The Baltimore Ravens' playoff hopes took a serious hit after a tough Week 16 loss to the New England Patriots. Heading into the final stretch of the season, the math was already tight-win the last three games, and maybe they sneak in.
But with Sunday’s loss, the road just got a whole lot steeper. Now, it’s not just about winning out.
Baltimore needs help. And quite a bit of it.
Here's the situation: the Ravens need to win their final two games. That part is straightforward.
But even if they do, it won’t be enough unless the Pittsburgh Steelers lose both of their remaining games. The good news?
The Ravens and Steelers face off in Week 18. So if the stars align in Week 17, that game could become a de facto AFC North championship.
The bad news? A lot has to go right between now and then.
The biggest wildcard in this equation is the Cleveland Browns. At 3-12, Cleveland hasn’t exactly inspired confidence this season.
And they’re the team Baltimore needs to beat Pittsburgh next week. That’s a tough ask.
The Steelers are heavy favorites, and for good reason-they’ve been the more complete team all year. According to NFL.com, Pittsburgh's playoff chances currently sit at 92%.
But that number might be a little more fragile than it looks.
Enter DK Metcalf.
The Steelers’ star wide receiver was hit with a two-game suspension following a physical altercation with a Detroit Lions fan during Pittsburgh’s win on Sunday. The league had been reviewing the incident, and by Monday, the suspension was official. Unless he successfully appeals, Metcalf won’t be available again until the postseason-assuming the Steelers get there.
That’s a massive blow to Pittsburgh’s offense. Metcalf is more than just a deep threat-he’s a matchup nightmare who commands attention on every snap. Without him, the Steelers’ passing game loses a major piece, and that could open the door just enough for Cleveland to pull off an upset.
Now, let’s be clear: the odds are still stacked against Baltimore. Their postseason chances are sitting at a slim 8%. But if the Ravens handle business in Week 17 and the Browns somehow knock off the Steelers, suddenly Week 18 becomes a showdown with everything on the line-and without Metcalf on the field, Baltimore’s defense would have one less problem to solve.
Of course, none of that matters if the Ravens don’t take care of their own house. They can’t afford to scoreboard-watch or hope for miracles in Cleveland.
It’s win or go home, plain and simple. The focus has to be internal-fix the mistakes, play clean football, and give themselves a shot to still be standing when the dust settles.
The road is narrow, but it’s not closed. And in the NFL, that’s sometimes all you need.