The Baltimore Ravens are already within the NFL playoffs, having clinched a spot with their 34-17 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 16.
Now, the Ravens nonetheless have their eyes on an AFC North title.
Baltimore is again in motion on Christmas Day, because the NFL has a pair of video games for NFL followers on the vacation. The Kansas City Chiefs journey to Pittsburgh to tackle the Steelers within the early recreation, whereas the Ravens head to Texas to tackle the Houston Texans within the late afternoon recreation.
Here’s what that recreation might imply for the Ravens and their division title aspirations.
Ravens AFC North division title clinching eventualities
The Steelers had an opportunity to clinch the AFC North title final week after they took on the Ravens, however Baltimore’s win not solely clinched a playoff spot for themselves, however it denied their rivals an opportunity to lock up the division crown.
Now, each the Steelers and the Ravens sit at 10-5 on the season. Which means with two video games remaining for each groups, neither crew can clinch a division title on Christmas Day.
If each Pittsburgh and Baltimore win their last two video games, they’d end with matching 12-5 data. Pittsburgh would win the division on this state of affairs, because of the AFC document tiebreaker. With the 2 AFC North groups having cut up their season sequence, Pittsburgh would end with a greater document within the convention, 9-3 in comparison with 8-4.
(Baltimore’s early-season loss to the Las Vegas Raiders looms giant on this state of affairs).
Due to this fact, if the Ravens need to win the division, they’ll have to hold profitable, and get some assist. Fortunately for Baltimore followers the Steelers not solely play the Chiefs in Week 17 — who can lock up the highest seed within the AFC with a win or a Buffalo Bills loss — however Pittsburgh performs a feisty Cincinnati Bengals squad in Week 18.
In the meantime the Ravens get the Texans on Christmas Day, and the Cleveland Browns to shut out the season in Week 18.
AFC standings getting into Week 17
1. y-Kansas City Chiefs (14-1)
2. y-Buffalo Bills (12-3)
3. x-Pittsburgh Steelers (10-5, 7-3 AFC)
4. y-Houston Texans (9-6)
5. x-Baltimore Ravens (10-5, 6-4 AFC)
6. Los Angeles Chargers (9-6, wins over DEN)*
7. Denver Broncos (9-6, losses to LA)*
8. Indianapolis Colts (7-8, 6-5 AFC, win over MIA)*
9. Miami Dolphins (7-8, 5-5 AFC, loss to IND)*
10. Cincinnati Bengals (7-8, 4-6 AFC)*
11. New York Jets (4-11) — eradicated
12. Cleveland Browns (3-12, 3-7 AFC. win over JAX) — eradicated
13. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-12, win over TEN, 3-7 AFC, loss to CLE) — eradicated
14. Tennessee Titans (3-12, 3-7 AFC) — eradicated
15. Las Vegas Raiders (3-12, 3-8) — eradicated
16. New England Patriots (3-12, 2-8) — eradicated
Groups with an asterisk (*) have been eradicated from divisional rivalry
Groups with an (x) have clinched a playoff spot
Groups with a (y) have clinched their division
