NFL Playoff Picture: Baltimore Ravens Need No. 1 Seed to Reach Super Bowl

The Baltimore Ravens will be doing two things on Sunday: trying to beat the Cincinnati Bengals and rooting for the Buffalo Bills to beat the New England Patriots.

It's entirely possible that neither wish will be granted, and that would be bad for the Ravens.

If only one wish is granted, that would be bad, too.

The Ravens need both things to happen to get what they really want, and that's the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs. That comes with a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the postseason, and those are things that the Ravens need.

This is especially true of the home-field advantage. The Ravens went a perfect 8-0 at home this season, and they generally looked like one of the very best teams in the NFL when they played within the confines of M&T Bank Stadium.

The Ravens haven't look nearly as dominant when they've played on the road, and that's why you have to fear for them this weekend against the Bengals. If they lose, they'll miss out on the No. 1 seed and they'll leave themselves open to losing the AFC North crown to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

That would be the worst-case scenario for the Ravens, as it would put them in a position where they would have to win three games on the road in order to reach the Super Bowl. It can be done, but it's hard to imagine this Ravens team winning three road games in a row.

In fact, against the very best teams the AFC has to offer, it's hard enough to imagine this Ravens team winning one game on the road. And if they earn the No. 2 seed, it's easy to imagine them ending up in New England to play the Patriots in the AFC Championship game.

That's not a road the Ravens want to travel. The Ravens are dominant at home, but so are the Patriots. If the Ravens were to come calling, the Patriots would beat them.

If the Ravens end up earning the No. 1 seed, the road to the Super Bowl will go through their house, and that would be bad news for the other five teams that end up making the cut in the AFC. The Ravens would be favored against all comers, and it's my opinion that they would beat all comers to punch their ticket to Indianapolis.

If the Ravens don't get the No. 1 seed, you would have to doubt their ability to advance as soon as they have to pack their bags. 

You could give them the benefit of the doubt, but they lost that privilege when they stumbled in Tennessee, Jacksonville, Seattle and San Diego.

And who knows? We may soon be adding Cincinnati to that list.