AFC North

Joe Burrow has drawn some comparisons to Tom Brady throughout his young career for his style of play and immediate NFL success, but the Cincinnati Bengals star doesn't make a big deal of it.

"I don't really pay attention to it. He's Tom and I'm Joe," Burrow said Wednesday, per Geoff Hobson of the team's official site.

"I really just think that I play the game my own way. I kind of have a little bit of everybody. I wouldn't say there's one thing I do the best. But I would say that I do everything with the best of them. I wouldn't say I really have a glaring weakness."

Burrow has emerged as one of the top young quarterbacks in the NFL, leading the Bengals to the Super Bowl last season in just his second year in the league. He was ranked the No. 5 quarterback in the NFL in a poll of league personnel before the season, with one offensive coach saying he "might be the closest thing" to Brady.

Former Brady teammates Kevin Faulk, Ted Karras and Alex Cappa discussed the comparisons this week for Jay Morrison and Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic. Burrow also admitted there were some similarities in their game.

"I have the quick release," the quarterback said. "I've become really efficient with my lower body, getting the ball out and seeing the defense."

The Bengals are set to play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, giving Burrow the first chance to go head-to-head against Brady.

The Baltimore Ravens were already without star quarterback Lamar Jackson for Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and now they're down another signal-caller.

The Ravens announced that Tyler Huntley, who started under center in place of Jackson, has been ruled out with a concussion. He was replaced by rookie quarterback Anthony Brown.

Huntley was injured midway through the third quarter on a designed quarterback run after a huge hit from Steelers star safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. He had completed eight of 12 passes for 88 yards and added 31 rushing yards.

An undrafted free agent out of Oregon, Brown hadn't seen the field prior to being thrust into action Sunday. He threw for just 16 yards, but the Ravens managed to hold on for a 16-14 victory to improve to 9-4. Baltimore totaled 215 yards on the ground with a rushing attack led by J.K. Dobbins, who ran for 120 yards and a touchdown in his first game back from injured reserve after knee surgery in October.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Sunday that the Ravens are expected to be without Jackson for at least next week's game against the Cleveland Browns. The 25-year-old is reportedly dealing with a sprained PCL that typically requires 1-3 weeks of recovery time.

If Jackson were to miss another week, his next chance to return to the field would come on Christmas Eve against the Atlanta Falcons. The 2019 NFL MVP is set to test free agency this offseason, so he undoubtedly hopes to be at full strength going forward.

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley is reportedly preparing to make one or two starts in the absence of injured star Lamar Jackson.

Appearing Saturday on SportsCenter, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler explained Jackson's injury situation and what it means for Huntley:

Fowler noted that Huntley has "loosely prepared" to play one or two weeks, with three weeks likely being the worst-case scenario for Jackson, who suffered a sprained PCL in his knee against the Denver Broncos last week.

After Jackson left last week's game, Huntley stepped in and completed 27 of 32 passes for 187 yards with no touchdowns and one interception, plus he rushed for 41 yards and the game-winning score in the fourth quarter of a 10-9 victory.

The 24-year-old was an undrafted free agent out of Utah in 2020, and he firmly established himself as the Ravens' top backup under center last season.

Jackson missed four games because of injury last season and missed some time in others, resulting in Huntley appearing in seven contests and making four starts. He went only 1-3 as a starter but often succeeded in keeping the Ravens competitive.

He finished 2021 with a 64.9 completion percentage, 1,081 yards, three touchdowns and four interceptions. Like Jackson, his greatest strength was his ability to do damage with his legs, as he rushed for 294 yards and two touchdowns.

While Huntley is capable, Jackson is one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in the game and already has two Pro Bowl selections and the 2019 NFL MVP Award in five campaigns.

This season, Jackson is 8-4 as a starter and has completed 62.3 percent of his passes for 2,242 yards, 17 touchdowns and seven picks while also rushing for 764 yards and three scores.

Although there is never a good time for a star quarterback to get injured, the Ravens do have the benefit of an easy schedule down the stretch.

Of their five remaining games, the only one against a team with a winning record is their Week 18 road clash with the Cincinnati Bengals that could be a contest for the AFC North title.

Jackson should be back by then, but there is uncertainty regarding which of the next few games he will be able to play in.

He is doubtful to play Sunday against the 5-7 Pittsburgh Steelers and may not be able to go against the 5-7 Cleveland Browns the following week.

If Fowler's timeline of missing one or two weeks holds true, Jackson should be able to step back into the starting lineup against the 5-8 Atlanta Falcons in Week 16.

The Baltimore Ravens are expecting to start Tyler Huntley on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers with Lamar Jackson battling a knee injury.

Jackson suffered a sprained PCL during Baltimore's Week 13 win over the Denver Broncos, and head coach John Harbaugh told reporters he would be evaluated on a week-to-week basis but would not be out for the season.

Any setback to the 25-year-old is concerning given his overall importance to the team and a playing style that calls for him to run the ball more often than most quarterbacks. That running ability is a major reason why his resume includes a league MVP and two Pro Bowl selections.

Jackson has completed 62.3 percent of his passes for 2,242 yards, 17 touchdowns and seven interceptions while adding 764 yards and three touchdowns on the ground in 12 games this season.

Huntley isn't as dynamic as Jackson, but he is someone who can also use his legs if needed. He started four games for the Ravens last season and can keep the team afloat in the meantime.

The NFL announced the eight finalists for the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award on Thursday, and a trio of running backs lead the way.

