Ravens Let Another One Slip Away - And With It, Their Playoff Grip
The Baltimore Ravens walked into Week 16 knowing the stakes. A win against the Patriots on Sunday Night Football would’ve kept them within striking distance of the AFC North crown and in control of their own playoff fate. Instead, they walked out with a gut punch of a loss - the kind that’s become all too familiar this season - and a postseason picture that now looks bleak at best.
This wasn’t just a loss. It was another late-game unraveling in a year where the Ravens have made a habit of letting winnable games slip through their fingers. And this one hurt even more because of what was on the line.
A Missed Opportunity with Major Consequences
Coming into the weekend, Baltimore had a 39% chance to make the playoffs, per NFL.com. Not ideal, but certainly within reach.
Then the Steelers handled their business against Detroit, and the Ravens couldn't match that energy. Now?
That playoff probability has plummeted to 11%. That’s not just a stumble - that’s a full-on collapse with just two weeks left in the regular season.
The loss doesn’t just drop them two games behind Pittsburgh in the division - it puts their postseason hopes on life support. And with only two games left, they no longer control their own destiny. That’s a tough pill to swallow for a team that, on paper, has the talent to be playing meaningful football in January.
Everything That Could Go Wrong... Did
Week 16 was the kind of game where nothing seemed to break Baltimore’s way. Missed opportunities, late-game execution issues, and a Patriots team that simply made the key plays when it mattered most. The Ravens showed they could hang with one of the league’s most consistent teams this season, but once again, they couldn’t close it out.
Now, they’re staring at a must-win matchup next Saturday night - back under the primetime lights - against the Green Bay Packers. And while Green Bay has had its own ups and downs, they’re still a playoff-caliber team with a defense that can cause problems and an offense that can make you pay for mistakes.
Needing Help, and Not the Kind You Want
Even if Baltimore takes care of business in Green Bay, they’ll still need help. Specifically, they’ll need the Steelers to slip up against the Cleveland Browns - a team sitting at 3-12, starting rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders, and playing out the string on a forgettable season.
Yes, division matchups can get weird, and yes, the Browns would love to play spoiler. But relying on a rookie quarterback who’s still working through the growing pains of his first NFL season - especially against a defense like Pittsburgh’s - isn’t exactly the kind of scenario you want your playoff hopes riding on.
One More Shot to Swing
For now, the Ravens can only focus on what they can control - and that’s beating the Packers next week. The rest?
Out of their hands. It’s not the situation they wanted to be in, but it’s the one they’ve created with a season full of missed chances and late-game letdowns.
There’s still a sliver of hope. But if Baltimore wants to keep that door cracked open, they’ll need to bring their best in Week 17 - and then hope the football gods give them a little help from Cleveland.
Because right now, the Ravens are down, but not quite out. Not yet.