The Ravens' road to the Super Bowl might never be easier than it is now.
A lot of the obstacles have been removed. Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning isn't playing. Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is, but only on one leg. New England's Tom Brady is playing at an All-World level, but without a defense.
Denver has a quarterback who can't throw and Houston's QB is a rookie.
In the three previous seasons under Coach John Harbaugh, the path to the Super Bowl was also difficult because the Ravens had to play on the road. But if they win their final two regular season games, the Ravens are at least assured a No. 2 seed in the playoffs, a first-round bye and an AFC divisional semifinal home game.
Everything seems to fit.
"The playoffs is something that I'm used to, Joe [Flacco] is used to, [head] coach [John] Harbaugh is used to," said Ravens running back Ray Rice. "There are a few guys that we molded our team around that are used to playing in the playoffs. It is an expectation to make the playoffs, but I don't think making it is something that the Ravens can say, 'Oh yeah, we made the playoffs.'
"We're expected to make the playoffs. We've got to get over that hump now, and let's try to get to the Big Dance. I'm going to be honest, that's so far away right now. We know that Saturday is the first road to get to that Big Dance. We look at it for what it's at. The playoffs ain't starting yet, but every game from here on out is essentially a playoff game."
Why shouldn't the Ravens get to the Super Bowl?
With Matt Schaub no longer playing for Houston, the Ravens have the least amount of weaknesses. They should beat Cleveland here Saturday, and the key to an appearance in the Big Dance will be next Sunday's game against the Bengals in Cincinnati.
If the Ravens lose that one and drop out of the top two seeds, the road to the Super Bowl becomes more difficult, but not impossible. If they win, the Ravens probably at least make it to the AFC championship game because they've won 17 of their last 18 home games, including a nine-game winning streak.
Regardless of the scenarios, I still like the Ravens' chances regardless of the stinker they turned in against San Diego.
As inconsistent as the Ravens have been, other playoff contenders like Oakland and the Bengals have been even more inconsistent.
And what about the New York Jets? They've got no offense and their defense is falling apart.
Denver quarterback Tim Tebow has become the darling of the national media, but he can't beat the Ravens running that one-dimensional offense. The Ravens would smack him silly regardless if the game was in Denver or Baltimore.
Houston has played tough without Schaub, but the post season is where quarterbacks elevate their game. Rookie T.J. Yates isn't the answer.
That basically leaves the Ravens with three other potential opponents. San Diego didn't scare me early in the season because of previous post season disappointments under Coach Norv Turner.
But the Chargers appear rejuvenated and the Ravens can't match up with receivers Malcom Floyd and Vincent Jackson and tight end Antonio Gates.
And if the Ravens have to fly back out to San Diego again, their post season aspirations might end. In two other West Coast trips this season, the Ravens were pathetic in losses to San Diego and Seattle.
No other team causes as much concern. It would be hard to beat Pittsburgh three times in a season regardless of where the game was played, but the Steelers are a different team with an immobile Roethlisberger.
Because of a weak offensive line, he wouldn't survive the Ravens' constant pressure. As of right now, conventional wisdom would have the Ravens playing New England in the AFC title game in Foxboro, where the Patriots have been nearly unbeatable.
But the Ravens have no fear of New England quarterback Tom Brady and his dwarf-like receivers. They've been there and done that. New England can score a lot of points, but the Patriots give up a lot as well.
They can't stop the run and if the Ravens can establish Rice and offensive coordinator Cam Cameron and quarterback Joe Flacco don't short circuit, the Ravens can win.
Of course, there are a lot of ifs involved, and fate will play its usual hand. But heading into the final two games of the regular season, the road to a Super Bowl for the Ravens is much easier than it has been the last three years.
They just have to take advantage of the opportunities.