The Ravens entered Week 16 out of the AFC playoff picture. They left as the sixth seed.
With Sunday’s win over the New York Giants — their fourth straight — and losses by the Indianapolis Colts and Cleveland Browns, the Ravens (10-5) are on the verge of their third consecutive playoff appearance.
Heading into Week 17, the Ravens can clinch a postseason berth with a road win over the Cincinnati Bengals or a loss by the Colts or Browns. They can finish with either the fifth, sixth or seventh seed, which would have them face a division champion — Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Indianapolis or Tennessee — on the road in the first round.
FiveThirtyEight’s projections give the Ravens a 93% chance of making the playoffs with one regular-season game left.
Here’s who the Ravens are vying with in the conference:
Tennessee Titans (10-5), fourth seed
The Titans missed an opportunity to clinch the AFC South title Sunday night, losing to the Green Bay Packers, 40-14. Tennessee holds the division lead over Indianapolis by virtue of its superior division record. A win over the Houston Texans in Week 17, or a Colts loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, would secure the division championship. Tennessee could also drop to a wild-card spot, or even fall completely out of the playoff picture. Their postseason future is as uncertain as any of the wild-card teams’.
Remaining games: at Houston
FiveThirtyEight chance to make playoffs: 94%
Miami Dolphins (10-5), fifth seed
The Dolphins, with their comeback victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday night, avoided being knocked out of the playoff picture. Miami can clinch a playoff spot with a win over the Buffalo Bills, who have clinched the AFC East, or a loss by the Ravens, Browns or Colts.
Remaining games: at Buffalo
FiveThirtyEight chance to make playoffs: 73%
Cleveland Browns (10-5), seventh seed
COVID-19 might have upended the Browns’ season. With its top four wide receivers and two defensive players placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list less than 24 hours before kickoff, Cleveland lost to the New York Jets, 23-16, and dropped to the seventh and final playoff spot. The Browns can clinch a playoff spot with a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, who won the AFC North title with their Week 16 victory over the Colts, or a Colts loss.
Remaining games: vs. Pittsburgh
FiveThirtyEight chance to make playoffs: 56%
Indianapolis Colts (10-5), eighth seed
The Colts’ blown 17-point lead was a costly one, dropping them from the sixth seed to out of the playoff picture. However, Indianapolis is still in play for a wild-card spot and the AFC South title because of Tennessee’s loss to the Packers. The Colts can clinch the division with a win over the Jaguars and a Titans loss to the Houston Texans. Indianapolis can also get a wild-card spot with a win and a loss by the Ravens, Dolphins or Browns.
Remaining games: vs. Jacksonville
FiveThirtyEight chance to make playoffs: 84%