The Baltimore Ravens have a game of their own this week but with the 2019 season winding down, it’s the time of the year where we pay attention to the rest of the league.
While the Ravens can clinch the top spot in the AFC playoff picture by beating the Cleveland Browns, they have a pretty solid backup plan. With a little help, it won’t matter how Baltimore performs in Week 16, they can still lock up the No. 1 seed. But to get there, Ravens fans will have to start rooting for a few other teams.
Let’s take a look at which teams Baltimore should be cheering on in Week 16.
Buffalo Bills (10-4) at New England Patriots (11-3)
Rooting for: Bills
This is a huge game for both Buffalo and New England. It would open the door for the Bills to take the lead in the AFC East in Week 17 and could be the end of a Patriots stranglehold on the division. More importantly, it’s a piece of the puzzle for the Ravens this week.
If Baltimore were to fall to Cleveland, Buffalo beating New England would lock the Ravens into at least the No. 2 seed this week. Baltimore would get a first-round bye in the postseason if the Bills handle their business in Week 16.
Cincinnati Bengals (1-13) at Miami Dolphins (3-11)
Rooting for: Dolphins
Alright, so this one has absolutely no playoff implications. But let’s be honest . . . We don’t really want the Bengals to have the No. 1 pick in the 2020 NFL draft.
They might be dreadful this season but getting the top pick in the draft would gift them the choice of any quarterback they want or another sure-fire impact player. While potentially falling down to No. 2 wouldn’t really change much, that pick is worth a lot less in a trade and it would hamstring Cincinnati a little more. It’s not much but that’s enough to root for the Dolphins this week.
Kansas City Chiefs (10-4) at Chicago Bears (7-7)
Rooting for: Bears
Much like the Patriots-Bills, this game is critically important to Baltimore this week. If they fall to the Browns, the Ravens can still lock up the No. 1 or No. 2 seed with a little help from Chicago.
A Bears win over the Chiefs would put Baltimore no worse than in the No. 2 seed and give them a first-round bye. But when combined with a New England loss, it would clinch the No. 1 seed for the Ravens regardless of how they play in Week 16.
Pittsburgh Steelers (8-6) at New York Jets (5-9)
Rooting for: Jets
This game is going to be interesting for a few reasons. Top among them is the reunion of running back Le’Veon Bell to the Steelers — the team he held out on last year to get paid this offseason. But once again, it matters quite a bit to Baltimore as well.
While the Ravens handled Pittsburgh back in Week 5, they almost assuredly don’t want to see them in the playoffs. Not only would it be nice to be the only AFC North team in the postseason, but the Steelers are also one of the few teams well-coached enough to get tougher in the playoffs.
A loss to New York wouldn’t kick Pittsburgh out of the postseason but it would open the door for a team like the Tennessee Titans to potentially take over their spot.
