1 / 4 of the best way via the 2024 NFL season, we’re assessing who’s trending up and down in every division.
Here is the AFC North’s inventory report from Weeks 1-4.
Replenish: Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields
Fields is enjoying the perfect soccer of his profession, throwing for 830 yards and three touchdowns whereas additionally dashing for 145 yards and one other three scores.
The No. 11 general choose in 2021 has been extremely criticized for not seeing the sector nicely sufficient and turning the soccer over to begin his profession. Nonetheless, his career-high 70.6 completion share and one interception, which got here off a tipped go, point out he is lastly growing into the franchise quarterback he was drafted to be.
Fields has not been named the Steelers’ full-time starter as quarterback Russell Wilson continues to work his means again from a calf damage, however head coach Mike Tomlin stated that might change if Fields continues to do two issues: “Play well. Win.“
Main Pittsburgh to its fourth win of the season in Week 5 towards the Dallas Cowboys (2-2) on “Sunday Evening Soccer” would assist do exactly that.
Inventory down: Baltimore Ravens tight finish Mark Andrews
Andrews has been seen as a top-five tight finish for a lot of his seven-year NFL profession, however the identical cannot be stated thus far this yr.
The 29-year-old appears to be getting misplaced within the shuffle with simply six catches for 65 yards and 0 touchdowns.
The truth is, his backup, Isaiah Seemingly, has been way more productive with 13 catches for 167 yards and a landing.
A part of the rationale for Andrews’ decline in manufacturing is probably going as a result of the Ravens are working the ball very nicely with working again Derrick Henry and quarterback Lamar Jackson combining for 788 yards and 7 touchdowns on the bottom.
Nonetheless, even when Baltimore does determine to go the ball, Andrews would not appear to be enjoying an integral half within the offense.
Replenish: Cincinnati Bengals broad receiver Ja’Marr Chase
The Bengals offense struggled via the primary two weeks of the season, however it was largely as a result of they have been barely utilizing their finest participant in Chase, who had simply 10 catches for 97 yards throughout the span.
Since then, nevertheless, Chase has registered 9 catches for 203 yards and three touchdowns.
It is up for debate whether or not it was a change in philosophy or just knocking off some rust, however Cincinnati’s offense ought to solely get higher since broad receiver Tee Higgins (hamstring) returned final week.
Chase and Higgins have benefited from taking away stress from one another the previous three years. This remainder of this season needs to be no completely different.
Inventory down: Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson
Watson has had greater than sufficient alternatives to show the Browns proper for buying and selling a king’s ransom, which included three first-round picks, to amass him after which handing him a five-year, $230 million totally assured contract.
Nonetheless, Watson has but to try this as he has thrown for simply 2,944 yards, 18 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 16 video games.
The 29-year-old’s poor play is an enormous purpose why Cleveland is at present 1-3 and tied for final place within the AFC North, and he is aware of it.
“It begins with me,” Watson said, by way of Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal. “If I’ll be the quarterback of this offense, we have all received to be all the best way locked in, and proper now we’re not doing sufficient to get the W. So you’ll be able to put it on me for positive.”
If Watson’s struggles proceed, the staff shall be compelled to look elsewhere for somebody who might present a much-needed spark to the offense.
