Sunday reference material.
The third week of the 2024 NFL regular season is underway and early implications for chasing the playoffs have arrived for the Baltimore Ravens.
Here are the teams you want to root for — or against — in Week 3.
RAVENS GAME
Baltimore Ravens (0-2) at Dalls Cowboys: If the Ravens lose today, they’ll fall to a desolate 0-3 and their fate will be in their Week 4 contest against the Buffalo Bills in Week 4. Go Ravens.
AFC NORTH
Cleveland Browns (1-1) vs. New York Giants (0-2): Daniel Jones, can you get a win? The Ravens would sure appreciate another team in the AFC North dropping an expected easy win. Root for the Giants.
Pittsburgh Steelers (2-0) vs. Los Angeles Chargers (2-0): While it’s not ideal to have to root for another team in the AFC who is already up 2-0 on the schedule, as the Wildcard is the strongest route for the Ravens as of now, they could still win the division with a few plummeting games from the Steelers and take care of business within the division. Does it make it any easier rooting for the Chargers because the team is practically the Los Angeles Ravens? Root for the Chargers.
Cincinnati Bengals (0-2) vs. Washington Commanders (1-1): The Bengals went from their classic Week 1 loss to fighting to the very end against the Chiefs in Week 2. They’ll be looking to handle rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. Hope instead for the Commanders to put them down to 0-3. Root for the Commanders.
AFC PLAYOFF PICTURE
Tennessee Titans (0-2) vs. Green Bay Packers (1-1): Any and all help to bury the AFC is a welcome sight from the NFC. Root for the Packers.
Indianapolis Colts (0-2) vs. Chicago Bears (1-1): Ditto above. Root for the Bears.
Houston Texans (2-0) at Minnesota Vikings (2-0): Yet another team in the NFC North to root for against an AFC South opponent. Keeping the wins as low as possible for AFC teams when facing the opposite conference benefits the Ravens. Root for the Vikings.
Denver Broncos (0-2) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-0): Keep the Sean Payton Broncos down and root for the good-natured story of Baker Mayfield to continue clobbering teams. I’m all for it. Root for the Bucs.
Las Vegas Raiders (1-1) vs. Carolina Panthers (0-2): One of the few times we’ve been able to say this but… Go Andy Dalton? Gross. Nonetheless, a big loss today for the Raiders keeps the playoff picture wide open for the Ravens if that’s the route. Root for the Panthers.
Miami Dolphins (1-1) at Seattle Seahawks (2-0): The Dolphins are a team that could come clawing back after the loss of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa if he returns and remains healthy. In the mean time, root for former Ravens DC Mike Macdonald to clobber their backup quarterback, even if it’s Tyler Huntley. Root for the Seahawks.
Kansas City Chiefs (2-0) at Atlanta Falcons (1-1): Somebody, please put an end to the Chiefs so we don’t have to hear about them being undefeated after Week X and deal with the unrelenting praise for the darn Chiefs. Kirk Cousins, please execute. Root for the Falcons.
Jacksonville Jaguars (0-2) at Buffalo Bills (2-0): The Jaguars are already in the basement along with every other AFC South squad besides Houston. Getting a win and knocking down the Bills a peg would be beneficial. If the Ravens take care of business against the Cowboys and Bills, that puts them at 2-2, the same as the red-hot Bills have been. Root for the Jaguars.