The Ravens kept their playoff hopes alive in emphatic fashion on Sunday, blanking the Bengals 24-0 in a statement win that felt like more than just another tally in the win column. With three games left on the schedule, Baltimore’s path to the postseason is narrow-but it’s still very much open. And if Sunday’s performance is any indication, this team might be heating up at just the right time.
Let’s be clear: the road ahead is anything but easy. The Ravens will need to win out to give themselves the best shot at the playoffs, and that means taking down two legitimate Super Bowl contenders in the New England Patriots and Green Bay Packers before closing out the regular season in Pittsburgh against the division-rival Steelers.
That’s a gauntlet. But the Ravens just pitched a shutout, and Lamar Jackson looked as close to 100% as he has in weeks.
The defense, meanwhile, delivered its most dominant performance of the season. If that version of Baltimore shows up over the next three weeks, they’re going to be a tough out.
Of course, the Ravens don’t fully control their own destiny. They’re still trailing the Steelers by one game in the AFC North, and Pittsburgh holds the edge-for now.
But the Steelers have their own challenges ahead, with matchups against the Lions and Browns before that Week 18 showdown with Baltimore. If the Steelers drop one of those games, the door swings wide open for the Ravens to take the division outright.
Let’s break it down. Here’s what needs to happen for Baltimore to punch their ticket to the postseason:
1. Win Out
This is the foundation. If the Ravens win their final three games, they give themselves the best chance to leapfrog the Steelers and grab the division crown.
That includes a critical season finale in Pittsburgh. The toughest test might come in Green Bay, where the Ravens will have to contend with a Packers team built for cold-weather football.
But Baltimore just proved they can handle frigid conditions with that win over Cincinnati in single-digit temperatures. If they bring the same energy, they’ll be in every game.
2. A Steelers Loss Before Week 18
This would be a game-changer. If Pittsburgh stumbles against either Detroit or Cleveland, the Ravens could clinch the division with a better overall record-no need to wade through the murky waters of tiebreakers.
It also gives Baltimore a margin for error. Lose one of the next two, and they’d still have a shot to win the division in the finale, assuming Pittsburgh slips up.
3. Winning the Tie-Breaker
If both teams finish with the same record, things get complicated-but not hopeless. The Ravens and Steelers would likely be tied in head-to-head and divisional records, which pushes the decision to the next tiebreaker: record against common opponents.
Here’s where it gets interesting. Both teams played the AFC East and NFC North this year.
If the Ravens win out, they’d finish 6-2 against those shared opponents. The Steelers, even with wins in their next two, would be 5-3.
That edge could be the difference-maker.
And if somehow both teams end up tied in that category too? Then it moves to in-conference record, where the Ravens could still have the upper hand. It’s razor-thin, but the math works in their favor-if they handle their business.
As it stands now, the Ravens have roughly a 40% chance to make the playoffs, compared to the Steelers’ 60%. That’s not ideal, but it’s far from insurmountable.
Baltimore’s schedule is tougher, no doubt. The Patriots and Packers are playoff-caliber teams.
But if the Ravens can find a way to win the next two, they’ll enter Week 18 with momentum-and a real shot at the division.
Bottom line: the margin for error is slim, but the opportunity is real. The Ravens just need to keep stacking wins-and hope the Steelers blink first.