With the NFL regular season nearing completion, multiple teams across the league hope to do enough in order to earn a spot in the playoffs. While squads such as the Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Seattle Seahawks and Indianapolis Colts don't have much to worry about down the stretch - outside of perhaps crushing injuries - other franchises including the Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins and San Diego Chargers still have their fair share of work to do in order to solidify a place in the 'second season.'
Though they remain very much alive in the postseason race, the Detroit Lions and Baltimore Ravens are two other teams who know their remaining three games will ultimately decide playoff fate. Set to meet Monday night in the Week 15 finale, both the Lions and Ravens will look to improve their overall 7-6 records. Baltimore got hot at the right time last season on their way to the franchises first Super Bowl championship since the 2000-2001 season and head coach John Harbaugh is hoping for another similar run. Happy about his team's recent three-game win streak, the Baltimore coach is excited about the chance to extend the streak even though his Ravens - who currently sit percentage points behind the Miami Dolphins for the final AFC Wild Card spot - have struggled mightily on the road.
I think we've won the close games at home and we haven't won them on the road. That's the bottom line," Harbaugh said. "We've done the things we needed to do to win tight games at home and we haven't done the things we've needed to do on the road. It's us." The Ravens are 1-5 on the road this season and the task of improving that record certainly won't be easy against a Lions team that has been strong at Ford Field all season. Posting a 4-2 home record, Detroit cornerback Chris Houston understands how precious home-field games are, especially when you're still in the hunt for a division title
"We'll just take this slap in the face and hope it wakes us up," Houston said. "We have two straight home games and we have to go get them. We can't get down on ourselves. We are still in a good position in our division. I think we like when our backs are against the wall."
Detroit Lions vs. Baltimore Ravens: DATE, TIME & VIEWING INFO
DATE: Monday, December 16
TIME: 8:30pm, ET
TV COVERAGE: ESPN
LIVE STREAM: Available through WatchESPN
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