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          NFL Nation

          A virtual lock? Ravens' chances of reaching playoffs up to 91.8 percent

          • Jamison Hensley, ESPN Staff WriterDec 18, 2017, 03:01 PM
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              Jamison Hensley is a reporter covering the Baltimore Ravens for ESPN. Jamison joined ESPN in 2011, covering the AFC North before focusing exclusively on the Ravens beginning in 2013. Jamison won the National Sports Media Association Maryland Sportswriter of the Year award in 2018, and he authored a book titled: Flying High: Stories of the Baltimore Ravens. He was the Ravens beat writer for the Baltimore Sun from 2000-2011.
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          CLEVELAND -- The Baltimore Ravens find themselves in an extremely favorable position: Beat the struggling Indianapolis Colts and Cincinnati Bengals at home and they'll earn a playoff spot.

          That's why their projected chances of clinching a wild-card berth has increased to 91.8 percent, according to ESPN's Football Power Index.

          This is a virtual lock, right? The Ravens aren't taking anything for granted with two regular-season games left, especially after what happened in 2016.

          "We got to remind ourselves that we were 8-6 last year and we didn't get it done," safety Eric Weddle said. "Let that drive us. Let that drive our focus and our attention to detail even more that we're in this position and we have an opportunity at home with the last two games that, if we play well, we'll have a shot. It's a great spot to be in."

          The difference between last season and this one is the remaining schedule. In 2016, Baltimore had to win at Pittsburgh and Cincinnati to reach the postseason and lost both games to its AFC North rivals. At that time, FPI gave the Ravens only a 28 percent chance to making the playoffs.

          This season the Ravens close out the regular season at home against two of the worst teams in the AFC. The Colts and Bengals have a combined 8-20 record. They lost by a combined score of 158-64 over the past three weeks, a 15.6-point average margin of defeat. Plus, their coaches -- Chuck Pagano and Marvin Lewis -- are likely in the final games with their teams.

          FPI has the Ravens beating the Colts by 17 points and downing the Bengals by 11 points. Baltimore is a 12.5-point favorite against Indianapolis- -- and for good reason. The Colts have lost five straight, the second-longest losing streak in the NFL (behind the Browns). Indianapolis ranks No. 31 in both offense and defense.

          The Ravens are trying to make the playoffs for the first time since 2014.

          "We think about [the playoffs]," defensive tackle Brandon Williams said. "It's on our mind and it's definitely our goal. But at the same time, it's week to week. It's day to day. It's practice after practice. We have to get there first. We can't start talking about it and just forget about everything else. We still have two more games to go. We still have to give them everything we've got. We're ready for those two games. It's a two-game season."