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The drama doesn’t stop in Maryland. Over in the AFC South there is another battle for top spot popping off between the Jaguars and Colts. Both are 8-4 so a loss is a touch less damaging to the loser’s wildcard dreams than for their brothers in the north though maybe best to keep rolling and take hold of home-field advantage today.
Jacksonville have been a minor revelation after some mid-season wobbles with four wins from their past five while Indianapolis, the NFL’s early season darlings, are struggling with two wins from their past five.
The oddsmakers have the Colts still favoured to win. Maybe they have been watching the Floridian weather forecast. Rain is predicted so having a superior running back, aka Indy’s Jonathan Taylor, could decide this one.
Preamble
Here we go football universe, it is week 14 and things are officially getting rather lively in the playoff race. The AFC North is already hosting what is close to a title decider between the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers. They share top spot in the division on 6-6. A losing record this late is just not form worthy of earning a wildcard so as De La Soul once said the Stakes Is High … much like in most of the other seven matchups (sorry Minnesota) starting at 2pm CST/1pm EST/6pm GMT (home teams listed first):
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(4-8) Atlanta Falcons v Seattle Seahawks (9-3)
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(6-6) Baltimore Ravens v Pittsburgh Steelers (6-6)
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(8-4) Buffalo Bills v Cincinnati Bengals (4-8)
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(3-9) Cleveland Browns v Tennessee Titans (1-11)
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(8-4) Jacksonville Jaguars v Indianapolis Colts (8-4)
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(4-8) Minnesota Vikings v Washington Commanders (3-9)
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(3-9) New York Jets v Miami Dolphins (5-7)
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(7-5) Tampa Bay Buccaneers v New Orleans Saints (2-10)
So how devastating is a loss for either Baltimore or Pittsburgh? The nerds at NFL.com have the Ravens soaring to an 81% chance of making the postseason with a win and 36% with a loss. The Steelers build to 61% with victory while clunking to 16% if they lose. The message is clear for both: beat the old enemy and take control of your destiny.
The form book certainly gives Baltimore the edge despite their five-game winning streak coming to a crashing halt last week. Pittsburgh are in much deeper trouble with only two wins in their past seven games. What should give the Steelers hope is that a five-game run that featured wins over the moribund Dolphins, Vikings, Browns and Jets ended when Lamar Jackson and company met a true test from Joe Burrow. If the Steelers defense can get close to matching the five sacks and three interceptions that stunned Indianapolis in week nine then the Ravens will likely crumble. If!
What is easier to prognosticate is that with these rivals out of form in parts, struggling with injuries (there are 20 total players on the report) or just bad in the case of Aaron Rodgers’ offense then this dustup is not going to be pretty. Exactly as it should be in December. What are the hive minds thoughts, feel free to send me a prediction if you’d be so kind, I am going for Ravens 24-17 Steelers.
