Ravens can clinch the Division if....

[OriginalColtsFan]

The train keeps on chuggin.
I'm amazing how they figure out a way to win every week.
This D has reasserted itself after a few horrible games, and they are being creative and making big plays.
Kruger and Ellerbe have been especially big, and the secondary seems to have settled down somewhat.

1. The LBs are playing better because Ray Lewis is not in there.
2. The secondary got a big boost because of Graham. And also because Pollard's previous rib injury seems to have healed.
3. The schemes seem to be more aggressive.

[BlandFood]

now playing for Bye week and MORE important to them........ home field.

[OriginalColtsFan]

If it's that close to clinching the division, shouldn't it be even closer to clinching at least a wild card spot?

[Ravens2006]

I think a win Sunday, regardless of what CIN does, would clinch a WC spot. That would put the Ravens 5 or more games ahead of everyone except CIN, PIT, IND, and maybe MIA.

They'd be 4 up on PIT with 4 to go, but they'd have the tie-breaker in hand. So PIT is out of the equation at that point.

They'd be at least 4 up on MIA with 4 to go (and MIA would have to beat NE this week to stay within 4), but the Dolphins can't catch them in the conference record.

If by some miracle they went 0-4 afterwards and CIN somehow took the division, that frees up a WC spot... and there's no other team that could get to 10 wins that would knock them past the 6th spot. IND could theoretically tie / pass them in record, but that's the only other contender in the playoff standings at this point... IF the Ravens win vs. PIT this week.

I think...

[mythoughts]

I think a win Sunday, regardless of what CIN does, would clinch a WC spot. That would put the Ravens 5 or more games ahead of everyone except CIN, PIT, IND, and maybe MIA.

They'd be 4 up on PIT with 4 to go, but they'd have the tie-breaker in hand. So PIT is out of the equation at that point.

They'd be at least 4 up on MIA with 4 to go (and MIA would have to beat NE this week to stay within 4), but the Dolphins can't catch them in the conference record.

If by some miracle they went 0-4 afterwards and CIN somehow took the division, that frees up a WC spot... and there's no other team that could get to 10 wins that would knock them past the 6th spot. IND could theoretically tie / pass them in record, but that's the only other contender in the playoff standings at this point... IF the Ravens win vs. PIT this week.

I think...

I think you're right. A win and the Ravens clinch at least a WC. A Bengal loss would give the Ravens the Division. Miami can't beat out the Ravens. Best they can do is tie with a 10-6 record. But Ravens would win out on Conf Record (8-4 vs 7-5). Miami has 2 games remaining against the Pats and would have to beat them both times to finish 10-6. Should the Pats also finish 10-6 that would give Miami the Division and the Ravens the tie-breaker vs Pat (head-to-head). And of course with a win the Ravens would have the tie-breaker against the Steelers as well.