The Baltimore Ravens venture north this week as they take on the Buffalo Bills for Week 14. While the Ravens have been on a roll — winning eight straight coming into this week — the Bills are no slouch either at 9-3. While most experts believe Baltimore will extend their winning streak this week, it’s a potential playoff matchup that will test both teams in the final weeks of a long season.
Before sitting down and watching the game, here are the four storylines you might want to know about the Ravens vs. Bills in Week 14.
Ravens could be playoff bound:
It’s a pretty rare spot Baltimore is in entering Week 14. They’ve usually had to fight into the final week of the season to get into the playoffs and at times have had to get a little outside help to find a wild card berth. But this week, the Ravens simply need to win and they’ll be guaranteed a place at the table in the AFC.
It gets even better than that though. A win and a little help from the NFC and Baltimore can not only clinch a playoff spot but seal up the AFC North for the second consecutive season. Claiming the division would ensure the Ravens have at least a top-4 seed regardless of how they finish out the final three games. Plus, it also sticks it to the Pittsburgh Steelers, who would be mathematically eliminated from winning the AFC North this season and put the pressure on them to squeak into the playoffs as a wild card.
A win in the NFL is nice but guaranteeing a playoff berth and getting to claim some superiority over a division rival is so much better.