If you’re a Baltimore Ravens fan, you already know the drill: nothing in the AFC North comes easy. But according to Ryan Fitzpatrick—17 years in the NFL and a degree from Harvard to prove he’s smarter than us—Baltimore is about to pull off a December miracle and take the AFC North crown right out of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ hands.
Yup, you heard that right. Despite being two games back and still needing a lot of help in the standings, Fitzpatrick believes the Ravens are the team to beat down the stretch. He broke it all down on his Fitz and Whit Podcast, throwing his full support behind Lamar Jackson, who Fitzpatrick thinks is about to remind the league why he was the MVP not that long ago.
For Ravens fans, the idea of overtaking Pittsburgh feels like poetic justice. The Steelers have clung to that top spot with duct tape, good vibes, and Mike Tomlin magic. But as Fitzpatrick pointed out, Baltimore has the tools, the talent, and, most importantly, the schedule to close the gap.
Ryan Fitzpatrick believes Ravens will leapfrog Steelers for AFC North title
On his podcast, Fitzpatrick didn’t mince words about how Baltimore can still get this done. “The Baltimore Ravens are most dangerous when Lamar is taking off and running,” he said. “When he becomes a reluctant runner and wants to live in the pocket, that’s not when they’re at their best. Lamar’s gonna start listening to his mom, he’s gonna start taking off again, and this is gonna make them that much more dangerous.”
Let’s pause there because the man has a point. Whenever someone tries to turn Lamar Jackson into a pocket passer, they take away what makes him special. His game isn’t built for limits—it’s built for breaking them. Just let him fly. And now that Lamar’s leaning back into his elite dual-threat mode—yes, thanks to his mom—Fitzpatrick thinks the Ravens are in prime position to rip the AFC North from the Steelers’ hands.
But it’s more than Lamar. Fitzpatrick also brought up the glaring difference between the remaining schedules for Baltimore and Pittsburgh. Baltimore’s final four games? Giants, Steelers, Texans, and Browns. Three of those are at home. Meanwhile, the Steelers must run through the gauntlet: Eagles, Ravens (in Baltimore), Kansas City Chiefs, and Cincinnati Bengals, with two on the road.
And then there’s the big one: Week 16. Ravens. Steelers. M&T Bank Stadium. Fitzpatrick all but said this game will decide the AFC North, and honestly, he’s not entirely wrong. It’s the perfect storm for a classic Ravens-Steelers showdown. And this time, it might just swing Baltimore’s way.
This is exactly what Ravens fans want to hear: Lamar Jackson stepping into MVP mode again, a schedule that feels less like a nightmare and more like an opportunity, and a Steelers team that looks maybe, slightly a little wobbly as injuries start to pile up.
Let’s not pretend Pittsburgh is just going to hand over the division. Tomlin’s teams are annoying like that—they hang around even when logic says they shouldn’t. But Fitzpatrick sees what Ravens fans have been hoping for all along: a path to not just make the playoffs, but to make noise while getting there.
So, circle Week 16 on your calendar, pour yourself a drink, and get ready for the fireworks. FitzMagic could be onto something with this one.