By Matt Stuart | Published | No Comments
The AFC playoff picture has changed significantly in the aftermath of two huge injuries to starting quarterbacks in the AFC North and both injuries could not only change the complexion of the AFC North race, but the broader playoff picture in the AFC as well. The Browns stated earlier in the week that Deshaun Watson would need surgery to his throwing shoulder, effectively ending his season. On Thursday night, the Bengals lost their starting quarterback Joe Burrow to a right hand injury, that will also require surgery.
Both injuries now throw the AFC North race into a tailspin. The Ravens currently lead the AFC North by a game and half over both the Browns and the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Bengals, after losing to the Ravens on Thursday night, fall two full games back of Baltimore in the loss column.
The Steelers feel like the obvious team to benefit from the loss of Deshaun Watson, as the Steelers travel to Cleveland in week 11 for what now becomes a pivotal game between the two inter-divison rivals. The Browns will be starting rookie quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson for just the second time this season. If the Steelers can grab a win on the road Sunday against the Browns, it would give them sole control of second place in the AFC North and put them just a half game back of the first place Ravens.
The Bengals looked like they would be the most obvious team to benefit from the loss of Watson, but that was until they lost their starting quarterback Thursday night against the Ravens. Now the Bengals will look to their rookie backup quarterback Jake Browning to try and keep them afloat.
Looking out more broadly in the AFC, teams like the Bills, Chargers, Broncos and even the Jets now like their prospects of making the playoffs a little more than they did at the end of week ten. The Bills found themselves trailing both the Texans and the Bengals at the start of the week, but a win over the Jets this week certainly improves the Bills chances of making the playoffs quite considerably.
Even a team like the Raiders has to like their chances just a tad bit more, with both the Bengals and Browns now looking to rookie quarterback to get through the remainder of the season. However the quarterback situation turns out for both Cleveland and Cincinnati, one thing is for sure, the AFC playoff picture certainly got a whole lot more interesting in the span of a week.
