After going face to face in opposition to their arch-rivals in a recreation they’ve traditionally misplaced nearly 80 p.c of the time as of late, the Baltimore Ravens lastly achieved their most urgent purpose: defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers.
I do know, loopy, proper? Regardless of being one of the profitable groups within the NFL, the Ravens had misplaced eight of their final 9 video games to the Steelers up up to now, making the problem of securing a playoff spot all of the extra perilous. And but, regardless of dropping Justice Hill to an damage and Lamar Jackson throwing a decide close to the endzone that might have spelled catastrophe, the Ravens secured the win, guaranteeing that they are going to be playoff-bound come January in a single spot or one other.
Requested the way it felt to safe his twelfth win in 17 seasons after the sport, Harbaugh set free a two-word declaration earlier than digging into it a bit deeper.
“It is large,” Harbaugh mentioned through NFL.com. “I rejoice in the truth that we made the playoffs, as a result of it is powerful to do, it is actually laborious to do. Look across the league at how laborious it’s to do. I am so pleased with these guys. And we’ve objectives, the primary purpose is to win the following recreation, we are saying. So all the pieces we do all yr is to win the following recreation. The second purpose is to make the playoffs. The third purpose is to win the division, the AFC North. After which the ultimate purpose is to win the championship, the Tremendous Bowl. We obtained two of them tonight, we gained the following recreation, and we made the playoffs.”
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As issues presently stand, the Steelers and Ravens are tied for the most effective file within the AFC North with two video games left to play. Whereas each groups are assured a spot within the playoffs and will nonetheless win the division, relying on how issues shake out, the Steelers have a a lot more durable schedule shifting ahead, with a recreation in opposition to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs in Week 17 and the Cincinnati Bengals to shut out the common season. The Ravens, in contrast, are set to face off in opposition to a Houston Texans crew with out Tank Dell and a Cleveland Browns crew that may most likely have Dorian Thompson-Robinson beneath heart.
Might the Ravens safe the AFC North pennant for the second time in a row? Or will they arrive up brief to Pittsburgh as soon as extra, having to make their Tremendous Bowl push from a wildcard spot? Might the 2 groups find yourself enjoying one another within the playoffs, marking the uncommon third recreation between the 2 groups in a single elimination showdown? Whereas solely time will inform, one factor is evident: the Ravens are going to the playoffs a method or one other, which ensures at the very least yet another recreation after the end result of the 18-week common season.