As the weather begins to cool off, and the NFL season starts to heat up, the AFC North is proving to be a stiff battleground. While the Baltimore Ravens have the best overall record in their division, Cincinnati has secured first place by virtue of their 2-0 division record, both wins coming at the hands of the Ravens. Yesterday's action-packed contest came down to the wire as Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton took the lead late in the fourth quarter on a QB Sneak. Joe Flacco connected with Steve Smith for the winning touchdown, but was flagged for offensive pass interference. Baltimore lost 27-24.
In one of the toughest divisions in the NFL, the AFC North has three teams with two division losses thus far. The Bengals, however, are 2-0 in the AFC North, topping Baltimore twice. The Browns and Steelers might have a Wild Card shot, but the West is pretty stout too.
Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton scored his team's game-winning touchdown on a 1-yard keeper in the final minutes of the fourth quarter (via ESPN):
"That was a cool moment, a cool experience and exactly what we had to have in that situation."
The game wasn't remotely over, however. Baltimore had one final possession. With less than a minute to play, Joe Flacco threw two incomplete passes to Steve Smith, Sr. However, on the next play, Flacco connected with Smith for an 80-yard touchdown.
It was brought back, though. Smith pushed off against defender George Iloka. The pass interference call was the nail in Baltimore's coffin (via NFL.com):
"That was pass interference two years ago, it was pass interference last year, it's pass interference this year, and it will be pass interference for the next two years. I knew it right away."
Watch out for Pittsburgh and Cleveland, though. Those two stubborn teams won't lie down for anyone.
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