The Ravens are 8-2 while the Steelers are 5-5. The division race is over. You can go ahead and call it now.
So, Steelers fans should be rooting for Baltimore to win out. WHAT? Yep.
The Ravens are one game behind the New England Patriots in the race for home field advantage in the AFC. If the Ravens could find a way to be up a game on the Pats going into the final week of the season, they'll have clinched the #1 seed.
New England's schedule is brutal the next three weeks. They play the Cowboys, AT the Texans and the Chiefs. If they lose two of three, the Ravens are cooking baby.
Why's that important for the Steelers? Well, for them to get into the playoff, they'll need all the help they can get. If the Ravens are locked into a seed when the two teams play in week 17, then maybe they'll rest their starters.
Do you like the Steelers chances against the Ravens better if they play RGIII or LaMar Jackson?
The Steelers have the Bengals, Browns at home, Cardinals, Bills at home, Jets, and the Ravens left to play. The Steelers could lose any one of those games, or they could win any one of those games. Well, if the Ravens don't play LaMar in week 17.
Sure, the Steelers slowed him down at Heinz Field. You really think the Steelers will go into Baltimore and beat the Ravens if they're playing for something? The Steelers need all the winnable games they can get.
Baltimore winning out with the Pats stumbling should make the schedule a little more manageable. Steelers Nation, that's what you should be rooting for.