Game result: The Ravens were eliminated in brutal fashion against the Steelers on Sunday, as Tyler Loop missed a last-second field goal to end their year in a 26-24 loss.
NFL playoff picture: How the Baltimore Ravens can clinch a playoff berth in Week 18
The Ravens have one shot at a playoff berth in their final game of the NFL’s regular season. We break down how they can clinch the AFC North in the 2026 NFL Playoffs in Week 18.
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Sunday 1 p.m. results: The Texans win in the early window clinched the No. 5 seed. If the Ravens beat the Steelers on Sunday Night Football, they will host Houston in the Wild Card round.
The NFL closes out the 2025-26 regular season schedule with the Pittsburgh Steelers hosting the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday Night Football. The game kicks off at 8:20 p.m. ET with the AFC North title on the line. The Ravens are a 3.5-point road favorite heading into the matchup.
The big news for this matchup is that Baltimore will have Lamar Jackson back at QB. He missed last week’s game against the Packers due to a back injury. He’s been banged up for much of this season but is still a proven upgrade over Tyler Huntley. The Ravens would have been an underdog in this matchup if Jackson couldn’t go.
Baltimore Ravens playoff berth clinching scenarios
The Ravens have to win to secure the AFC North and the accompanying playoff berth. They are 8-8 and win would improve them to 9-8. The Steelers are 9-7 and a loss would drop them to 9-8. A Ravens win would even the season series but give Baltimore the division record tiebreaker.
The winner of the game will secure the No. 4 seed in the playoffs. They will play one of the Texans, Chargers, or Bills depending on how Sunday’s results shake out.
AFC standings entering Week 18
Here are the current AFC standings after the Christmas games:
- Denver Broncos (13-3) - xy
- New England Patriots (13-3) - xy
- Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4) - x
- Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7)
- Houston Texans (11-5) - x
- Los Angeles Chargers (11-5) - x
- Buffalo Bills (11-5) - x
- Indianapolis Colts (8-8) - e
- Baltimore Ravens (8-8)
- Miami Dolphins (7-9) - e
- Cincinnati Bengals (6-10) - e
- Kansas City Chiefs (6-10) - e
- Cleveland Browns (4-12) - e
- Tennessee Titans (3-13) - e
- New York Jets (3-13) - e
- Las Vegas Raiders (2-14) - e
x - Team has clinched a playoff spot
y - Team has clinched division title
z - Team has clinched No. 1 seed
e - Team has been eliminated from playoff contention
AFC North standings entering Week 17
Here are the AFC North standings as Week 17 begins:
- Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7)
- Baltimore Ravens (8-8)
- Cincinnati Bengals (6-10) - e
- Cleveland Browns (4-12) - e
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