Welcome to Baltimore Beatdown’s watch party for a Sunday afternoon matchup between the Steelers and the Packers that has major playoff implications for the Ravens.
Right now, Baltimore is guaranteed to
make the playoffs as the AFC North champions if they win out. If the Steelers lose in Detroit, the Ravens can afford to lose to the Patriots tonight or the Packers next week, provided they win in Pittsburgh in Week 18. The Steelers will be heavily favored to beat the Browns in Week 17, so today’s game against the Lions is the best chance to give the Ravens some breathing room in their next two games.
Both of Baltimore’s next two opponents are beatable; the Patriots have only beat one opponent with a winning record, while the Packers could be without Jordan Love after he suffered a concussion on Saturday night. But it’s easy to see both beating the Ravens, too. They are are 7-7 with only one win against opponents with a winning record. They are 6-2 in their last eight games, but back-to-back losses to the Bengals and Steelers showed that they are not past their problems yet. Going 2-0 against New England and Green Bay feels like a tough task, but 1-1 feels doable. A Steelers’ loss today would make that a possibility.
The Lions share an 8-6 record with the Steelers, but their league-leading offense and Pittsburgh’s injuries on defense clearly tilt the matchup towards Detroit. The fate of the Ravens’ season may hang in the balance. Watch along on CBS/Paramount+ and join the discussion in the comments!
