The Baltimore Ravens had a very up-and-down season in 2024, but they clinched the AFC North in Week 18. Four straight wins since their bye week, coupled with the Pittsburgh Steelers’ recent struggles, allowed the Ravens to take the division crown for the second year in a row.
Who Will the Ravens Face In the Wild Card Round?
The Ravens clinched the division with their win over the Browns in Week 18.
Our metrics gave the Ravens an 87% chance of winning in Week 18, so this wasn’t a huge surprise. Still, give Baltimore credit for taking care of business, especially since they lost to Cleveland earlier this season.
The Ravens locked in the AFC’s No. 3 seed with their fourth straight 17+ point win. In the process, Jackson posted his 11th game of the season with multiple touchdown passes and no interceptions, a threshold only MVPs have hit in the past.
The offense gets the attention and deservedly so, but the defense is quietly rounding into form. After allowing 2.30 points per drive through the first 10 weeks of the season, they’ve trimmed that number to 1.38 since, a trend that makes them as dangerous as anyone to win it all in February.
Had the Ravens lost the division to the Steelers on Saturday, they would have been the No. 5 seed in the AFC. This would have led to a road game against the Houston Texans in the Wild Card Round.
However, playing at home on Wild Card Weekend is always preferable, and winning the division also gives the Ravens a chance to host a Divisional Round game, the AFC Championship Game, or both.
To simulate the postseason, head over to PFN’s free NFL Playoff Predictor to see how each team can continue onto their path to the Super Bowl.