A few hours after Sunday's loss to the Denver Broncos, the Ravens got a bit of good news.
The Cowboys took down the Steelers in overtime, which clinched a playoff spot for the Ravens.
Despite becoming the only team in the NFL to earn a playoff bid the last five years, the Ravens didn't take much solace in securing a trip to the postseason.
"For us making the playoffs isn't a surprise," wide receiver Anquan Boldin said. "It's something that you expect so you don't really get excited about it."
Clinching a playoff spot also didn't soften Sunday's 34-17 loss to the Denver Broncos at M&T Bank Stadium.
"I don't think that there was any doubt in our mind that we were going to make the playoffs," tight end Dennis Pitta said. "We just have to play better, especially at this time of the year. The last thing we want to do is kind of back our way into the playoffs.
"I don't think anyone is relieved that all of the sudden we're in the playoffs. That's been the expectation since day one and nobody really thought that we wouldn't be in there. We're just disappointed in how we played and we just have to be able to put it behind us."
The Ravens have lost three straight games for the first time since 2009, and they will look to get back on track this week against the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants. Both teams are fighting for their division crowns, and the Ravens would clinch the AFC North title with a win this week.
The Ravens can win the division if they beat the Giants or Bengals in either of their final two games, which would guarantee a home game in the first round of the playoffs.
"I think we have a good opportunity these next two weeks to get some momentum going into the playoffs so we can make a nice run," Pitta said.
