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          NFL Nation

          Playoff triple-option: Three ways Ravens can reach postseason in Week 17

          • Jamison Hensley, ESPN Staff WriterDec 24, 2017, 09:32 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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          The Baltimore Ravens can reach the postseason without having to win their last regular-season game.

          The Ravens (9-6) currently hold the No. 5 seed after the Tennessee Titans (8-7) and Buffalo Bills (8-7) lost Sunday. The Titans fell at home to the Los Angeles Rams, and the Bills got routed at New England.

          Tennessee finishes the regular season at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Buffalo plays at the Miami Dolphins. The Los Angeles Chargers are also 8-7, but they would lose the first tiebreaker because of a 5-6 conference record.

          Here are the three scenarios in which the Ravens (9-6) can clinch a wild-card berth in Week 17:

          • Baltimore beats Cincinnati at home. The Ravens would earn a wild-card spot because their 10-6 record would be the best among the non-division winners.

          • Ravens lose, and the Titans lose at home to Jacksonville

          • Ravens lose, and the Bills lose at Miami

          The Ravens get the No. 5 seed in the AFC if ...

          • Baltimore beats the Bengals at home

          • The Ravens, Titans and Bills all lose

          The Ravens get the No. 6 seed in the AFC if ...

          • Baltimore loses, and either the Bills or Titans lose

          The Ravens are looking to reach the postseason for the first time since 2014.