Picking up the pieces from a difficult 31-28 overtime loss to the Redskins and the subsequent firing of offensive coordinator Cam Cameron on Monday, the Ravens still have a clear path to the postseason entering Week 15.
Baltimore has done everything but mathematically clinch a trip to the postseason for the fifth straight year. Only one Powerball-like scenario exists in which the Ravens would miss the postseason that involves the Ravens losing their last three games, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati both winning in Weeks 15 and 17, and those two playing to a tie in their Week 16 meeting.
The Ravens can clinch their second straight AFC North division title with a win over the Denver Broncos or losses by both the Steelers and the Bengals this week. Another extremely unlikely scenario exists in which the Raven could secure the division crown with a tie , a Pittsburgh loss or tie, and a Cincinnati loss or tie.
Beating Peyton Manning and the red-hot Broncos won’t be an easy chore, but the Ravens will at least have their ticket for the postseason officially punched by way of a tie with Denver, a Cincinnati loss or tie, or a Pittsburgh loss or tie.
The Bengals travel to Philadelphia Thursday night to take on the struggling Eagles, who just secured their first win since the end of September this past week.
Trying to rebound from an embarrassing home loss to the San Diego Chargers, Pittsburgh will travel to Arlington, Texas to take on the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday afternoon.
Of course, Baltimore must defeat Denver to maintain any legitimate chance of securing the No. 2 seed in the AFC, because it would give them a potential head-to-head tiebreaker over the Broncos and New England. The Ravens currently trail both teams by one game in the race for the second spot in the conference as we enter Week 15.
Below is the entire Week 15 breakdown for the Ravens’ postseason hopes:
Baltimore can clinch the AFC North with:
1. BAL win OR
2. BAL tie + PIT tie or loss + CIN tie or loss OR
3. PIT loss and CIN loss
Baltimore can clinch a postseason berth with:
1. BAL tie OR
2. CIN tie or loss OR
3. PIT tie or loss
Luke Jones
Luke Jones is the Ravens and Orioles beat reporter for WNST BaltimorePositive.com and is a PFWA member. His mind is consumed with useless sports knowledge, pro wrestling promos, and movie quotes, but he often forgets where he put his phone. Luke's favorite sports memories include being one of the thousands of kids who waited for Cal Ripken's autograph after Orioles games in the summer of 1995, attending the Super Bowl XXXV victory parade with his dad in the pouring rain, and watching the Terps advance to the Final Four at the Carrier Dome in 2002. Follow him on social media @BaltimoreLuke or email him at Luke@wnst.net.
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