Ravens can basically clinch the AFC North in a 5-day span as they play the Browns Sunday and Bengals the following Thursday. Both those games are in Baltimore and if they win both games, they'd be up 2-0 on each and would have at least 2 less losses than both of them (so basically at least a 3-game lead on both). I don't think they win both, but they certainly could.
Ravens are approaching some historic levels of play (even with the 2 losses). They have the 5th longest streak in the SB era of leading entering the 4th quarter (currently at 9). Through 9 games, the Ravens DVOA (defense-adjusted value over average) is the 3rd best ever through 9 games. The only 2 teams better were the 91 SB winning Washington squad and 07 Patriots (the 16-0 team). They have a point differential of +115, which is 35 better than the Bills (who are 2nd). They've scored 27 offensive TD's and their defense has only given up 9 TD's. The schedule gets very difficult down the stretch as they have the hardest remaining schedule (Rams are the only team not currently .500 or better), but it may not matter if they keep crushing division leaders like the Lions and Seahawks.
All that said, it really doesn't matter what they do in the regular season. Lamar, in particular, has to win in the playoffs. Will he end up like Peyton Manning, who also had a rough start to his playoff career, or is he just going to end up as a good regular season, but poor post season player. Should be an interesting end to the season for the Purple and Black.
