The New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens have both had surprise seasons this year. That is good for the Patriots, not so much for the Ravens.
The Patriots finished in last place in 2024 in the AFC East Division and came into this season with a new head coach. They parlayed those factors to earn one of the best records in football and came into play this week with a one game lead over the Buffalo Bills in their division race. They are also a perfect 6-0 on the road this season, and they are on the road tonight when they meet the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium.
While the Patriots have enjoyed surprise success behind Head Coach Mike Vrabel, the winning tradition of John Harbaugh and the Ravens has been severely dented this season. Early in the year an injury plagued Ravens squad lost five of their first six games. Then, when much of the injured returned to action, Baltimore won five in a row to catch the Pittsburgh Steelers in the always competitive AFC North Division.
No sooner than they overcame their horrible start with five wins, did the Ravens lose a pair of division games to the Cincinnati Bengals and now, once again, front running Steelers. A win last Sunday on the road in their second meeting of the year against Joe Burrow and company kept Baltimore within a game of the Steelers.
The Steelers and Ravens close out the regular season in two weeks at Acisure Stadium. To earn a playoff date, the Ravens need to win that game and, to have that game mean something, win today and next week in Green Bay.
The Ravens have dug themselves an unfamiliar hole in their quest to crack the playoff field for a fourth consecutive season.