TL;DR
- Ravens aim for AFC North title and playoff contention, currently 5-5.
- Key to playoffs: winning AFC North games, especially against Steelers and Bengals.
- Lamar Jackson has strong record against Pittsburgh and Cincinnati.
- Ravens must win division games and beat Steelers to secure playoff spot.
The Baltimore Ravens have put in significant effort to regain their position, not just as contenders for the playoffs and the AFC North title, but as serious contenders.
The Ravens, now at 5-5, have also benefited from the Pittsburgh Steelers faltering, which has left them at 6-4 despite an earlier 4-1 record.
With Baltimore still facing four divisional matchups on their remaining schedule, including two against the Steelers, John Harbaugh's squad remains a strong contender for a playoff berth, a possibility that seemed improbable just a few weeks prior.
According to ESPN's Jamison Hensley, when questioned about the Ravens' path to the playoffs, the response is quite straightforward.
"Lamar Jackson and Baltimore need to continue to take care of business in the AFC North," Hensley wrote. "Four of the Ravens' final six games are against the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals. Since the start of the 2022 campaign, Jackson is 7-2 (.778), including the playoffs, against Pittsburgh and Cincinnati, totaling 19 touchdown passes and four interceptions."
More: Ravens' Lamar Jackson reveals need for O-Line talk after eye-popping sack numbers
The Ravens' playoff journey is linked to the AFC North standings.
Currently, Baltimore's chances for a playoff berth are slim, trailing the Kansas City Chiefs and the Houston Texans, and the Chiefs also hold the advantage in tie-breaking scenarios.
So, the easiest path to yet another playoff spot is to go through as a division champ.
This implies the Ravens must handle their non-division games effectively, secure victories in both matchups against Pittsburgh, and then proceed as the leaders of their division.
It seems straightforward. However, with New England Patriots and Green Bay Packers also on the agenda, the Ravens will indeed have a challenging period during the latter part of their season.
But the path forward is simple. Win as many games as possible, while slaying the Steelers in the process.
More Ravens news:
- Will Lamar Jackson play in Week 12? Ravens' John Harbaugh gives interesting answer
- Ravens' Mark Andrews has hilarious response to viral TD run vs. Browns
- Ravens fans will love key reason to season bounce-back ahead of Week 12
- Ravens' John Harbaugh not concerned by eye-popping Lamar Jackson stat