NFL Week 11: 5 teams that must win

4. Baltimore Ravens

At 4-5, the Baltimore Ravens have been one of the most inconsistent teams this season but still find themselves in the thick of the playoff race. They’re just one game out of the Bills for the final Wild Card spot. The Ravens are on the road this week in Green Bay but have a more than favorable matchup. With all the injuries the Packers have suffered, this is a must-win if the Ravens want to keep their playoff hopes alive.

At this point, the division is out of reach. The Steelers have that handled and barring a major meltdown, they’ll be AFC North champs at the end of the season. This means the only way the Ravens can make the playoffs is through a Wild Card berth. As it stands, the Jaguars and Bills hold the final two spots.

The Jaguars hold a tiebreaker over the Ravens but the Bills don’t. This means that wins are even more important over the next couple weeks. With the quarterback situation in Buffalo, they could be falling off the edge sooner than expected. That would mean the Ravens have the perfect opportunity to sneak into that sixth spot.

Missing the playoffs three out of the last four years is unheard of for a John Harbaugh team but that’s the reality the Ravens have dealt with the past few seasons. They aren’t an elite contender like we’ve seen in the past but that doesn’t mean they can’t compete in the playoffs. If there’s any team the Steelers or Patriots don’t want to face in the playoffs, it’s the Ravens. The experience of Joe Flacco can’t be counted out, even with how poor he’s played in the regular season.

The Ravens have one of the easiest remaining schedules of any playoff team. It’s time they play like that and start winning the games they need to.