The benefit of playing on a Thursday night is now the Ravens have some extra time to recover.
After the 23-20 overtime victory in Pittsburgh, the Ravens can kick back on Sunday and watch some of the other games around the NFL.
Here’s an overview of the Week 4 games that impact the Ravens and who you should root for.
Chiefs (1-2) at Bengals (3-0), 1 p.m.
Who to Root For: Toss up
The first thought would be to cheer on the Chiefs so that the Ravens could gain some ground in the division race. But the truth is the Ravens stand to benefit no matter who wins this game. Cincinnati already has a three-game advantage in the division, but the Bengals would help the Ravens in the wild-card standings by knocking off Kanas City. The Chiefs likely figure to be one of contenders for a wild-card bid, so dropping them to 1-3 on the year would be good for Baltimore.
Jets (2-1) vs. Dolphins (1-2) (in London), 9:30 a.m.
Who to Root For: Dolphins
The Jets have been one of the early surprises in the NFL after starting the season 2-0. The Dolphins have struggled so far, but they could gain some ground with a division win over the Jets. A Miami victory would also bring some more parity in the wild-card race, and keep the Jets from having a two-game lead over the Ravens in those standings.
Giants (1-2) vs. Bills (2-1), 1 p.m.
Who to Root For: Giants
The Ravens have loved seeing their former quarterback Tyrod Taylor have success in his new home this year, but it’s in Baltimore’s best interest for that to end this weekend. The Bills look like a team who will compete for a playoff bid with Taylor at quarterback and Rex Ryan on the sideline. Rooting for them to lose to an NFC team is a no brainer for Ravens fans.
Browns (1-2) vs. Chargers (1-2) 4:05 p.m.
Who to Root For: Browns
It’s rare to root for a division rival, but a Cleveland victory would actually help the Ravens in the long run. The Ravens still have two games against Cleveland so they don’t need to rely on anyone else to beat them. Also, the Chargers have been a playoff contender the last few years and they will likely be in that mix again. A Cleveland win would put the Chargers even with the Ravens in the wild-card standings.
Texans (1-2) vs. Falcons (3-0), 1 p.m.
Who to Root For: Falcons
The Falcons are an easy choice here. A win by the NFC South team would keep the Texans tied with the Ravens in the wild-card standings.
