Baltimore Ravens: Can team close the deal, win AFC North?
The Baltimore Ravens have a chance to wrap up a playoff berth with a win on Sunday. Safe to say that scenario has a very familiar ring to it.
In 2016, the Baltimore Ravens opened the season with three straight wins. That was followed by a four-game winning streak. At 7-5, the team was primed for a strong stretch run. But John Harbaugh’s club dropped three of its last four contests and finished 8-8 and out of the playoffs.
A year ago, after a 4-5 start, the Ravens won five of their next six games and owned a 9-6 record with one week remaining in the season. The AFC North title had already been wrapped up but the club could grab a playoff spot with a home victory over a Bengals’ team that brought a 6-9 record into the contest. The final: Cincinnati 31, Baltimore 27.
Harbaugh and company were stunned in the final minute by the combination of Andy Dalton and Tyler Boyd. The Buffalo Bills would claim a wild card invitation and the Ravens were out of the postseason for the fourth time in five seasons.
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So in Week 17 at 4:25 p.m. ET at Baltimore, the Ravens can win their first AFC North title since 2012 with a victory over the very-improved Cleveland Browns. Again, the team started 4-5 and has now won five of their last six games. Again, Harbaugh’s squad owns a 9-6 record with one week remaining in the season.
So what’s different this time around? Most notably, the starting quarterback.
Rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson is at the helm of the Baltimore offense. The team is currently second in the league in rushing yards per game. Running back Gus Edwards has emerged as a reliable performer. In their last six outings, the Ravens have racked up an astounding 1,311 yards on the ground (218.5 average). To put that in perspective, the Arizona Cardinals have run for 1,257 yards in 15 games in 2018.
Of course, there’s the Baltimore defense. No team has allowed fewer total yards or points this season. Coordinator Don Martindale leads a unit that has not had to rely on takeaways this year. In 2017, the Ravens forced an NFL-best 34 turnovers. In 15 outings this year, there have been only 14 takeaways. It is worth noting that these Ravens forced a season-high three turnovers in last Saturday’s 22-10 win over the Los Angeles Chargers.
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All that being said, the Baltimore Ravens have had their issues securing that playoff berth down the stretch the last few years. The team has a lot of momentum and could be a very dangerous club come the postseason. But you got to get their first. And it’s safe to say that rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield and his club — in pursuit of the franchise’s first winning season since 2007 — isn’t going to make it easy on their longtime divisional rivals this weekend.