What do the Ravens need to win the AFC North? Baltimore’s chances to make the playoffs in Week 18

With the 2025 NFL regular season hurtling towards a dramatic finish, the Baltimore Ravens’ hopes of reaching the playoffs hinge on a win-or-go-home showdown in Week 18. After an up-and-down year that saw a promising midseason resurgence coupled with unexpected setbacks, Baltimore find themselves squarely on the wrong side of the postseason dividing line.

The Ravens sit at 8-8 as they enter their final game of the regular season against the Pittsburgh Steelers, a divisional rival that now holds a slim edge in the AFC North. Victory in Pittsburgh would not only hand Baltimore the division crown, but also earn it the final playoff spot in the AFC.

The NFL’s Next Gen Stats say that they have a 55% chance of making it to the playoffs and if we follow the betting market, they’re sitting at -160 at the time of writing.

This scenario is so delicate it could balance on a butterfly’s butterknife and was set up after the events that unfolded in Week 17. Baltimore put out an emphatic 41-24 win over the Green Bay Packers, a performance made historic by running back Derrick Henry’s 216 rushing yards and four touchdowns. That win kept the Ravens alive in the postseason race despite missing star quarterback Lamar Jackson due to a back injury.

Jackson’s absence has been a significant subplot all season. The two-time MVP missed practice and the Packers game as he recovered from a lingering back issue, putting backup Tyler Huntley under the bright lights of Lambeau Field.

Meanwhile, the Steelers’ own stumble in Week 17, a surprise loss to the Cleveland Browns, opened the window for the Ravens to fly through and pick up the crumbs. Pittsburgh went into that game with control of the division but the loss has turned Sunday night’s clash with Baltimore into an all-or-nothing game.

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