December football has arrived, and the Baltimore Ravens find themselves fighting to keep their playoff hopes alive. After back-to-back losses to the Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore sits at 6-7 and outside of the postseason picture heading into Week 15. Power rankings across the league reflect the slide, and analysts agree: the Ravens face a tough path forward if they want to stay in the AFC North race.
Ravens Playoff Chances Take a Hit in Week 15 Power Rankings
Baltimore’s loss to Pittsburgh dropped the Ravens behind the Indianapolis Colts, who hold the AFC’s final Wild Card position at 8-5. Winning the division remains the clearest path, but it would likely require Baltimore to win out—a tall task with upcoming matchups against the Bengals, New England Patriots, Green Bay Packers, and Steelers.
NFL.com noted the team’s uneven play after another missed opportunity. “It’s probably going to take a December sweep (of the Bengals, Patriots, Packers, and Steelers) to get in,” the outlet wrote. The report added that Baltimore’s defensive progress stalled after allowing Jaylen Warren to score on a long untouched catch-and-run, and that quarterback Lamar Jackson “just couldn’t find a consistent rhythm.”
ESPN also ranked Baltimore at No. 19, with reporter Jamison Hensley pointing to Jackson’s red-zone regression. “His 42.5% completion rate in the red zone (17-of-52) is lower than even rookies Dillon Gabriel and Jaxson Dart,” Hensley wrote. He highlighted the dramatic drop from last season, when Jackson ranked third in red-zone completion at 70.3%.
Bleacher Report placed Baltimore at No. 19 as well, citing concerns about Jackson’s accuracy and mobility. “Something is seriously wrong with Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson,” Gary Davenport wrote. “Without quality quarterback play, the team is coming up short.”
Sporting News ranked Baltimore 20th, citing issues on both offense and defense. “The Ravens are struggling to be smooth offensively with Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry and their defensive leaks against the pass are an equal problem.” Pro Football Talk echoed the sentiment, writing, “They need to stop the bleeding now.”
USA Today also slotted Baltimore at No. 19, noting Jackson’s dip in production. “Jackson hasn’t rushed for more than 50 yards since Week 1,” the outlet wrote, adding that he risks finishing under .500 as a starter for the first time in his career.
How the Baltimore Can Still Make the AFC Playoffs
Despite the rankings slide, Baltimore still has a path to the postseason. The simplest scenario is winning the AFC North. If the Ravens win out, they take the division and host a playoff game. But even one loss would require the Steelers to drop games of their own.
A Wild Card berth remains possible but less likely. Both the Texans and Colts sit at 8-5, and Houston holds the head-to-head tiebreaker over Baltimore. The Ravens would likely need to finish 10-7 and hope both teams falter down the stretch.
Baltimore’s priority now is simple: win the games in front of them. The Ravens face the Bengals next, a matchup that could determine whether their playoff hopes survive another week.
If they want to climb back up the power rankings—and into the postseason—the turnaround must start immediately.
Ravens Slide Again in Week 15 Power Rankings: ‘They Need to Stop the Bleeding’