The Baltimore Ravens have battled adversity throughout the 2021 NFL season. Well, they’ll need to keep doing it if they want to make the playoffs. Lamar Jackson and company have two games left, but they could end up out of playoff contention with another loss. Shockingly, 20 scenarios could potentially eliminate the Ravens from NFL playoff contention in Week 17.

The Ravens went from No. 1 in the AFC to out of the playoffs in a matter of weeks

The 2021 season started on a low note for the Baltimore Ravens. Before the first regular-season game, John Harbaugh’s squad lost several key players to season-ending injuries. J.K. Dobbins, Marcus Peters, and Gus Edwards were the biggest names to go down.

Along the way, Baltimore also lost Ronnie Stanley, Marlon Humphrey, and DeShon Elliott, among many others. Somehow, this team is still in contention for the NFL playoffs.

The Ravens are in second place in the AFC North with an 8-7 record. If the season ended today, they’d be the No. 8 seed in the AFC and out of the playoffs.

A few weeks ago, Baltimore was the 1-seed in the conference at 8-3. The hobbled Ravens have since lost four straight games, putting them in an uncomfortable position heading down the stretch.

With two games remaining on the regular-season schedule, the pressure is on, with absolutely no margin for error.

20 ways Lamar Jackson and company can be eliminated in Week 17

With the Dolphins winning, the Ravens are going to need some help in final 2 weeks to reach the playoffs for a 4th straight year.

1. Chiefs (11-4)
2. Titans (10-5)
3. Bengals (9-6)
4. Bills (9-6)
5. Colts (9-6)
6. Patriots (9-6)
7. Dolphins (8-7)
—
8. Ravens (8-7)

— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) December 28, 2021

Reeling from four consecutive losses, the Baltimore Ravens enter their Week 17 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams in must-win mode. Sean McVay’s crew is playing good football right now. Lamar Jackson and the Ravens will have their hands full trying to get a much-needed home victory.

With that said, here are the 20 scenarios that can eliminate Baltimore from NFL playoff contention:

1)Ravens Loss + Raiders loss + Chargers loss + Dolphins win + Bills win/tie + Giants win + 1.5 or more combined wins from Packers, Seahawks, Bengals

OR

2)Loss + Raiders loss + Chargers loss + Dolphins win + Bills win/tie + Giants tie + 2.5 or more combined wins from Packers, Seahawks, Bengals

OR

3)Loss + Raiders loss + Chargers tie + Dolphins win + Bills win/tie + Giants win + 0.5 or more combined wins from Packers, Seahawks, Bengals

OR

4)Loss + Raiders loss + Chargers tie + Dolphins win + Bills win/tie + Giants tie + 1.5 or more combined wins from Packers, Seahawks, Bengals

OR

5)Ravens Loss + Raiders loss + Chargers tie + Dolphins win + Bills win/tie + 2.5 or more combined wins from Packers, Seahawks, Bengals

OR

6)Loss + Raiders loss + Chargers win + Dolphins win + Bills win/tie + Giants win

OR

7)Loss + Raiders loss + Chargers win + Dolphins win + Bills win/tie + Giants tie + 1 or more combined wins from Packers, Seahawks, Bengals

OR

8)Loss + Raiders loss + Chargers win + Dolphins win + Bills win/tie + 2 or more combined wins from Packers, Seahawks, Bengals

OR

9)Loss + Raiders tie + Chargers loss + Dolphins win + Bills win/tie + Giants win

OR

10)Ravens Loss + Raiders tie + Chargers loss + Dolphins win + Bills win/tie + Giants tie + 1 or more combined wins from Packers, Seahawks, Bengals

OR

11)Loss + Raiders tie + Chargers loss + Dolphins win + Bills win/tie + 2 or more combined wins from Packers, Seahawks, Bengals

OR

12)Loss + Raiders tie + Chargers tie + Dolphins win + Bills win/tie + Giants win

OR

13)Loss + Raiders tie + Chargers tie + Dolphins win + Bills win/tie + Giants tie + 0.5 or more combined wins from Packers, Seahawks, Bengals

OR

14)Loss + Raiders tie + Chargers tie + Dolphins win + Bills win/tie + 1.5 or more combined wins from Packers, Seahawks, Bengals

OR

15)Ravens Loss + Raiders tie + Chargers win + Bills win/tie + Dolphins win/tie

OR

16)Loss + Raiders tie + Chargers win + Bills win/tie + Patriots win/tie

OR

17)Loss + Raiders tie + Chargers win + Bills win/tie + Giants win/tie

OR

18)Loss + Raiders tie + Chargers win + Bills win/tie + 1 or more combined wins from Packers, Seahawks, Bengals

OR

19)Loss + Raiders win + Chargers tie + Dolphins win + Bills win/tie

OR

20)Ravens Loss + Raiders win + Chargers win + Dolphins win

How Baltimore can still win the AFC North

The Baltimore Ravens have their backs against the wall heading into the game against the LA Rams. Historically, that’s the exact situation that John Harbaugh and company prefer.

Even though Baltimore is fighting for NFL playoff contention, this team can still contend for an AFC North title.

The Ravens (8-7) are one game behind the Cincinnati Bengals (9-6) in the division. The problem is that Joe Burrow and the Bengals swept the season series against Baltimore.

With two games left to play, this team must take care of business and get some help. To win the division, the Ravens will need to start by defeating the Rams and Pittsburgh Steelers. Fortunately, they’ll get to play both games in front of the home crowd at M&T Bank Stadium.

Not only does Baltimore need to win out, but it also needs Cincinnati to lose its final two games.

Winning the AFC North seems like a long shot. Still, if Lamar Jackson and the Ravens can sneak into the playoffs, all bets are off.

Scenarios courtesy of NFLPlayoffScenarios.com