So You’re Telling Me There’s a Chance? Ravens Path to the Playoffs…

Obviously the Ravens severely hurt their playoff chances with back-to-back losses at home to  twodivision rivals, but they’re not dead yet!

For those of you who (like me) choose to believe until the fat lady truly sings, here’s a look at how the Ravens can still make the playoffs.

Division Standings

Pittsburgh Steelers

7-6 overall, 3-1 division record, two division games remaining (at Cleveland Week 17, vs. Baltimore Week 18)

Baltimore Ravens

6-7, 2-2 division record, two division games remaining (at Cincinnati Week 15, at Steelers Week 18)

Cincinnati Bengals

3-9, 3-1 division record, two division games remaining (vs. Baltimore Week 15, vs. Cleveland Week 18)

Tiebreaker Breakdown

• 1^st Tiebreaker is h2h. The Ravens have lost to the Bengals and Steelers.  If they lose a 2^nd game to either team, they will lose that tiebreaker with that team.
• 2^nd Tiebreaker is division record. This is another reason why the Steelers AND Bengals games are so important.  Ex:  If the Ravens lose to the Bengals, even if they beat the Steelers in Week 18, they would lose the tiebreaker via division record to the Steelers unless the Steelers lose to the Browns in Week 17.
• 3^rd Tiebreaker is record in common games. If it reaches this point, the Ravens will win this tiebreaker over both the Steelers and/or Bengals.

How the Ravens can get in at 10-7, 9-8, and 8-9

At 10-7

• If the Ravens run the table and win their next four games, they will win the AFC North.  Even if Pittsburgh wins every game except the Week 18 rematch, the Ravens would win via common games tiebreaker.

At 9-8, Ravens get in IF

• Ravens beat Bengals next week and Steelers Week 18 AND Steelers drop at least one other game.
• Ravens beat Steelers Week 18 (and lose to Bengals next week), Steelers lose to Browns Week 17.
• Steelers lose three of the last four to fall to 8-9 (Dolphins, Lions, Browns, Ravens).

At 8-9, Ravens can miraculously sneak in IF

• Ravens beat Bengals next week and Steelers Week 18 (but lose to Patriots and Packers Weeks 16 & 17) + Steelers lose to Ravens plus lose two other games (two of Dolphins, Lions, Browns).
• Ravens beat Steelers Week 18, lose to Bengals next week and one of Patriots/Packers games. Steelers lose to Browns Week 17, Ravens Week 18, and one other game AND Bengals lose 1 more game (Ravens, Dolphins, Cardinals, Browns).

BOTTOM LINE

As you can see from the scenarios above, realistically the Ravens need to win at Cincinnati next week, at Pittsburgh in Week 18, and at least one of their other two games against the Patriots and Packers. In that scenario, the Ravens would be in if the Steelers lose any other game in addition to the Week 18 game, with of course their clash with the Lions being their most likely loss.

I hope to have a thorough breakdown of the entire AFC playoff hunt later this week.

The post So You’re Telling Me There’s a Chance? Ravens Path to the Playoffs… appeared first on Russell Street Report.

Source: https://russellstreetreport.com/2025/12/08/street-talk/ravens-playoff-path/