The Baltimore Ravens are facing a pivotal stretch in their season-and they’re doing it without their MVP quarterback. Lamar Jackson exited Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots with a back injury and didn’t return after halftime. That meant Tyler Huntley had to step in under center, and while the circumstances weren’t ideal, Huntley managed to keep the offense afloat against a tough Patriots defense.
This injury couldn’t have come at a more critical time. With the Pittsburgh Steelers taking care of business against the Detroit Lions, the AFC North picture just got a lot more complicated.
If Baltimore drops one of its next two games and Pittsburgh beats the Browns next week, the Steelers would lock up the division title. That’s the kind of pressure that turns every possession into a playoff-caliber moment.
But let’s not close the book on Baltimore just yet. Huntley, while not the dynamic dual-threat Jackson is, has shown he can manage the offense and make enough plays to keep the Ravens competitive.
And the defense? They’ve been the backbone of this team during tough stretches, and once again, they delivered.
Against a New England squad that’s been surging in the AFC, the Ravens’ defense gave them a real shot to pull off the upset.
Meanwhile, the Steelers are watching closely-and rooting hard for the Patriots. Every Ravens loss inches Pittsburgh closer to the division crown.
But Baltimore’s next opponent, the Green Bay Packers, is dealing with its own set of problems. Defensive star Micah Parsons, the pride of Harrisburg and Penn State, is done for the year with a torn ACL.
And quarterback Jordan Love is in concussion protocol, leaving Green Bay shorthanded on both sides of the ball.
That opens the door for Baltimore. If the Ravens can rally and win their next two games, it sets up a dramatic Week 18 showdown at Acrisure Stadium-a winner-take-all battle against the Steelers for the AFC North title and a playoff berth. That’s the kind of high-stakes football that defines December in the NFL.
So while Lamar Jackson’s injury casts a shadow over Baltimore’s playoff push, the season is far from lost. With Huntley stepping in, the defense digging deep, and the division still up for grabs, the Ravens are very much alive-and the road to the AFC North crown might just come down to one final clash in Pittsburgh.