The Baltimore Ravens are currently in a league of their own in the AFC standings. With a record of 11-3, they are in sole possession of the No. 1 seed in the conference, as all roads to the Super Bowl currently run through Baltimore.
With the No. 1 seed, the Ravens would also get a bye heading into the postseason. For a team as banged up as Baltimore has been, getting an extra week of rest certainly isn’t a bad thing. Will they be able to hang onto that spot in the standings in the final three weeks of the season?
According to projections done by Seth Walder of ESPN, they will, but it certainly won’t be easy and will require a bit of good luck. Walder ran simulations and projections for the remaining 48 games this regular season; 47 now that the Los Angeles Rams defeated the New Orleans Saints on Thursday Night Football.
NFL News & Rumors: NFL Playoffs, Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, Baltimore Ravens Updates
Based on the projections, the Ravens come dangerously close to losing that No. 1 seed. They lost to the San Francisco 49ers 31-20 in Week 16, while the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Las Vegas Raiders. The Chiefs would then be in a tie, one game behind Baltimore with the Miami Dolphins, who were defeated by the Dallas Cowboys in the projections.
In Week 17, the Ravens suffered another massive loss, this time to the Dolphins, 28-24. With the Chiefs defeating the Cincinnati Bengals 16-9, creating a three-way tie atop the conference with each team being 11-5. The Wild Card picture is tight as well as all five contenders won.
But, in Week 18, the Ravens get a little bit of good luck. They defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers 21-9, clinching the No.1 seed because the Dolphins and Chiefs both lose to the Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Chargers.
NFL News & Rumors: NFL Playoffs, Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, Baltimore Ravens Updates
At 12-5, they earn the No. 1 seed in the AFC, while the Dolphins fall to the final Wild Card spot and No. 7 seed as they lose the AFC East to the Bills. The Chiefs already have the AFC West locked up and are the No. 2 seed at the end of this simulation.
Whoever makes it through the AFC gauntlet will have earned their trip to the Super Bowl. There are some intriguing matchups created by these projections, as all seven playoff teams won at least 11 games. The Houston Texans and Denver Broncos wish they were in the NFC, as both teams miss the playoffs despite having winning records.
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