AFC North Week 4 Sunday Preview

Article by Gordon Dedman

Kansas City Chiefs (1-2) at Cincinnati Bengals (3-0)

With the AFC North as competitive as it is, if the Bengals beat the Chiefs Sunday it will cement their position at the top of the division and their playoff chances will be extremely plausible. Last year, they sped to a 3-0 record before stalling to 3-3. They won’t want to repeat that ordeal.

Obviously, the injury to one of the top quarterbacks in the division may affect the thinking of the other teams. Asked about Ben Roethlisberger, Coach Marvin Lewis was quick to retort, "Not my concern. Ben doesn't play for the Chiefs."

 

If Roethlisberger is out for the projected four weeks, he will return to play against the Bengals. It may transpire that Cincinnati will hold a firm grip on the division by then, but they need to overcome the Chiefs first before contemplating what will be.

Head to head, the Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton comes out on top of his opponent Alex Smith. I expect Dalton to continue the team’s winning way. Cincinnati has the momentum and also the desire to extend their streak.

Cleveland Browns (1-2) at San Diego Chargers (1-2)

Phillip Rivers offers the Chargers what the Browns desperately need - stability at quarterback. Rivers has been San Diego’s starter for ten years during which time he has led them to the playoffs five times, including a visit to the AFC Championship game they lost to the Patriots.

During that time I make it fifteen different starting quarterbacks for Cleveland and no postseason visits to the playoffs with just one winning season. I guess there must be a connection there.

 

Cleveland believe they key to the game is keeping the Chargers receiver Keenan Allen quiet. That approach is a good one, but easier said than done.

Josh McCown still gets the nod from coach Pettine as the Browns quarterback while there are rumours of unrest with his teammates over McCown being the starter, but a couple of weeks ago stories emerged the players preferred McCown over Johnny Manziel.

That’s Cleveland for you and I can’t see life getting better for the Dawg Pound as the win in San Diego is unlikely.