The Baltimore Ravens have faced more injuries than perhaps any other team in the NFL. After losing just about every important player at some point in the season, the Ravens currently sit at 8-7 and have a 28% chance at the playoffs. Those odds admittedly aren’t great, but stranger things have happened. Baltimore cannot clinch a playoff spot in Week 17, but they can dramatically increase their odds if they take care of business, and get a little help.
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Baltimore Ravens Playoffs: What Needs to Happen Week 17
First off, in order for the Ravens to make the playoffs, they’ll need to pull off an upset. Baltimore faces off against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 17 as heavy underdogs. At their best, the Rams are perhaps the most complete team in football. Matthew Stafford is a clear upgrade on Jared Goff, Cooper Kupp is having a season for the ages, and the defense is loaded with playmakers on all three levels.
Even at their best, Baltimore would have a tough time with this matchup – and the Ravens are not at their best. The secondary is in shambles and will have a very hard time stopping this passing attack, and Lamar Jackson is still battling his ankle injury. Tyler Huntley is an above-average backup, but it goes without saying that you’d rather have your former MVP on the field for this type of matchup.
The good news is that the Rams have not been playing up to their usual standards as of late. Sean McVay’s teams have a history of crumbling in the second half, and this season is no different. Hopefully, this subpar version of the Rams makes its way to Baltimore for Week 17’s showdown, because a loss makes it all-but-impossible to make the playoffs.
This is incredible pic.twitter.com/zOWFJNopeS
— Computer Cowboy (@benbbaldwin) December 27, 2021
Help From the League
Beating Los Angeles is the most important part of the puzzle, but it’s not the only important factor for the Ravens. At 8-7, they’re going to need some help to either win the division or sneak into a Wild Card spot.
The biggest games on the schedule are Cincinnati’s showdown with the Kansas City Chiefs and the Miami Dolphins battle against the Tennessee Titans. Ravens fans should be rooting hard for both Kansas City and Tennessee. The Bengals currently have a one-game lead over Baltimore for the division crown, while the Dolphins are one of the key teams in contention for the final Wild Card spot.
The good news here is that Kansas City and Tennessee are both favored to win their respective matchups. The Bengals have genuinely turned into a good team, but Kansas City is in a league of their own when the offense is clicking. The Dolphins, meanwhile, are riding a seven-game winning streak but haven’t faced impressive competition over this stretch. The Titans might not be as good as their record suggests, but neither are the Dolphins.
If everything breaks right, Baltimore’s playoff odds would jump to approximately 61%. A team dealing with this type of injury luck has no business being anywhere near the playoffs, and it’s a true testament to the entire organization that this team still has a real shot at the postseason.
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