Ravens maintain edge in AFC wild-card playoff race

With their third consecutive win, the Ravens kept pace with the Miami Dolphins, their primary competition for the sixth and final AFC playoff spot with three games remaining in the regular season.

The Ravens (7-6) own a head-to-head tiebreaker over the Dolphins (7-6) thanks to a 26-23 win in Miami on Oct. 6.

If the season was over today, the Ravens would claim the second-wild card spot and would play the AFC North-leading Cincinnati Bengals (9-4) on the road in the opening round of the playoffs.

The Bengals are two games ahead of the Ravens in the division race and hold the third seed in the playoff standings, ahead of the Indianapolis Colts (8-5) after beating them Sunday.

"We have been through a lot, and everybody knows that," Ravens tight end Ed Dickson said. "We are better than our record shows. Now, we're finding a way to win these games. Right now, the sky is the limit for us. A wise man once told me, 'What you do in December, people will always remember.'"

The Dolphins defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, putting Pittsburgh (5-8) two games behind the Ravens. The Dolphins close out their season with games against the New England Patriots (10-3), Buffalo Bills (4-9) and the New York Jets (6-7).

The Ravens' remaining games are against the NFC North-leading Detroit Lions (7-6), the AFC East-leading New England Patriots (10-3) and the AFC North-leading Bengals.

Two of the Ravens' final three games are on the road, starting with a Monday night game against the Lions.

"We have to do what we have to do," running back Ray Rice said. "Nothing is going to come easy for us, but we control our own destiny. The only thing that matters is winning. Now, you see us coming together. We'll be tough to beat later on in the year."

awilson@baltsun.com
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