Despite their three-game losing streak, the Ravens are in the mix for a playoff spot because it's largely a .500 league.
The Ravens need to win games, first and foremost, starting with Sunday's tilt against the rival Cincinnati Bengals. But other results from around the league will have a bearing on Baltimore's playoff chances as well.
Here's who Ravens fans should be rooting for in Week 11:
Tennessee Titans (5-4) at Indianapolis Colts (4-5)
Sunday, 1 p.m.
Hard one to pick. Both teams are suddenly hot in the AFC South and threatening to give that division two playoff teams. Andrew Luck's Colts have averaged 36 points per game during a three-game winning streak. The Titans surprisingly manhandled the Patriots last week to get their second straight quality win. The Ravens would have a head-to-head tiebreaker over the Titans, but need to catch them first. The Titans and Colts still have two games against each other, so the best-case scenario is that they split those games. If the Ravens and Colts win Sunday, there would be five 5-5 teams in the AFC: Ravens, Bengals, Colts, Titans and Dolphins.
Root for: Colts
Houston Texans (6-3) at Washington Redskins (6-3)
*_Sunday, 1 p.m._
The Texans are in the driver's seat in the AFC South, but if the Titans or Colts continue to roll, Ravens fans would want the Texans to falter. No harm in rooting for the Redskins.
*Root for: Redskins
Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2-1) at Jacksonville Jaguars (3-6)
Sunday, 1 p.m.
Pittsburgh is in good position to win the AFC North, but it isn't over yet. With tough games looming against the Chargers, Patriots and Saints, Pittsburgh could take some losses down the stretch. If the Steelers fall to the Jaguars, it makes the division crown suddenly a little more up for grabs. Meanwhile, if the Jaguars lose, a team that nearly went to the Super Bowl last year will be all but eliminated. So there's no "bad" scenario here, but a Steelers loss is better (and more fun) to pull for.
Root for: Jaguars
Denver Broncos (3-6) at Los Angeles Chargers (7-2)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m.
The Broncos are about to play two games against Ravens rivals Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. What if they got a momentum-building upset win over the Chargers first? A Denver loss would essentially eliminate them from the playoff mix. Meanwhile, the Chargers have won six straight and are in very good playoff position. But could a defeat send them tumbling and open up another postseason spot?
Root for: Broncos
Kansas City Chiefs (9-1) at Los Angeles Rams (9-1)
Monday, 8:15 p.m.
This is really thinking down the road, but the Ravens want every team in the AFC to be fighting for something in Week 17. Why? Because the Steelers face the Bengals (a top wild-card threat) in Week 17. If the Steelers have nothing to play for, such as a first-round playoff bye, they could rest their starters. A Kansas City loss makes the race for the AFC's top two seeds more competitive.
Root for: Rams
