CINCINNATI —
The last time Baltimore was gearing up to face Cincinnati, just two weeks ago, the reality of the Ravens’ schedule getting significantly tougher began. Baltimore didn’t beat the Bengals in that favorable Thanksgiving matchup, and hasn’t won since the tougher stint began.
The Ravens (6-7) played better complementary football last week against Pittsburgh. Quarterback Lamar Jackson broke his touchdown drought, scoring two total, and three defenders each had four tackles, with 14 different players playing a part in a tackle as a unit.
Baltimore ran more plays, had a higher time of possession, secured more first downs, blew Pittsburgh’s run game out of the water (217-34), and yet, still lost 27-22.
“We still have four games left. The season is not over,” Head Coach John Harbaugh said following the loss to Pittsburgh. “(We will be) fighting for the AFC North for the next four games, that’s where we stand.”
Ravens fans felt the first meeting with Cincinnati this year was a “must-win” as Baltimore and Pittsburgh were tied atop the AFC North standings. Then the urgency picked up when, despite a bad loss, the Ravens faced the Steelers still with the same record as the division foe.
So, what about now?
On the heels of losing two straight, Baltimore currently sits at a 33% chance to make the playoffs. Another loss to Cincinnati on Sunday drops its chances to 16%.
Aside from two remaining division games, the Ravens face New England (11-2) – who is tied for the best record in the AFC – and Green Bay (9-3-1), who holds a fraction of a lead over both Chicago and Detroit in the tightest overall division in the NFL.
Both of these games – in weeks 16 and 17 – have been flexed to a prime time slot, the NFL announced. But entering one of those slates with as little as 16% chance to make the postseason, Baltimore needs to make sure fans aren’t watching the final weeks of the regular season to see where their opponents will land based on the game’s outcome.