1 / 4 of the way in which by means of the 2024 NFL season, we’re assessing who’s trending up and down in every division.
This is the AFC North’s inventory report from Weeks 1-4.
Top off: Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields
Fields is enjoying one of the best soccer of his profession, throwing for 830 yards and three touchdowns whereas additionally speeding for 145 yards and one other three scores.
The No. 11 total decide in 2021 has been extremely criticized for not seeing the sphere properly sufficient and turning the soccer over to start out 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 creating 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 method 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 considered 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.
In truth, his backup, Isaiah Possible, 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 properly 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.
Top off: Cincinnati Bengals vast receiver Ja’Marr Chase
The Bengals offense struggled by means of the primary two weeks of the season, but it surely 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 vast 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 ought to be no totally 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 absolutely 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 a giant motive why Cleveland is presently 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 will be the quarterback of this offense, we have all received to be all the way in which locked in, and proper now we’re not doing sufficient to get the W. So you possibly can put it on me for certain.”
If Watson’s struggles proceed, the group will probably be compelled to look elsewhere for somebody who might present a much-needed spark to the offense.
