It’s Week 17 and it’s the final push for the postseason. Plenty of playoff-clinching scenarios are active and here are five teams that need to come away with a win.
If you’re reading this, congratulations. You’ve made it through 16 weeks of the NFL regular season and it all comes down to this. While teams like the Rams are set with their playoff seeding and will be resting the starters, plenty of teams will be fighting for a postseason berth. It’s a last-ditch effort and for many teams, it’s win or go home this week.
Here are five teams who must come away with a win in Week 17
5. Baltimore Ravens
Many were quick to write the Baltimore Ravens off in the first half of the season but since their bye week, they’re 5-1 and one win away from a wild-card berth. John Harbaugh has led an injury-riddled team that’s overcome adversity and continue to put themselves in a position to win games. The Ravens can secure a postseason spot this Sunday against the Bengals and it’s a game they can’t afford to lose.
The Bengals have nothing to play for at this point in the season but that doesn’t matter. This is a team that is familiar and has dominated the Ravens in recent meetings. This is a trap game that should make fans nervous on Sunday. It’s Marvin Lewis’ curtain call and he’s going to throw out all the tricks to end his career in Cincinnati with a bang. The Ravens need to be aware of any trick or fake play coming their way.
This is a game the Ravens can’t afford to lose. Losing puts them in danger of missing the postseason with wins by the Bills and Titans. That would mean three straight years without making the postseason and for a 10-year head coach, that’s not going to sit well. The seat would finally start to heat up if the Ravens miss the playoffs. All they have to do is beat a 6-9 team and if they can’t, they don’t deserve another week of football in the first place.
Attendance has been scare this season at M&T Bank Stadium and with a flexed 4:15 p.m. game, we’ll see just how many fans come out.