Winning the bye week is a phrase usually reserved for bad teams or those who are far removed from the playoff mix. However, the AFC North-leading Baltimore Ravens are one of the rare cases of winning the bye while being a team that matters.
At 9-3, there was a chance that the Ravens could have seen their division lead shrink, with the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers both entering the week at 7-4. The good news for Baltimore is that Cleveland and Pittsburgh both lost, resulting in the Ravens’ cushion remaining intact. A different outcome from this past weekend could have led to an additional amount of pressure being placed on Baltimore. This is due to the tough opponents on the Ravens’ schedule to end the season.
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Baltimore’s opponents’ combined record is 39-21, with the 6-6 Los Angeles Rams being the only team not above .500. This places an increased level of importance upon Baltimore’s late bye. This goes beyond the buffer they continue to maintain. Having the week of rest should allow the Ravens to be fresh for the gauntlet that awaits them.
Having this past week go their way will allow the Ravens to operate with their rather large margin for error. Baltimore can now play more freely over their final five games, and that will be very beneficial to their cause. This is a team that should be adequately prepared to push for their first division title since the 2019-20 season. The Ravens just have to continue winning, a task that is more than attainable. And that was made even more possible by winning the bye week.