Ravens Playoff Picture
8:55 PM EST Monday, December 4 2006
Going into last week's game against Cincinnati, it looked like the Ravens had a lock on the AFC North. Now, I'm not so sure of that. Here's the Ravens remaining schedule:
Sun 12/10 at Kansas City 1:00 pm
Sun 12/17 Cleveland 1:00 pm
Sun 12/24 at Pittsburgh 1:00 pm
Sun 12/31 Buffalo 1:00 pm
Let's assume that the Ravens are going to win both of those home games against Cleveland and Buffalo. So that means that the road games against Kansas City and Pittsburgh are going to make or break the season for the Ravens. Don't believe me?
Let's say they lose both of those games and finish at 11-5. Cincinnati has this remaining schedule:
Sun 12/10 Oakland 1:00 pm
Mon 12/18 at Indianapolis 8:30 pm
Sun 12/24 at Denver 4:15 pm
Sun 12/31 Pittsburgh 1:00 pm
That's not an easy schedule, but the way they are playing right now, they can beat anybody. If they run the table, they will finish at 11-5 also. We split the 2 games with them, so the next tie breaker is record against common opponents. Cincy is 10-4 and we will be 9-5. So that means the division goes to them. We would most likely then be the 5 seed, which means 3 road games on the road to the superbowl.
How about the other scenario? We win the last 4, finish 13-3. Indy loses to Cincy and Jacksonville, finishes 12-4. San Diego plays Denver and KC at home in the next 2 weeks, then at Seattle. If they lose 2 of those, they finish 12-4. New England has 3 road games remaining at Miami, Jacksonville, and Tennessee, if they lose any of those, they finish 12-4. That gives us home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Let's hope that's how it works out. But it starts this weekend at Arrowhead and I'll be there first hand to see it.
