Category: AFC Playoffs

Mark Andrews & Isaiah Likely make life easy for Ravens’ Lamar Jackson

Baltimore Ravens TE’s Mark Andrews and Isiah Likely are responsible for 1,150 of QB Lamar Jackson’s 4,172 total passing yards in 2024.

Baltimore Ravens tight ends Isaiah Likely and Mark Andrews have combined for 97 receptions in the team offense this season. Those 97 receptions have yielded 1,150 of quarterback Lamar Jackson’s 4,172 total passing yards in the 2024 NFL season.

Like Ryu and Ken from Street Fighter, Andrews and Likely are equipped with premier talents and are identical. Like Ken, Likely plays as the younger, impressionable professional, while Andrews is more rugged and disciplined. Andrews has the locker room leadership needed to keep things afloat, and he will be looking to push Likely and rookie wide receiver Devontez Walker into excellence during the NFL playoffs.

Jackson doesn’t have to do much preaching and teaching, his guys know their spots and how to adjust on broken plays. Plus, Jackson knows he can rely on Andrews and Likely to contribute in the passing game and get physical when its time to run-block when it’s time to go to the run game.

Expect Jackson to target Likely and Andrews at increased volumes with wide receiver Zay Flowers out on injury this Weekend. Jackson can target his tight ends if the Steelers attempt to bring additional blitz concepts from the linebacker position in the AFC Wild Card round.

John Harbaugh is thinking New Orleans, Ravens want Super Bowl LIX

Baltimore Ravens HC John Harbaugh has his eyes on New Orleans and Super Bowl LIX, where he won the Lombardi in 2013.

It’s personal for Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh in 2025.

Having won Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans just over a decade ago, Harbaugh believes his team can make it right back to the Big Easy this upcoming February.

“Dial in,” he said. “Let’s go.”


Harbaugh didn’t have the superstar talent that is quarterback Lamar Jackson, nor running back Derrick Henry, at his disposal back then of course. His 2012 championship roster relied on the leadership of Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis and the sudden elite play of veteran quarterback Joe Flacco to get him over the hump.

As the No. 3 seed in the AFC playoff picture, it is likely that the Ravens will end up playing a road match up to, if and when, they make it to the AFC Championship Game.

For Harbaugh, playing on the road in the postseason isn’t particularly a bad thing though. During the last Ravens’ Super Bowl run, the team defeated both Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning and New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady on the road before advancing to the big game.

In Harbaugh’s way in 2025 stands terrific head coaches: Pittsburgh Steelers’ Mike Tomlin, Buffalo Bills’ Sean McDermott, and Kansas City Chiefs’ Andy Reid, to name a few.

Ultimately, Harbaugh is tired of consistently being the guy of almost could. Instead, this time, he wants to prove wants and for all that the Ravens franchise made the right decision by staying faithful to him for all of these years. He can do that if he just keeps his eyes on the prize, which would yield him a second Super Bowl title.

A Brief Ravens vs Steelers playoff history lesson

The Steel city has the upper hand when it comes to the postseason history between these two teams, holding a 3-1 advantage in the series.

The Baltimore Ravens are the AFC North champions, having won the division by two games over their bitter rivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Those same Steelers will face the Ravens on Saturday for the third time this season in an AFC Wild Card round game.

As the No. 3 seed, the Ravens will host the No. 6 seed Steelers in a postseason clash where they will have the advantage of momentum in addition to home field.

Pittsburgh enters the meeting having lost their last four, while Baltimore heads in, winning their last four and seven of their last nine.

However, Steel City has the upper hand in postseason history between these two teams, with a 3-1 advantage in the series.

Let’s briefly revisit the series, which has been staged entirely in Pittsburgh until now. Saturday will be the first postseason meeting in Charm City.

1/20/2002, AFC Divisional: Pittsburgh 27, Baltimore 10

This was the end of the Ravens’ first Super Bowl title defense. The game also reminded you how they won that first championship.

It wasn’t via the offense, which was a total no-show here. Baltimore gained only 150 yards and had just seven first downs. They also turned it over four times.

