With two weeks remaining within the common season, the Ravens have already secured a spot within the playoffs. As for the place, precisely, they’ll find yourself? It’s arduous to say.
According to the New York Times’ postseason projections, the Ravens (10-5) have a 26% likelihood of incomes the No. 3 seed within the AFC, a 36% likelihood of incomes the No. 5 seed and a 30% likelihood of incomes the No. 6 seed. They even have outdoors photographs at claiming both the No. 2 seed or the No. 7 seed.
The Ravens would assist their positioning with a win Sunday night time over the Pittsburgh Steelers. But they wouldn’t thoughts some assist. Here’s a have a look at the 4 most necessary video games outdoors Baltimore in Week 17.
Broncos at Chiefs (1 p.m. Sunday)
Root for Denver. OK, so this in all probability gained’t occur. The Broncos are 12 1/2-point underdogs and have misplaced 14 straight video games on this collection. But if the Ravens have been to face both the Chiefs (12-3) or the Buffalo Bills as a possible No. 7 seed, Kansas City (12-3) is likely to be the perfect of two dangerous choices. Since Week 11, the Chiefs rank No. 17 within the NFL in protection (No. 21 towards the run) and No. 22 in particular groups, in keeping with Football Outsiders. There’s the small matter of stopping quarterback Patrick Mahomes, but when Marcus Peters is wholesome sufficient to assist out fellow cornerback Marlon Humphrey and security Marcus Williams, the Ravens may have three potential game-changing defensive backs.
Dolphins at Patriots (1 p.m. Sunday)
Root for New England. Yes, a Miami win would knock the Steelers out earlier than Sunday’s sport even kicks off. But the Dolphins (8-7), losers of 4 straight, can nonetheless leap the Ravens in the event that they win their subsequent two video games; their Week 2 win in Baltimore could be the tiebreaker if each groups end 10-7. While a completely useful Miami crew packs extra punch than something New England can supply — admittedly, a protracted shot for so long as quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s in concussion protocol — the Ravens aren’t prone to see both AFC East crew within the wild-card spherical anyway.
Rams at Chargers (4:25 p.m. Sunday)
Root for the Rams. The Chargers (9-6) end the season with a “home” sport towards the injury-depleted Rams and a street sport towards the disorderly Denver Broncos. That may set them as much as leap the Ravens within the AFC’s wild-card image. If the Bengals win the AFC North, and the Ravens and Chargers each end 10-6 total, the Chargers would win the tiebreaker for the No. 5 seed by advantage of a superior convention file. And it’s not arduous to think about the Ravens preferring to face the fourth-seeded AFC South champions — both the Jacksonville Jaguars or Tennessee Titans — over any of the opposite division champions who’d get the No. 3 seed.
Bills at Bengals (8:30 p.m. Monday)
Root for Buffalo. Not solely would a Bills win facilitate the (unlikely) chance of Kansas City falling to the No. 2 seed, however it may also, way more importantly, give the Ravens one other path to the AFC North crown. If the Ravens lose Sunday and Cincinnati (11-4) wins Monday, the Bengals would repeat as AFC North champions. If the Ravens and Cincinnati each lose, the Ravens may nonetheless declare the divisional crown with a Week 18 street win over the Bengals by advantage of their collection sweep.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com