BREAKING: Pittsburgh Steelers to Sign QB Russell Wilson – AFC North Tracker
Keep up to date with all the latest BREAKING news around the AFC North with the Baltimore Ravens division Tracker.
2024 playoffs.
That news comes on the heels of Peacock paying $110 million to broadcast the Chiefs-Dolphins Wild Card game last season, bringing in a record number of streamers.
The Saturday night contest brought in an average of 23 million viewers and 16.3 million devices streaming at once, doubling the record for a single day in the history of Peacock.
Amazon currently pays an average of $58.8 million per game to stream Thursday Night Football.
FEB 17 LEFTY DRIESELL PASSES AWAY Former Maryland Terrapins men’s basketball coach Lefty Driesell passed away his family announced on Saturday. He was 92.
Maryland announced they would honor Driesell with a moment of silence before their Saturday matchup with No. 14 Illinois. They’ll also break out 1970s throwback uniforms previously worn on Jan. 21 when the Terrapins honored Driesell.
Driesell coached Maryland from 1969-1986 and ushered the Terrapins into national prominence until the death of All-American Len Bias
FEB 8 FLACCO WINS CPoY Former Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco has won Comeback Player of the Year at the NFL Honors Awards ceremony Thursday night.
In late November, Flacco was signed to the Browns’ practice squad, following a season-ending injury to starting quarterback Deshaun Watson. He was then named the starter for Week 13 against the Rams after Dorian Thompson-Robinson suffered a concussion.
Flacco started five games for the Browns and went 4-1 as a starter before the playoffs. He completed 123 of 204 passes for 1,616 yards, 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions while completing 60.3 percent of his passes.
Leading the Browns to the postseason, Cleveland matched up with the resurgent Texans in the Wild Card round and lost 45-14.
Flacco completed 34 of 46 passes for 307 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in his first postseason game since 2015.
JAN 10 MACDONALD TO TENNESSEE? After the firing of Mike Vrabel in Tennessee, the Titans have requested permission from the Ravens to interview defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald for the vacancy.
Macdonald is in his second season as the Baltimore defensive coordinator after arriving from Michigan where he served in the same capacity under Ravens coach John Harbaugh’s brother, Jim.
JAN 8 WASHINGTON WANTS WEAVER The Washington Commanders need a new coach after firing Ron Rivera, and they are looking locally at potential replacements.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Commanders have requested an interview for Baltimore Ravens defensive assistant Anthony Weaver.
Weaver, 43, was a second-round pick by the Ravens in 2002 and played four seasons in Baltimore. He returned to the team to coach the defensive line in 2021 and has been on John Harbaugh’s staff for three seasons. In 2022, he was promoted to assistant head coach.
JAN 5 IRVIN RIPS COOK’S BALTIMORE RECIPE The Playmaker isn’t a fan of contemporary’s recent audible.
Former Dallas Cowboys star Michael Irvin, perhaps sour over rejection, used Friday’s episode of Fox Sports’ “Undisputed” to tear Dalvin Cook’s decision to sign with the Baltimore Ravens over his former employers. Multiple reports linked both the Ravens and Cowboys to the four-time Pro Bowler’s services but he made his move to Charm City official on Friday. That didn’t sit well with Irvin, who felt that Cook would’ve been able to make a more noticeable impact on Dallas’ fortunes.
“I think it’s a poor decision on Dalvin Cook’s part,” Irvin said. “Why and how are you going to prove your worth when (Baltimore is) already where they are (as a rushing offense)? How can you tell these other teams that you (create) an impact?”
To Irvin’s point, Cook may be looking to impress in a relatively short period considering the the dwindling market for seasoned running backs, no matter how impressive their resumes may be. Whereas Cook is set to join a Baltimore rushing attack that has gotten over the losses of JK Dobbinson and Keaton Mitchell with a steady attack of Gus Edwards and Justice Hill (not to mention the dual-threat talents of Lamar Jackson), Dallas is ailing in the run game: incumbent leading rusher Tony Pollard has struggled in his first days as the undisputed top backfield option and backups Rico Dowdle and Deuce Vaught are both nursing injuries.
DEC 19 RAVENS ADD FORMER TERP TO PRACTICE SQUAD Per Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic, the Baltimore Ravens are bringing a former Maryland Terrapin back to the Chesapeake, as running back Jake Funk will be added to the team’s practice squad. Combined with the return of Melvin Gordon to the active roster, Baltimore (11-3) continues to adjust its rushing attack in the wake of Keaton Mitchell’s season-ending injury.
Funk racked up 2,070 yards from scrimmage over four years with the Terps and was later chosen in the seventh round of the 2021 draft by the Los Angeles Rams. As a rookie, the Gaithersburg native appeared in 10 games during Los Angeles’ run to Super Bowl LVI, primarily partaking on special teams. Funk previously played four games with the Indianapolis Colts this season.
DEC 16 BENGALS WIN THRILLER OVER VIKINGS, KEEP PRESSURE ON RAVENS The first of three NFL games on Sunday, as the Cincinnati Bengals defeated the Minnesota Vikings 27-24 in an overtime thriller.
Cincinnati, once left for dead after Joe Burrow went down for the season, has now won three straight games thanks to the steady hand of backup quarterback Jake Browning.
With their hot streak, the Bengals are keeping pace in the very crowded AFC playoff picture. Saturday’s win propels them up to the No. 6 seed with an 8-6 record, at least for the time being. The Pittsburgh Steelers, Indianapolis Colts, and Denver Broncos, who also entered the day at 7-6, play later, with the former two facing each other. The Houston Texans and Buffalo Bills, who also have the same record, play on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the Bengals also keep the pressure on the AFC North-leading Baltimore Ravens, who hold the conference’s top seed at 10-3. The Ravens are two games ahead of the Cleveland Browns for the division lead, but with all four teams still alive for the division title, Baltimore can’t afford to get complacent.
Phillips’ Achilles injury in their 34-13 win over the New York Jets on Friday, per a report from NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport.
The former 2010 first-round pick spent last season with the Ravens, playing in 14 games while totaling 26 tackles, five for a loss, three sacks, three quarterback hits, and an interception.
Since then, Pierre-Paul briefly spent time with the New Orleans Saints, where he played in just one game before being picked up off their practice squad by the Dolphins.
NOV 24 DEL RIO FIRED After yet another embarrassing performance by the Commanders defense – this time to division rival Dallas – Washington has fired its defensive coordinator, Jack Del Rio according to multiple reports.
The Commanders just suffered an embarrassing 45-10 loss to the Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day. Washington has also fired its defensive back coach Brent Vieselmeyer. Del Rio was in his fourth season as the DC in Washington and has faced criticism throughout much of his tenure.
Head coach Ron Rivera has always backed Del Rio, but now, with Rivera’s own job on the line, decided to make the move. Rivera, who is also a defensive coach, will likely handle the defensive playcalling moving forward.
Matt Canada has been relieved of his duties as offensive coordinator,” head coach Mike Tomlin wrote in a statement released first thing Tuesday morning. “I appreciate Matt’s hard work and dedication, and I wish him the best moving forward in his career.”
This season, the Steelers are 6-4 and in third place in the division, which is led by 8-3 Baltimore. But the Pittsburgh offense has been poor, ranking 28th in yards per game, 30th in yards and 28th in points per game.
NOV 19 FINES, FINES, EVERYWHERE THERE’S FINES The NFL is adding to its own self-imposed silly scrutiny with what seems like an increase in fines against players who … haven’t done anything wrong.
The latest foolishness? On Saturday, the league handed down a fine of $10,927 to Ravens wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. What did