The Baltimore Ravens aren’t just locked in a race for the AFC North division with the Pittsburgh Steelers, they are fighting for a wild card berth in the postseason. They can make a huge dent in the division race this weekend clinch a playoff spot in the process.
Baltimore at 9-5 comes into Week 16 in fifth place in the AFC, and with the Chargers in on Thursday, the Ravens are a half-game up on both Los Angeles and Denver.
Ravens playoff berth clinching scenarios
The Ravens are three games clear of the non-playoff teams heading into Week 16, so they have to create just a smidge more space in order to clinch. A Baltimore win puts them 3.5 games up the teams tied for eighth place and with only three games left, that’s enough to do it. At 10-5, the worst they can finish is 10-7 and the teams tied for eighth all have six losses already.
If the Ravens lose to the Steelers on Saturday, they can still back into a playoff spot this weekend with some help.
Baltimore already has clinched a spot ahead of the Cincinnati Bengals thanks to defeating them twice, so losses by both of the other teams on the outside looking in would also create the space the Ravens need.
- Colts loss/tie AND Dolphins loss/tie
With nine losses, the best they could do is 8-9 and the Ravens already have nine wins.
AFC standings heading into Saturday of Week 16
1. y-Kansas City Chiefs (13-1)
2. y-Buffalo Bills (11-3)
3. x-Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4)
4. y-Houston Texans (9-5)
5. Baltimore Ravens (9-5)
6. Los Angeles Chargers (9-6, wins over DEN)*
7. Denver Broncos (9-6, loss to LAC)*
8. Indianapolis Colts (6-8, 5-5 AFC, win over MIA)*
9. Miami Dolphins (6-8, 5-5 AFC, loss to IND)*
10. Cincinnati Bengals (6-8, 3-6 AFC)*
11. New York Jets (4-10) — eliminated
12. Cleveland Browns (3-11, win over JAX) — eliminated
13. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-11, win over TEN, loss to CLE, win over NE) — eliminated
14. Tennessee Titans (3-11, loss to JAX, win over NE) — eliminated
15. New England Patriots (3-11, losses to JAX & TEN) — eliminated
16. Las Vegas Raiders (2-12) — eliminated
Teams with an asterisk (*) have been eliminated from divisional contention
Teams with an (x) have clinched a playoff spot
Teams with a (y) have clinched their division
