AFC North Roundup: October 27, 2017

We’ve reached the halfway point of the 2017 regular season, with all four teams in the AFC North having played eight games apiece once this weekend wraps. Here’s the latest on the Browns’ rivals in the division, including looks ahead for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ and Cincinnati Bengals’ games on Sunday and one back for the Baltimore Ravens after their dominant defeat of the Miami Dolphins on Thursday night.

Baltimore Ravens: Baltimore Beatdown’s Logan Levy provides a comprehensive breakdown of the Baltimore Ravens’ 40-0 defeat of the Miami Dolphins on Thursday night, including highlights of each Baltimore scoring play.

Also: The Ravens-Dolphins game was chippy and physical, to say the least. Dolphins defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh was seen trying to choke backup Ravens quarterback Ryan Mallett, but, via Evan Mazza, Suh says that Mallett was the one to blame for the altercation.

And why was Mallett even on the field? It was because of a concussion suffered by starter Joe Flacco when he was hit in the head by Dolphins defender Kiko Alonso during a slide. Any potential discipline is still forthcoming, but Ravens left tackle Ronnie Stanley believes it was a dirty hit.

Pittsburgh Steelers: The Pittsburgh Steelers have their first primetime game of the season this week, taking on the Detroit Lions on Sunday Night Football. Behind the Steel Curtain’s Jeff Hartman takes a look into the Week 8 matchup and notes that Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford has a strong track record in post-bye week games, of which Sunday’s is the latest.

Also: Anthony Defeo argues that rookie receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster is just the breath of fresh air the Steelers needed this year, particularly with so much drama surrounding fellow wideout Martavis Bryant.

Cincinnati Bengals: The Cincinnati Bengals will have two key starters back on the field for their Week 8 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts, reports Cincy Jungle’s Jason Marcum. Cornerback Adam Jones, who missed Week 7 with a back injury, and wide receiver John Ross, who hasn’t played since Week 2, are both on track for Sunday’s contest.

Also: Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict found himself in trouble yet again, and the result is another fine. Marcum reports that Burfict was fined $12,154 for kicking Steelers fullback Roosevelt Nix in the Bengals’ Week 7 loss. He’s been fined over $2.5 million so far during his career.