Should Ravens Try to Keep Steelers Out of Playoffs?
The Baltimore Ravens clinched the one seed in the AFC and a first-round bye when they trounced the Miami Dolphins in Week 17.
Usually, when a team clinches its playoff spot, there's not much left to play for in the final week of the season, but that may not be the case for Baltimore. If the Ravens defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 18, they can eliminate any chance that their AFC North rivals had of making the playoffs.
"It's the Steelers," Peter Schrager said via NFL Network. "As Baltimore Ravens, are you going to let the Steelers backdoor into the playoffs? Because all the Steelers need is for the Dolphins to beat the Bills and then a Steelers win and then they're in. And then the Steelers are the seven seed and guess what? If the Steelers are the seven seed, beat the two seed, whether that's Miami or whoever, guess who they play in the Divisional round. That's the Ravens."
Rookie wide receiver Zay Flowers is the Baltimore Ravens' top receiver this season with 858 yards.
Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
In order to sneak into the playoffs, the Steelers would need to win on Saturday and have the Miami Dolphins beat the Buffalo Bills or the Tennessee Titans beat the Jacksonville Jaguars.
However, Baltimore could effectively end Pittsburgh's chances at the postseason by simply winning in Week 18. If the Steelers lose, the only way for them to get in is if the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans don't end in a tie, the Jaguars lose and the Denver Broncos defeat the Las Vegas Raiders.
"The Ravens could just end the Steelers' season," Schrager said. "You beat them, they're done, and guess what? We did it to you, Harbaugh did it to Tomlin. Or they could play this smart and say, well you rest your starters because god forbid you get another injury and then you'd be kicking yourselves the rest of the offseason. It's fascinating."
As of right now, Ravens star quarterback Lamar Jackson is expected to sit out for the final game with Tyler Huntley making the start. Jackson missed last season's playoff game due to injury, so Baltimore is being extra cautious with its MVP candidate.