1/18/2009, AFC Title Game: Pittsburgh 23, Baltimore 14

The 2008 edition was your prototypical defense-comes-first Ravens squad. And while they said some prowess on offense at times throughout the season, the unit was woefully incompetent in this game.

The Steel Curtain D held Baltimore to 184 yards of total offense and forced five turnovers in this one.

1/15/2011, AFC Divisional: Pittsburgh 31, Baltimore 24

The Ravens had just 124 yards of total offense in this one. Are you sensing a theme here? When you consider that stat, plus the fact they turned the ball over three times, it’s astonishing they put up 24 points and kept it close.

1/3/2015, AFC Wild Card: Baltimore 30, Pittsburgh 17

Finally, the tide turned, as Joe Flacco and his 259 passing yards led the way to victory. Despite losing both the yardage and time of possession battle, Baltimore won decisively.

Nate Wiggins & Marlon Humphrey must excel in Ravens Playoff run

Baltimore Ravens rookie DB Nate Wiggins is becoming the exact compliment all-pro Marlon Humphrey needed. Now, It’s time for the AFC playoffs

Baltimore Ravens defensive backs Nate Wiggins and Marlon Humphrey better hit the weight room hard this upcoming week at practice. The toughest wide receivers to cover in the entire NFL await them. 

Of course, the Ravens are expected to defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers this upcoming Wild Card weekend, but that’s not where the most prominent and boldest enemies await. The Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills both have household names as wide receivers, including De’Andre Hopkins, Amari Cooper, Keon Coleman, and tight-ends Dalton Kincaid, plus all-pro Travis Kelce. Defensive coordinator Zach Orr has to have his thinking cap on to scheme up the correct man and zone coverages versus each opponent in the post-season because Steelers Russell Wilson, Chiefs Patrick Mahomes, and Bills Josh Allen all can move in the pocket.

Furthermore, for the Ravens to make a difference versus the pass, they may want to use bracket techniques and press coverage to rush opponents in the passing game. Wiggins and Humphrey are both handsy defenders, so jamming wide receivers at the line of scrimmage and forcing opposing quarterbacks to throw into tight windows and toward the sideline.

Fans saw Wiggins grab an epic interception inside a flat zone scheme Orr drew up versus the Cleveland Browns last weekend. Hopefully, Humphrey and his journeyman Wiggins can make more miracles in the upcoming playoffs.

Time and date set for Steelers Wild Card playoff game

The Steelers will take on the Ravens next week in the playoffs.

The Pittsburgh Steelers had to wait until the end of the Week 18 afternoon games but the announcements are out about all the AFC playoff matchups. Thanks to the Los Angeles Chargers beating the Las Vegas Raiders, the Steelers will travel to Baltimore and take on the Ravens.

The game is set for Saturday, January 11 at 8:00 pm ET on Prime Video. This will be the third time these two teams will square off this season. The Steelers beat the Ravens 18-16 in Pittsburgh in Week 11 but the Ravens got revenge when they doubled up the Steelers 34-17 in Baltimore in Week 16.

For Pittsburgh, they must wash the taste out of their mouths from the four-game losing streak they ended the season with and try and figure out a way to keep pace with Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson despite the struggles of Russell Wilson and the Steelers offense.

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Zay Flowers is hurt and Ravens rookie WR Devontez Walker is ready

Baltimore Ravens rookie WR Devontez Walker deserves his chance and OC Todd Monken has to stop blocking his shine.

Only one factor has prevented Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken from giving rookie wide receiver Devontez Walker more reps in the offensive scheme. With wide receiver Zay Flowers injured, Monken must deploy Walker in the AFC Wild Card round.

Wide receiver Rashod Bateman played great versus the Cleveland Browns, finishing with five receptions, a touchdown, and 76 receiving yards. Yet, quarterback Lamar Jackson only completed six of his 16 pass completions to wide receivers on the afternoon. Monken has to stop being so stoic and sure-minded just because his offensive talents have made him look like a genius this season. Both Walker and allow reserve receiver Tylan Wallace to be an asset to him.

