Believe it or not Baltimore Ravens fans, but your playoff fate is now in your own hands.
The Ravens will get a winner-take-all Week 18 home game for the AFC North Division title against the Pittsburgh Steelers thanks to a 13-6 upset win by the Cleveland Browns over the Steelers in Week 17.
That followed the Ravens doing their part with a convincing, 41-24 road win over the Green Bay Packers in Week 14.
“WIN AND WE’RE IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” the Ravens wrote on their official X account following the loss by the Steelers.
“SHEDEUR SANDERS, MYLES GARRETT AND THE BROWNS DELIVER AND KEEPS THE RAVENS SEASON ALIVE,” Locked on Ravens podcast host Kevin Oestricher wrote on X.
It’s an incredible opportunity for the Ravens, who started the season as Super Bowl contenders then stumbled to a 1-5 start before scrapping in the second half of the season, including 5 consecutive wins to improve to 6-5.
The Ravens are 8-8 headed into Week 18.
“Ravens vs Steelers, Harbaugh vs Tomlin, jobs on the line, AFC North Division on the line, Sunday Night Football,” Ravens Flock’s Z Farm wrote on X. “You can’t write a better script than this man.”
Ravens QB Reached Out to Shedeur Sanders
Ravens backup quarterback Tyler Huntley started in place of injured 2-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson against the Packers and it was obvious after the game he knew what the stakes were for the Browns when they played the Steelers.
Huntley was actually Sanders’ teammate on the Browns during training camp and said he was going to try and reach out to the rookie following their win over the Packers.
“I’m trying to make it out of here so I can call Shedeur real quick,” Huntley said. “Just tell him to make sure to get it done.”
Ravens Need Simple Strategy: Give Ball to Henry
Without Jackson, the Ravens decided to go with a strategy many had been hoping they would have turned to much earlier in the season — feeding the ball to NFL All-Pro running back Derrick Henry.
Just one week after Ravens head coach John Harbaugh was blasted for not having Henry on the field late in a close loss to the New England Patriots in Week 16, Henry set the record for most rushing yards by an opponent at Lambeau Field with 216 yards and 4 touchdowns on 36 carries.
Henry also became the first NFL player to have 4 rushing touchdowns in a single game with 2 different teams — he also did it while playing for the Tennessee Titans.
“Many legends have walked Green Bay’s hallowed visiting tunnel,” Baltimore Ravens Communications wrote on its official X account with a picture of Henry attached. “This one produced the most rushing yards (216) ever by an opposing player at Lambeau Field.”
Whatever Jackson’s status might be against the Steelers, the Ravens almost certainly need to feed Henry the ball at almost the same clip as they did against the Packers if they want to win and host a home playoff game.
“If the Steelers can’t manage to beat the Browns, they probably don’t deserve to be in the playoffs anyway…. ” Steelers reporter Chris Mack wrote on X. “… but if the Ravens remember to use Derrick Henry in a game that matters next weekend, they’ll be in serious trouble.”
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