NFL Playoffs 2016: 5 reasons Baltimore Ravens will make it

The Baltimore Ravens are going to make the playoffs. Here are five reasons why.

Entering their Monday Night Football matchup against the New England Patriots, the Baltimore Ravens needed a win to stay tied with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC North. Even after a loss, Baltimore is in a good position and still control their own destiny. Though they might not win the AFC North, with the Denver Broncos slumping and the Miami Dolphins having an injured quarterback, a wild card spot is still plausible.

They will need to improve in the next few weeks in order to make the playoffs. But this isn’t new for them. Remember in 2012 when Baltimore rallied in the late season to win the Super Bowl? If they can get going again, they’ll be a team nobody wants to face in the postseason. Here are five reasons why the Ravens will make the playoffs in 2016.

5. Offensive Balance

Granted, Baltimore is still trying to find the happy medium between their passing game and running game. At times, both units have dominated. However, it’s been rare to see both their air attack and ground attack firing on all cylinders. But if Baltimore can find the balance they had during the Super Bowl run in 2012, they should be in excellent shape.

The emergence of Kenneth Dixon provides the birds with a versatile running game. While Terrence West is a more traditional running back, Dixon has shown a lot of potential. He can make guys miss and makes plays out of the backfield. Don’t forget about Kyle Juszcyzk, who rates as the best fullback in the NFL according to Pro Football Focus.

Crockett Gilmore is a much better run blocker than Dennis Pitta. If he can get healthy, he should give the running game a significant boost and maybe get it up to par with the passing game. The Ravens offense is in far better shape than it was in 2012 before they got their act together.