BALTIMORE RAVENS (1-3) AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS (2-2)
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (1-2) AT CINCINNATI BENGALS (3-0)
CHIEFS: QB ALEX SMITH won only career start vs. Cin. (9/25/11 w/ SF) & completed 20 of 30 (66.7 pct.) for 201 yards. Since 2011, is 39-18-1 (.681) as starter with 12,177 yards, 75 TDs, 26 INTs & 92.4 rating…RB JAMAAL CHARLES has 19 TDs in past 16 (13 rush, 6 rec.). Rushed for 3 TDs last week vs. GB & has 63 total career TDs, surpassing LARRY JOHNSON (61) & OTIS TAYLOR (60) for 3rd in club history. Has 242 scrimmage yards (121 per game) in past 2 vs. Cin. Averages 5.5 yards per att. for career, highest of any NFL RB in history (min. 750 att.)…Last week, WR JEREMY MACLIN led team with 8 catches for 141 yards & scored 1st TD since joining KC. In past 7, TE TRAVIS KELCE has 39 rec. for 528 yards with 3 TDs…In past 13, LB JUSTIN HOUSTON has 18 sacks & 4 FF. Since 2012, ranks 2nd in NFL with 46 sacks (J.J. WATT). LB TAMBA HALI (80.5) had sack last week & joined HOFer DERRICK THOMAS (126.5) & NEIL SMITH (85.5) as only Chiefs with 80 career.
BENGALS:Aim for 1st 4-0 start since 2005…Last week, QB ANDY DALTON passed for career-high 383 yards with 4 total TDs (3 pass, 1 rush) & 122.3 rating. Aims for 4th in row with 115 rating. Has 43-23-1 (.649) career regular-season record, highest win pct. of any Bengals QB (min. 20 starts)…In past 5 at home, RB JEREMY HILL averages 95.8 scrimmage yards/game (441 rush, 38 rec.) & has 3 rush TDs. RB GIOVANI BERNARD has 80 scrimmage yards in 5 of past 6, incl. 83 vs. Bal…Last week, WR A.J. GREEN became 2nd player in NFL history with 10 catches (10), 225 rec. yards (227) & 2 TDs, incl. GW TD in 4th qtr./OT in same game (MILES AUSTIN). WR MARVIN JONES had 5 catches for 94 yards & TD last week. Aims for 3rd in row with TD catch. TE TYLER EIFERT has TD catch in 2 of past 3…DT GENO ATKINS has sack in 2 of past 3. Since 2010, leads AFC DTs with 34 sacks. Since entering NFL in 2007, S REGGIE NELSON is 1 of 3 NFL players with 20 INTs (23) & 6 sacks (6.5).
CLEVELAND BROWNS (1-2) AT SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (1-2)
BROWNS:QB JOSH MC COWN completed 28 of 49 for 341 yards with 2 TDs last week & surpassed 1,000 career completions (1,011)…RB ISAIAH CROWELL (835) needs 165 scrimmage yards to reach 1,000 career. Rookie RB DUKE JOHNSON (Round 3, No. 77 overall) had career-best 6 catches for 32 yards last week…WR TRAVIS BENJAMIN has 4 TD catches in past 3, incl. 1 vs. Oak. last week. Has 12 career TDs (9 rec, 3 PR) & averages 45.1 yards per score. WR ANDREW HAWKINS (1,904) needs 96 rec. yards to reach 2,000 career…Last week, TE GARY BARNIDGE had career-highs in catches (6) & receiving yards (105) & scored 1st TD since 12/8/13...LB KARLOS DANSBY leads team with 25 tackles. Has 2 sacks & FF in 2 career meetings. Since entering NFL in 2004, is only NFL player with 40 sacks (41) & 15 INTs (16). Since 2007, CB TRAMON WILLIAMS is only NFL CB with 20 INTs (28) & 4 sacks (4.5). Had 43-yard INT-TD in last meeting (11/6/11 with GB). Since 2014, S TASHAUN GIPSON has AFC-best 7 INTs.
CHARGERS:QB PHILIP RIVERS (257) needs 4 TD passes to tie DAVE KRIEG for No. 13 all-time. Has 2-1 career record vs. Cle. & has passed for 738 yards with 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 97.8 rating. Since 2006, ranks 2nd in NFL with 37,397 pass yards (DREW BREES)…RB MELVIN GORDON (No. 15 overall) leads NFL rookies with 190 rush yards, incl. 51 last week vs. Min. In only career meeting (11/7/10 with NE), RB DANNY WOODHEAD had 92 scrimmage yards (54 rush, 38 rec.)…WR KEENAN ALLEN led team with 12 catches for 133 yards & 2 TDs last week. Has 5 TDs in past 7. WR STEVIE JOHNSON has TD catch in 2 of past 3. Since entering NFL in 2004, WR MALCOM FLOYD ranks 3rd in NFL with 17.2 rec. avg. (min. 200 catches)…S ERIC WEDDLE leads team with 25 tackles, incl. team-high 8 last week vs. Vikings. Since 2007, is 1 of 4 NFL players with 19 INTs (19) & 6 sacks (6). CB STEVE WILLIAMS posted 1st career INT last week.
