The Baltimore Ravens did not have a good week by any means. They lost to the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday night in what is up there with one of the worst games the team has had, with quarterback Lamar Jackson running the show. There were very few encouraging moments, as Baltimore will have to go back to the drawing board heading into next week.
They did receive some good news in Week 13, though. After slipping to second in the AFC North following their Thanksgiving loss, they leaped back into first place after the Pittsburgh Steelers lost their matchup on Sunday.
Like the Ravens, the Steelers had a forgettable day, losing to the Buffalo Bills 26-6. Now, Baltimore is leading the division, and with a Week 14 battle between the two bitter rivals looming, the Ravens have been bailed out...for now.
Ravens catch a break on Sunday
After losing earlier in the week, it seemed like the sky was once again falling in Charm City. After starting 1-5, they worked their way back into playoff contention with a five-game winning streak. However, their loss to Cincinnati was a reminder of Baltimore’s major flaws.
Evidently, they still have a ton of work to do if they not only want to make the playoffs but also look like a legitimate contender in the final month. However, they caught a break with the Steelers losing, and losing badly at that.
Pittsburgh is obviously the biggest competition for the division crown, and while some still believe the Bengals have a shot, it will most likely come down to the head-to-head games between the Ravens and Steelers in December. With how competitive the AFC is this year, the Wild Card is probably out of the picture.
The Bills currently hold the seventh and final spot, and even the 7-4 Houston Texans, who sit outside the playoff picture, have the edge over Baltimore and Pittsburgh. With this in mind, the two upcoming rivalry clashes should be all the more thrilling.
On paper, the Ravens appear to be the more talented team, but they have had their issues in this one since the start of the Lamar Jackson era. They have taken back-to-back wins over Pittsburgh, including a Wild Card Round win last year, but the Steelers’ defenses have long given Jackson and company problems.
Still, they hold the momentum and have a golden opportunity to extend their streak to three wins when they welcome Pittsburgh to Charm City next Sunday.