Can The Ravens Win The AFC North? How Baltimore Can Overtake Pittsburgh

A month ago, it looked like the Pittsburgh Steelers (7-5-1) would run away with the AFC North division crown. Since then, the Steelers have lost three in a row and the Baltimore Ravens (7-6), under new starting quarterback Lamar Jackson, have gone 3-1.

Pittsburgh is still a minus-money favorite to win the division, according to Bovada. They have -195 odds to win the AFC North while the Ravens are at +135 odds. However, the two teams’ remaining schedules mean the Ravens might be a good team to bet on in the coming weeks.

Baltimore hosts the meager Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-8) this week before traveling to southern California to take on the Los Angeles Chargers (10-3). After that, the Ravens close out the season with a home date against the Cleveland Browns (5-7-1).

The Chargers are one of the AFC’s best teams and the Browns have looked excellent since firing head coach Hue Jackson, but the Ravens could easily go at least 2-1 to finish with a 9-7 record.

The Steelers on the other hand, are entering a brutal stretch of their schedule at the worst possible time. They are home underdogs to the New England Patriots (9-4) in Week 15. After that, they travel to the Big Easy to take on the New Orleans Saints (11-2). The only reprieve Pittsburgh gets is a home contest against the Cincinnati Bengals (5-8) to finish the season.

In the plausible scenario where the Ravens go 2-1 and the Steelers go 1-2 over the next two games, Baltimore would win the AFC North. A 9-7 record would beat out an 8-7-1 record. With a dominant defense and a powerful running game, the Ravens could be a tough out in the AFC playoffs.