Pundit Says Ravens Would Be Better Off As Wild-Card Team Than AFC North Champions

The Ravens will win the AFC North title with a win over the Cleveland Browns or a Pittsburgh Steelers loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday, but ESPN’s Dan Graziano believes Baltimore would be better off as a wild-card team.

Graziano noted that there is a good chance the Ravens would host the surging Los Angeles Chargers in the first round of the playoffs if they are division champions, while they would play at the struggling Houston Texans if they are a wild card.

“Houston is leaking oil right now and could be as vulnerable as any team – at home or on the road –- in the wild-card round of the playoffs,” Graziano wrote. “A loss next week in Tennessee (which is possible, since the Texans are locked into the No. 4 seed and could rest their starters), and we’re looking at a 9-8 AFC South champ coming off three straight losses (and four in its past six). The Texans’ only win against a team with a winning record all season came in Week 5 against the Bills. They also are missing two of their top three receivers in Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell, and their offense is sputtering.

“The Chargers, meanwhile, just got top running back (and former Raven!) J.K. Dobbins back and are riding some seriously positive vibes into the postseason. Whichever team – Baltimore or Pittsburgh – ends up not winning the division could be getting a really nice first-round consolation prize with a matchup against Houston.”

The Ravens (11-5) routed the Texans (9-7), 31-2, in Houston on Christmas. Their 30-23 win over the host Chargers (10-6) in HarBowl III in Week 12 was much more competitive. Dobbins exited that game with a knee injury in the second quarter after rushing for 40 yards on six carries and did not return.

There’s also a chance the Ravens could host Pittsburgh (10-6) in the first round. That would happen if the Steelers lose to…