Ravens still have a ‘clear path’ to the playoffs despite 3-3 record

Ravens (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
Ravens (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /
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The Baltimore Ravens are 3-3 to start the 2022 season, but everyone knows they could just as easily be 6-0.

Disappointing defeats to the Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills, and New York Giants have some questioning whether the Ravens can be a consistently winning team, and so far, their results suggest they have massive room for improvement.

Nonetheless, with Lamar Jackson, Mark Andrews, and a rapidly improving defense, the Ravens boast an extremely talented squad that can hold its own in the uber-competitive AFC.

Once the Ravens figure out how to stop blowing leads, the team should have a straight shot to the playoffs this year.

CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin ranked 12 three-win teams entering Week 7 and gave the Ravens the best chance of earning a postseason berth:

"“Perhaps no team has done more to beat itself this year than Baltimore, as evidenced by the very different ways the Ravens have suffered each of their losses — shoddy secondary, untimely penalties, etc.Better yet: they’ve got the second-easiest schedule remaining out of the AFC North, where the Browns and Steelers are major question marks.”"

Ravens could be considered the best 3-3 team in the league right now

Other than the fact that the Ravens have a relatively easy schedule ahead of them, the team should also be boosted by several players returning from injury.

Running back Gus Edwards joined team practices last week and remains on track to suit up in the near future. Rashod Bateman, ranked second on the team in receiving yards, is reportedly “close” to getting back on the field.

Rookie tight end Charlie Kolar was cleared to practice on Tuesday, opening the 21-day window for him to make it onto the 53-man roster.

This is not to say the Ravens won’t face worthy competition: Benjamin names other 3-3 teams that also have a good shot at making the playoffs including the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, San Francisco 49ers, and Cincinnati Bengals.

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Baltimore has something none of those teams have, though: Lamar Jackson. As long as Jackson keeps up his elite quarterback play (and reduces his fourth-quarter gaffes), the Ravens should hold a key advantage in the middle-of-the-pack rat race.