1 record and only allowing 10.8 points per game, but the Steelers have won three of their last five games in Baltimore.

Can they keep the streak alive? Nope, Baltimore gets the win (-2.5, 41 o/u).

Browns Quarterback Carousel Lands on Weeden

On Wednesday Browns head coach Rob Chudzinski gave the official starting nod to quarterback Brandon Weeden as his starter this week against the Jacksonville Jaguars (2-9).

This likely won’t go over well with Browns fans after they greeted Weeden with boos when he took over for a concussed Jason Campbell last week.

Brandon Weeden

For their game against the Jaguars this week, who have won two of their last three games, having Weeden as the signal caller shouldn’t give them a lot of confidence.

According to NFL.com, when looking at league quarterbacks with a minimum of 100 pass attempts for 2013, Weeden has a 66.0 passer rating with only the Jets Smith and Josh Freeman having lower ones.

Last week in his brief appearance, Weeden went 13 for 30, 209 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

How will he do for a full game? Cleveland gets the win (-7.5, 40 o/u).