Ravens crash out of playoff race

The season is over. Things looked good at the start of the fourth quarter, with the Ravens up 20-10, but the Steelers opened up the offense and the Ravens defense couldn’t answer.

The loss wraps up the Ravens season. With the Dolphins pulling off a hard fought win over the Buffalo Bills, with their back-up quarterback, the Ravens only avenue to the playoffs was through the division. The Ravens will find themselves now picking in the mid-to-low teens.

Pittsburgh is likely to find themselves as the third seed in the Wildcard playoffs, facing the Dolphins, Chiefs or Broncos.

All in all, this Ravens season will be looked back as a season where the team was too sloppy to get out of their own way. The erosion of the run defense will slip by unnoticed, no doubt masked by the secondary's performances with and without Jimmy Smith.

To improve, the Ravens need to start by doing three things: Building a legitimate, consistent, offensive scheme. Adding a potential star at cornerback and drafting or signing Terrell Suggs' replacement.