The Baltimore Ravens have their own game to worry about, taking on the Los Angeles Rams in Week 12. However, though the Ravens can just worry about their own schedule and still lock up at least a No. 2 seed if they win out, a little help from the rest of the league never hurt anyone.
In Week 12, Baltimore has a chance to improve their standings even further, including getting that much closer to formally locking up their AFC North crown. So let’s take a look at this week’s rooting guide so you know which teams to be cheering for and which games don’t matter as much.
Dallas Cowboys at New England Patriots
Rooting for: Cowboys
The Patriots are right ahead of the Ravens in the AFC playoff race, thanks to just one more win. But with a head-to-head tiebreaker, a New England loss and Baltimore win would put the Ravens in the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoff picture.
A No. 1 seed means home-field advantage throughout the entire postseason as well as a first-round bye. For a team that plays well off their bye and will likely need an extra week to recuperate from a long season, that should be the best path to Baltimore playing in Super Bowl LIV.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals
Rooting for: Bengals
The Ravens can lock up the AFC North by Week 14 if they get a little help and win their own games. One of the things that need to happen is for Pittsburgh to lose both in Week 12 and 13. That means losing to Cincinnati this week.
Granted, the Bengals have yet to win a single game and the Steelers’ defense has been playing significantly better as the season has worn on. But in the AFC North, there are absolutely no guarantees, especially when one team is as desperate for a statement win to potentially save jobs like Cincinnati is right now. Add to it the suspension of center Maurkice Pouncey and an injury to wide receiver JuJu Smith Schuster and you have the recipe for an upset brewing.
Miami Dolphins at Cleveland Browns
Rooting for: Dolphins
The other thing that has to happen for Baltimore to lock up the AFC North by Week 14 is for Cleveland to lose this week. Much like the Steelers and Bengals game we just talked about, this would be an upset considering how dreadful the Dolphins have been this season. But considering the Browns have been arguably the most hot-and-cold team in the NFL this year, don’t put anything down as impossible here.
Miami has been playing much better football over the last few weeks, picking up wins over the New York Jets and Indianapolis Colts before losing to a playoff-caliber team in the Buffalo Bills. The Browns also have several suspensions going after their end-game fight against the Steelers and have looked as bad as any team in the league at points this season.
Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos
Rooting for: Broncos
While the Bills are currently the fifth seed in the AFC playoff picture, they have a 7-3 record. That’s a little close for comfort for the Ravens in my opinion. A Buffalo loss this week would give Baltimore a little breathing room — a one-game lead even if the Ravens lose this week and a two-game lead if Baltimore wins. With only a few games remaining, that type of lead over any team is massive.
But Denver will have to come through this week. While the Broncos are 3-7 and just haven’t been good this season, they’ve been playing more competitive football over their last three games, including two losses to playoff-caliber teams. With a change at quarterback and more desperation setting in for Denver, the Broncos could be primed for a big game and a statement win this week.