In the playoffs, where teams like the Browns will not appear in 2025, the Ravens offense cannot afford to have continuous hiccups and empty offensive possessions. Neither can Monken allow his offense to stutter into a rhythm because the defense, though superb of late, has struggled versus the higher-tiered teams in the NFL.

Monken’s papass-heavy attack was ineffectiven Week 18, anbutalker can help his ideals come totrue if he giveshe rookie a chance.

Ravens to host Steelers in AFC Wild Card round

The Baltimore Ravens will host the Steelers in AFC Wild Card round of Pittsburgh’s loss to the Bengals, and Chargers win over the Raiders

The Ravens are 12-5 and winners of the AFC North after a Week 18 victory over the Cleveland Browns.  The No. 3 seed in the AFC playoffs, Baltimore will host their bitter rivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers, losers of four straight games to enter the postseason.

Denver’s Sunday defeat of Kansas City ensures that the seventh-seeded Broncos will travel to Buffalo to face Josh Allen and the AFC East champion Bills.

Justin Herbert’s dominant performance in the Los Angeles win over the Raiders ensures that Jim Harbaugh will make the playoffs in his debut season with the Chargers.

As the No. 5 seed, the Chargers will travel to Houston to face the No. 4 seeded Texans.

Ravens clinch AFC North, No. 3 seed with a win over Browns in Week 18

Ravens clinch AFC North, No. 3 seed with a win over Browns in Week 18

Baltimore lost two of their first four games and looked like a team out of sorts following the acquisition of Derrick Henry. Still John Harbaugh stayed the course, Zach Orr improved as a defensive coordinator, and the Ravens are the AFC North champions after a convincing win over the Browns in Week 18.

Lamar Jackson became the first player to amass 4,000 yards passing and 800 yards rushing in the same regular season. Derrick Henry became the third player in NFL history to amass 15 rushing touchdowns in a season, and 1,800 yards rushing in multiple seasons.

According to Next Gen Stats, Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry are the first pair of teammates to have 40 touchdown passes and 15 rushing touchdowns in the same season.

Baltimore will now start preparation for what should be an entertaining and storyline filled AFC Wild Card matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Bengals win ups the stakes for Steelers season finale

The Steelers have a huge challenge against the Bengals in Week 18.

On Saturday the Cincinnati Bengals pulled off a huge overtime win to keep their playoff hopes alive. The chances are slim that the Bengals will make it, in fact according to ESPN, the Broncos have only a 10.9 percent chance to make it. Nevertheless, there’s still a chance Cincinnati gets in but to even make it plausible, they must beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 18.

Had the Broncos beaten the Bengals on Saturday, Cincinnati Would have been eliminated from the playoffs and had nothing to play for in the final game of the year. This was exactly what the Steelers needed as they continue to jockey for playoff positioning into the final week.

Instead, the Steelers will get one of the best offenses in the NFL, led by a legitimate MVP candidate in Joe Burrow when they have everything to play for.

The Steelers are currently on a three-game losing streak and backing their way into the playoffs. Pittsburgh can still win the AFC North but they need to win next week and the Baltimore Ravens must lose to the woeful Cleveland Browns.

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Ravens announces ticket information for potential AFC Wild Card game

The Baltimore Ravens announced that tickets for a potential home wild card game are now on sale!

Baltimore (11-5) has a one-game lead in the division race over Pittsburgh (10-6). The Ravens can clinch the division with a home win over the Browns (3-12) in the regular-season finale or a Steelers loss to the Bengals (7-8).

According to ESPN, Baltimore trailed the AFC North by two games a week and a half ago and now has an 88% chance of winning the division. NextGenStats (NGS) gives them a 92% shot.

The Ravens are locked into the third seed and set to host a wild-card game. The team announced ticket information for a date to be announced at M&T Bank Stadium.

With one week left in the season, Baltimore is trending toward hosting Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers in what should be a highly anticipated contest featuring the two brothers.