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Here’s how the Ravens can clinch a playoff berth in Week 17

By Joe Schiller

BALTIMORE, MD - DECEMBER 23: Head Coach John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens runs off the field after the Baltimore Ravens 23-16 win over the Indianapolis Colts at M&T Bank Stadium on December 23, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - DECEMBER 23: Head Coach John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens runs off the field after the Baltimore Ravens 23-16 win over the Indianapolis Colts at M&T Bank Stadium on December 23, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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Heading into Week 17, the Baltimore Ravens can finally clinch a playoff berth. Let’s take a look at the scenarios.

After 16 long and grueling weeks, the Baltimore Ravens finally have a chance to clinch a wild-card berth in the AFC. It’s been a battle the entire season but the Ravens have put themselves in a position to make the postseason at 9-6.

As we know, playoff scenarios can be like solving a Rubix cube, there’s a number of different ways they can happen. Some teams need more help than others but the Ravens have a pretty straightforward path to the postseason. There are three different ways that can happen.

Here’s how they can do it: 

  • Win or tie against Bengals
  • Bills loss or tie against Dolphins
  • Titans loss or tie against Jaguars

Easy enough, right?

The Ravens can guarantee themselves the No. 5 seed with a win against the Bengals this week thanks to the Titans’ recent struggles. That’s the Ravens’ easiest path to the playoffs. It would likely set up a scenario where the Ravens travel to Arrowhead Stadium to play the Chiefs on wild-card weekend. But if the Ravens lose, there’s no guarantee they’re in. They do not win a three-way tiebreaker over the Bills and Titans if all three teams finish the season 9-7.

Things get even more complicated with a Chargers win and Ravens staff writer Ryan Mink does a great job of explaining that scenario. Essentially, if the Ravens, Bills, Dolphins, and Raiders finish 9-7, the Ravens would be out. Let’s hope it never gets that way but you never know in this league. From what we’ve seen this season, anything can happen in a given week.

Given all the injuries and struggles the Ravens have endured this season, they still find themselves in position for the postseason. Since the bye week, they’ve gone 5-1 and control their own destiny. A win against the Bengals takes all the weight off the shoulders but we know a divisional matchup is never a gimme. The Bengals will look to play every part of a playoff spoiler this week. If you don’t know that then you don’t know AFC North football.

Next: Ravens beat Colts 23-16: Handing out 3 Ravens a game ball

Let’s hope by this time next week, the Ravens are preparing for the wild-card round and not packing their bags for the third season in a row.

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