Aaron Jones of the Green Bay Packers, Nick Chubb of the Cleveland Browns and Dalvin Cook of the Minnesota Vikings were among the players nominated for the award:

The Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award was introduced in 2014 and named after late Pittsburgh Steelers founding owner Art Rooney Sr. Per Packers reporter Wes Hodkiewicz, the award "recognizes players who best demonstrate the qualities of on-field sportsmanship, including fair play, respect for the game and opponents and integrity in competition."

The eight finalists were selected from 32 nominees by a panel of former players made up of Warrick Dunn, Curtis Martin, Leonard Wheeler and Larry Fitzgerald, who chose four finalists from each of the AFC and NFC.

The finalists will be included on the Pro Bowl ballot under the NFL Sportsmanship Award category when NFL players can begin voting later this month. Each team will submit a consensus vote for one of the finalists, and a team cannot vote for its own player.

Fitzgerald was the first honoree to receive the award. Last season's winner was New England Patriots special teamer Matthew Slater.

This year's selection will be announced as part of the NFL Honors show on Feb. 9 prior to Super Bowl LVII. The winner will get to make a $25,000 donation via the NFL Foundation to the charity of his choosing.

Baltimore Ravens star Lamar Jackson suffered a sprained PCL in the team's 10-9 victory over the Denver Broncos in Week 13, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Schefter added injuries of this nature "often sideline" a player for one to three weeks.

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh provided an update Monday and said the injury will be a "weekly thing" and that Jackson was likely to miss the Week 14 tilt with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

That leaves Tyler Huntley in line to start his fifth game with the team.

The third-year signal-caller went 27-of-32 for 187 yards and an interception after coming on against the Broncos. For his career, he has thrown for 1,283 yards, three touchdowns and five interceptions in addition to gaining 358 yards and scoring three times on the ground.

Harbaugh told reporters the change won't require a total overhaul in terms of the scheme:

We run the same basic offense with both players [Jackson and Huntley]. [Huntley is] a player that's got a lot of dynamics to his game. He operates really well. So, if that's the way he goes [and Huntley starts for Jackson], that's the way it goes. We'll be excited to play, and our guys will be fired up.

Still, there's a clear gap between Jackson and Huntley, and Jackson's absence would be something Harbaugh and his staff have to work around.

The timing couldn't be much worse for Baltimore. At 8-4, the team is tied for the best record in the AFC North with the Cincinnati Bengals, who have won four games in a row and six of their last seven.

The Ravens will hope Jackson's recovery hits the shorter end of projections because the longer he's out, the more likely it is the Bengals overtake them for first place in the division.

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson likely won't play against the Pittsburgh Steelers this week as he recovers from a knee injury.

"He's been through the MRIs, and I would say it's kind of week-to-week," head coach John Harbaugh told reporters on Monday. "It's gonna be a weekly thing. So as the week goes on we'll see for this week. It's probably less likely for this week, but it's not impossible, and then after that it will become more and more likely."

The two-time Pro Bowler was forced to exit the team's Week 13 game against the Denver Broncos because of a knee injury.

Because they were unable to agree to a long-term extension, Jackson's impending free agency has been a dominant theme for the Ravens throughout the 2022 season. For his part, the 25-year-old has continued to show why he's worthy of a deal making him one of NFL's highest-paid players.

Through 12 games, Jackson has thrown for 2,242 yards, 17 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He remains a potent threat on the ground as well, running for 764 yards and three scores.

Nobody questioned his value before, but Jackson's knee injury was a reminder of how heliocentric the Ravens offense has become.

Baltimore earned a 10-9 victory over the Broncos after his exit but mustered only 285 yards of offense. Backup quarterback Tyler Huntley finished 27-of-32 for 187 yards and one interception.

The Ravens (8-4) are locked in a tight battle with the Cincinnati Bengals (8-4) for the AFC North title, and they will face each other in the final week of the regular season. Losing Jackson for any stretch of time will deal a blow to their hopes of securing the division.

The NFL MVP race is tightening.

Patrick Mahomes' stranglehold on his second MVP award loosened in Week 13, and the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback dropped to +125 odds (bet $100 to win $125) following Sunday's loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. DraftKings Sportsbook had Mahomes as an overwhelming -160 favorite heading into the weekend.

Joe Burrow saw his MVP odds slashed by more than half, going from +1400 to +600 after outdueling Mahomes for the second time in less than a year. Burrow threw for 286 yards and two touchdowns and added a score on the ground in the Bengals' 27-24 win.

Cincinnati held Mahomes to a season-low 223 passing yards and two touchdowns (one passing, one rushing). He has only thrown two passing touchdowns over the past two weeks.

Meanwhile, a monster performance from Jalen Hurts in Sunday's win over the Tennessee Titans has the Eagles quarterback on Mahomes' heels. Hurts threw for 380 yards and three touchdowns while adding 12 yards and a score on the ground. He sits at +175 odds to hoist his first MVP.

No other player other than Mahomes, Hurts and Burrow holds better than 10-1 odds. Tua Tagovailoa was the biggest loser of the weekend after turning the ball over three times in a loss to the San Francisco 49ers. His odds dropped from +500 all the way to +1200.

Peter King of NBC Sports called the MVP a "tossup" between Mahomes and Hurts. However, he has Burrow third in his rankings and noted the Bengals quarterback will "have something to say" about the honor over the final five weeks of the season.

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