Heading into the final week of the regular season, the AFC playoffs have room for one more team with four teams vying for the honor. The Dolphins, Ravens, Chargers, and Steelers are on the bubble, if you will. Folks in Baltimore are caught up in the heat of being embarrassed at home by the New England Patriots, 41-7. Absolutely nothing worked on offense, defense, even Justin Tucker missed a field goal attempt. A loss so bad to a less than full strength Patriots team that makes you wonder if the Ravens even deserve to play in January. 

Discuss all things Ravens and the NFL Playoffs on our message board.

If we take a look at each of the remaining team’s resumes, does anyone really deserve the final spot? In a bracketology kind of way, you pick the bubble team of the “first four out”.

Miami Dolphins – (8-7) (2-3)

 
Good wins: @IND 24-20, vs. CIN 22-20(OT), vs. NE 24-20
Best win: @NYJ 23-3
Double digit wins: 2
Bad losses: vs. BUF 23-21, @TB 22-19, @BUF 19-0
Worst loss: @NO 38-17
Double digit losses: 3
Strength of schedule: .522, Strength of victory: .513, Point differential: -5
Last four games: 3-1
Upcoming: vs. NYJ(+6.5) 4-3 at home. Last meeting: Win @NYJ 23-3

 

Baltimore Ravens – (8-7) (3-2)

 
Good wins: vs. CIN 20-17(OT)
Best win: vs. HOU 30-9
Double digit wins: 2
Bad losses: @BUF 23-20, @CLE 24-18
Worst loss: vs. NE 41-7
Double digit losses: 2
Strength of schedule: .467, Strength of victory: .413, Point differential: -15
Last four games: 3-1
Upcoming: @CIN (-6) 2-5 on the road. Last meeting: Win vs. CIN 20-17(OT)

 

San Diego Chargers – (8-7) (3-2)

 
Good wins: @PHI 33-30, vs. IND 19-9, @KC 41-38, @DEN 27-10
Best win: vs. NYG 37-14
Double digit wins: 4
Bad losses: vs. HOU 31-28, @TEN 20-17, @OAK 27-17, @WAS 30-24(OT)
Worst loss: @OAK 27-17
Double digit losses: 1
Strength of schedule: .484, Strength of victory: .533, Point differential: +45
Last four games: 3-1
Upcoming: vs. KC (+10) ** 4-3 at home. Last meeting: Win @KC 41-38
 
**I can only imagine that SD is a 10 point favorite because Vegas believes KC has nothing to play for.

 

Pittsburgh Steelers – (7-8) (3-2)

 
Good wins: vs. CIN 30-20
Best win: @CLE 27-11
Double digit wins: 5
Bad losses: vs. TEN 16-9, @ MIN(London) 34-27, @OAK 21-18
Worst loss: @NE 55-31
Double digit losses: 3
Strength of schedule: .484, Strength of victory: .471, Point differential: -4
Last four games: 2-
Upcoming: vs. CLE (-7) 4-3 at home. Last meeting: Win @CLE 27-11

 

No team controls its own destiny. Everyone needs help to get into the postseason. Does anyone really deserve it over another? Perhaps we’ll see if someone makes a “deserving”case in week 17. No one has up to this point.

Mike Randall
Mike Randall

Ravens Analyst

Mike was born on the Eastern Shore, raised in Finksburg, and currently resides in Parkville. In 2009, Mike graduated from the Broadcasting Institute of Maryland. Mike became a Baltimore City Fire Fighter in late 2010. Mike has appeared as a guest on Q1370, and FOX45. Now a Sr. Ravens Analyst for BSL, he can be reached at [email protected].

X