The Ravens followed up an impressive 34-17 win over the Steelers with a dominant showing against the Texans on Christmas. Baltimore was in control from the first drive of the game and ended with a 31-2 win.
While the Ravens are playoff-bound, their seed has yet to be determined. The win also kept them in the hunt for the AFC North title in a two-team race with Pittsburgh. With the Steelers’ loss to the Chiefs earlier in the day, the Ravens are now one game ahead in the AFC North.
If Baltimore beats Cleveland in Week 18, it will win the North. This is where long-term strategy is going to come into play. The Ravens surely want to host a home playoff game in the first round, but they likely would love the chance to rest quarterback Lamar Jackson or running back Derrick Henry.
With only one game to go, the Ravens have a chance to lock down a top-four seed in the playoff. Here are their updated clinching scenarios after a big Week 17 win.
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Ravens playoff picture
Baltimore went into Week 16 with a 9-5 record and in second place in the AFC North. The Ravens picked up a 34-17 win over the Steelers to clinch a playoff spot. Baltimore then took the top spot in the division with a win over Houston.
The Ravens will finish no worse than the No. 5 seed in the AFC playoffs. Their Week 16 win also prevented Pittsburgh from locking down the division. Now, the Ravens need one more win than the Steelers in the final two weeks of the season to lock down an AFC North title and host a first-round playoff game.
Baltimore capitalized with a win in Week 17 after Pittsburgh lost. If Baltimore loses in Week 18 and Pittsburgh wins, the Ravens would be the No. 5 seed in the playoffs due to divisional record tiebreaker, so there’s little doubt both teams will be going all-out to win the division.
POWER RANKINGS: Lions, Vikings rise; Eagles, Steelers take a fall
Ravens clinching scenarios
With the Steelers losing to the Chiefs and the Ravens beating the Texans, a Week 18 Ravens win over the Browns will clinch the division for Baltimore, regardless of what happens to Pittsburgh.
If the Ravens lose to the Browns, it will depend on what happens to the Steelers. In that scenario, if Pittsburgh beats Cincinnati in Week 18, it will win the AFC North. If Pittsburgh loses, the Baltimore loss doesn’t matter, and the Ravens would win the division and a top-three seed.
MORE: How Ravens win over Steelers impacts 2024 playoff picture
Ravens remaining schedule
| Week | Date | Opponent | Time (ET) |
| 18 | TBD | vs. Browns | TBD |
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