The Ravens are in contention for the AFC North and the AFC No. 1 seed. Here’s what they need to go their way
Week 8 of the 2024 NFL regular season is underway and the Ravens are in the thick of chasing the playoffs. Usually, rooting guides aren’t this early but I don’t care. The Ravens are after the No. 1 seed yet again, so I’m doing this.
Here are the teams you want to root for and against in Week 8.
RAVENS GAME
Baltimore Ravens (5-2) at Cleveland Browns (1-6): A win against the Browns would be superb. Handling business in the division gives them a significant leg up over the competition as they’d be 6-2 and 2-0 in the division. This game is more critical than you’d expect. Root for the Ravens, duh.
AFC NORTH
Cincinnati Bengals (3-4) vs. Philadelphia Eagles (4-2): The Ravens all but buried the Bengals in Week 5, putting them at 1-4. But with the layup schedule they have, there is a significant chance they’ll have an all-important rematch in a few week with the Bengals being 5-4 and resurrected from banishment. Hey Nick Sirianni and Jalen Hurts? How about you put a stop to their two-game win streak and put them back in the basement. Thanks. Root for the Eagles.
Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2) vs. New York Giants (2-5): The Ravens and Steelers are neck-and-neck for the division right now. It sure would be great that the Ravens’ catch a break. After all, they’ve gone through a gauntlet. How about the Giants make it just a bit easier on the Ravens so they don’t have to sweep the division to win it, or the AFC? After all, they’ve struggled mightily against the Steelers and any sort of cushion would help. Root for the Giants.
AFC PLAYOFF PICTURE
Buffalo Bills (5-2) at Seattle Seahawks (4-3): Dear ole Mike Macdonald, it would sure be swell if you could dial up a few of them sweet, sweet exotic blitzes and put a damper on Josh Allen’s day. A real treat if you could knock them down a peg. And, it would help you, too! Root for the Seahawks.
Kansas City Chiefs (6-0) at Las Vegas Raiders (2-5): The Chiefs need to be stopped. Their preposterous magic with Patrick Mahomes having a negative TD/INT ratio yet being undefeated is a joke. Maybe Maxx Crosby can deliver some punishment and shred the Chiefs’ offense? Or, the Chiefs stumble enough to take an L? Yeah, that would be nice. Root for the Raiders.
Houston Texans (5-2) vs. Indianapolis Colts (4-3): The all-important Christmas Day date with the Texans is just under two months away. Rather than that being for a critical seed in the conference race, having them down a peg or two would be a benefit for the Ravens. Even though that puts the Colts within a game or two of the Ravens. Root for Indy.
Denver Broncos (4-3) vs. Carolina Panthers (1-6): The Ravens face the Broncos next week and yet again, it’s an important matchup. Prior to the Browns game, the Ravens are 2-2 in conference record. They’ll need to win the pending matchup to get above .500, and stay above it next week against Denver. But a bit of breathing room would be nice if the Ravens stumble into Wildcard contention. The fewer teams in the race, the better. Root for the Panthers.