Who Should Ravens Hope To Face In Divisional Round?
John Harbaugh and his Baltimore Ravens won't have to worry about playing a game this week as the 2024 NFL Playoffs kick off. That's the beauty of earning not just the top overall seed in the AFC, but securing the best record in all of football.
Not having to play a game on wild-card weekend is great for a veteran team like Baltimore. It also allows them to watch and see which teams they would rather play in the divisional round. Luckily, there are three teams the team should be hoping to face and one that they should not want to see even if their lives depended on it.
It's not who you may think, either.
Should Want To Play: Pittsburgh Steelers
Baltimore has lost seven of their last eight games to their arch-rivals so there are plenty of people that would be concerned if the Steelers found a way to upset the Bills this weekend.
That being said, the likelihood of that happening is extremely slim.
As good as Mason Rudolph has played, Pittsburgh's defense is expected to be without T.J. Watt and could be without Minkah Fitzpatrick as well. Down their two best defenders isn't normally a good sign against an All-Pro caliber quarterback like Josh Allen.
Even if Pittsburgh can pull off an upset, the likelihood that they do it again in Baltimore would be slim. The Ravens would have multiple weeks to get fully healthy while the Steelers would not.
If the Ravens have to face their AFC North rival, they shouldn't be too concerned.
Should Want To Play: Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins have been the same team all year. They can look great against mediocre teams but look completely overwhelmed when they play a true contender.
Now, after losing the division in the final week of the season to the Bills, Miami has to travel to Arrowhead to take on a Chiefs team that is well-rested and won the AFC West.
If the Dolphins can beat Patrick Mahomes, there is a good chance that their next game will be against the Ravens.
Baltimore dispatched them earlier just last week, 56-19.
They won't, and shouldn't be concerned at all for the Fish. The Ravens have better plays in more important positions and are more physical.
Simple as that.
Should Want To Play: Houston Texans
CJ Stroud and DeMeco Ryans have done an incredible job in turning around the Texans franchise. They have a home playoff game this week after winning the AFC South due to their win on Saturday against the Colts, and Jacksonville's loss to Tennessee.
As good a story as Stroud and Ryans are, the likelihood of them walking in on the road to beat Lamar Jackson and Harbaugh isn't just slim, it's extremely unlikely.
With the week off, the Ravens are going to get their banged-up secondary back at full strength. That's a major difference in a game where Houston would have to play a dangerous wild-card team in the Cleveland Browns.
Speaking of those Browns...
Don't Want To Play: Cleveland Browns
Let me paint you a scenario:
- Joe Flacco (yes, the former Ravens franchise quarterback) leads Cleveland to a playoff victory over the Houston Texans and plays a superb game. He then walks into the team and places that dumped him for Lamar Jackson and can show them that his playoff resume is why he is more valuable than Jackson's MVP awards.
Now tell me that wouldn't scare the crap out of everyone at M&T Bank Stadium.
Flacco's playoff magic mixed with Cleveland's dominant defense makes them a scary team to cover and play again. Baltimore has already lost once to them at home, and could very well lose again.
This is the team that you don't want to test fate with.
