It’s the bye week for the Baltimore Ravens, and the absence of Baltimore football could put a damper on your Sunday afternoon. Ravens fans need not panic though, as there are plenty of games to watch, and teams to root for, this Sunday. For Baltimore to have any chance at making the playoffs, they will need some help from other teams. This week there are many games that will impact the Ravens and their standing. Here is the list of games to watch, and teams to root for.
Buffalo Bills (5-3) v.s. New Orleans Saints (6-2)
This game is a matchup of two teams that have taken the NFL by storm this year. Both the Bills and Saints finished with a 7-9 record last season, both missing the playoffs. Now, both of these teams have a winning record midseason, and each are in the thick of the playoff hunt. The Saints are led by future hall of fame quarterback Drew Brees, and a fantastic offense, with a much-improved defense. The Bills are in a similar situation. Tyrod Taylor has played well, and LeSean McCoy continues to defy father time. The Bills defense has also played well this season, and their turnover differential stands as the best in the league, at 11. As an NFC team facing an AFC team in the wildcard race, Ravens fans should root for the Saints to extend their six-game win streak to seven games.
Who to Root For: New Orleans
Los Angeles Chargers (3-5) v.s. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-3)
This is a game where either outcome could be good for the Ravens. If the Jacksonville Jaguars win, the Los Angeles Chargers will be all but knocked out of the playoff race, clearing the road for Baltimore. If the Chargers win, then the Jaguars record will be knocked down to 5-4, putting their wild-card slot in jeopardy for the Ravens to take. The Jaguars have a tiebreaker over the Ravens, by virtue of their win in London. A loss would give the Ravens a chance to climb into the wildcard slot that the Jaguars currently own. Because the Jaguars are more of a threat to the Ravens in the playoff race, Ravens fans should root for the Chargers to get the upset in this one.
Who to Root For: Los Angeles Chargers
Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2) v.s. Indianapolis Colts (3-6)
It’s the Pittsburgh Steelers. Root against them. They are currently sitting atop the AFC North, and if the Ravens want to somehow win the division, they will need a few Steelers losses to pile up. The Colts are not a real playoff threat with Andrew Luck out for the season, and a less than impressive defense. Ravens fans need to root for the Colts, but it isn’t very likely that Indianapolis will win this one. It would be a very pleasant surprise, though, if they do.
Who to Root For: Indianapolis Colts
New York Jets (4-5) v.s. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-6)
Like the Saints and Bills, both the Jets and Buccaneers have been surprising this season. The Buccaneers were supposed to be a team in contention for the NFC South division title. However, they have largely underperformed this season. The Jets, on the other hand, were supposed to be a team in tank mode, clearing their old talent, and waiting for new talent next season. However, the Jets have outperformed all expectations. Josh McCown has played very well at quarterback and is the key to a Jets victory. The Buccanneers will have former Jets quarterback, Ryan Fitzpatrick at the helm this week, as Jameis Winston is dealing with a shoulder injury. The Buccaneers are an NFC team, and will not affect the Ravens’ playoff standings. The Jets are an AFC team, and certainly will. Ravens fans should root for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to upset the New York Jets this Sunday.
Who to Root For: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Cincinnati Bengals (3-5) v.s. Tennessee Titans (5-3)
This game is somewhat conflicting for Ravens fans. On one hand, you have the Cincinnati Bengals, who are almost as hateable as the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, the Bengals are facing a major threat to a Ravens playoff run, the Tennessee Titans. The Ravens lost to the Titans last week, giving Tennessee a head-to-head tiebreaker. This game presents a similar situation to that of the Jacksonville and Los Angeles game. If the Bengals win, they knock the Tennessee Titans down a peg, giving the Ravens a better chance of taking that wild card slot. If the Titans win, they practically knock the Bengals out of the playoff race, both in the AFC North and in the AFC wild card. The Ravens will have an opportunity to play the Bengals again in the last game of the season. Baltimore will not be able to play the Titans again this season. For that reason, Ravens fans should hold their nose, and root for the Cincinnati Bengals.
Who to Root For: Cincinnati Bengals
Houston Texans (3-5) v.s. Los Angeles Rams (6-2)
The Houston Texans were considered to be a major playoff, and perhaps Super Bowl, contender. That was until rookie quarterback, Deshaun Watson, tore his ACL in practice. Now out for the rest of the season, the Texans are led by former Rutgers and Pittsburgh quarterback, Tom Savage. With the loss of Watson, the big play ability has been sucked right out of the Texans. The Texans are now bordering playoff elimination, as falling to 3-6 would make it very difficult to compete for a postseason berth. The Los Angeles Rams are on a roll. Jared Goff is in his second year as the Rams quarterback and has played at an elite level. The Rams are going in as the heavy favorites over the Texans, and Ravens fans should hope that the favorites leave Houston with a victory.
Who to Root For: Los Angeles Rams
New England Patriots (6-2) v.s. Denver Broncos (3-5)
The New England Patriots take on the Denver Broncos in Denver. I usually never would root for the Patriots, but this time is an exception. The New England Patriots are more than likely to win their division, the AFC East. The Denver Broncos are not going to win their division, the AFC West. If the Broncos fall to the Patriots this Sunday night, they will likely fall out of the playoff hunt, with a 3-6 record. This would help clear the field for a Ravens playoff run. For that reason, Ravens fans are going to have to root for a Patriots victory.
Who to Root For: New England Patriots
Miami Dolphins (4-4) v.s. Carolina Panthers (6-3)
The Miami Dolphins are going full tank mode mid-season. They entered a Thursday Night matchup against the Ravens a few weeks ago, only to get utterly demolished. Since that game, they fell from a 4-2 record to a 4-4 record. The Dolphins have one of, if not, the worst offenses in the entire NFL. If the Dolphins lose this game, it will be an uphill battle for them to obtain a playoff berth. The Panthers, as an NFC team, do not affect the Ravens’ standings in the playoff race. A Carolina victory would bump up Baltimore in the standings. Both Miami and Baltimore would have a 4-5 record, but the Ravens have the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Dolphins. For that reason, Ravens fans should root for a Carolina Panthers victory on Monday Night.
