At this point last year, the Ravens season was basically finished, thanks to a franchise-worst 2-7 start.
This year, fans hoping for relevant late-season games may get their wish. The Ravens dive headlong into the season's second half with a game against the 8-1 Dallas Cowboys at 1 p.m. Nov. 20.
Baltimore (5-4), currently riding a two-game winning streak with a pair of home division wins in a five-day span, still has two intradivisional road games remaining and one home AFC North game -- Nov. 27 against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Despite an inconsistent offense and surprisingly below-par play from their special teams units and quarterback Joe Flacco, the Ravens have benefited from a division that has not proven to be as daunting as in previous years.