OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- The Baltimore Ravens boarded their flight to Kansas City knowing their 27-24 overtime loss put them in a four-way tie for the No. 6 playoff spot in the AFC.
By the time they touched down in Baltimore a couple hours later, coaches and players learned there was another viable road to the postseason.
News quickly circulated that the Pittsburgh Steelers fell to the Oakland Raiders on Chris Boswell's missed field goal, which gives Baltimore a legitimate shot at winning the AFC North for the first time in six years.
"I can’t say that we weren’t happy," Harbaugh said upon hearing the Steelers' loss. "That’s just the way it is."
The Ravens (7-6) are a half-game back of the Steelers (7-5-1) and could be seen as a favorite for the AFC North title considering their remaining schedules.
Pittsburgh has the ninth-most difficult final three games left in the league, which includes first-place teams over the next two weeks. The Steelers are home against the New England Patriots (9-4), at the New Orleans Saints (11-2) and home against the Cincinnati Bengals (5-8).
Baltimore's remaining schedule ranks No. 19, and it features only one team with a winning record. The Ravens are home against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-8), at the Los Angeles Chargers (10-3) and home against the Cleveland Browns (5-7-1).
"We’re in a fight for the division against a team we have great respect for," Harbaugh said. "They’re on their path, and we’re on our path. We need to take care of our business. You want to advance in the National Football League? You got to win games, and that’s what we’re focused on doing."
It has been a remarkable turnaround for the Ravens. Four weeks ago, Baltimore was coming off its bye having lost three games in a row as well as its starting quarterback in Joe Flacco (hip). The Ravens' chances of winning the AFC North were at 4.7 percent, according to ESPN's Football Power Index.
Now, the Ravens have won three of their past four games, thanks to a Lamar Jackson-led rushing attack, a dominant defense and an impactful special-teams unit. The Steelers are going the opposite direction in losing three straight with a struggling kicker, an ineffective backfield without James Conner and a banged-up Ben Roethlisberger (ribs). Baltimore's odds of capturing the division are at 33.4 percent.
But by the end of Sunday night, the Ravens could be atop the AFC North. Baltimore plays the Buccaneers, who have lost five straight road games and allowed 34 or more points in all six road games this season. Pittsburgh faces the Patriots, who have won the past four meetings against the Steelers, including the last two at Heinz Field.
"Really, all we need to do is just focus on playing our best football on Sunday," Harbaugh said. "Keep it simple; keep it about football. That’s what we’ve been about from Day 1. Our guys have been all about that, and I really appreciate that about them."
Winning the division would bring a much-needed prize for the Ravens. They have played host to two playoff games in Harbaugh's 10 previous seasons, and it has been six years since the last one.
A home postseason game would be monumental for a franchise trying to reinvigorate its fan base and get people to pack M&T Bank Stadium again.
"We need to win. The way we look at it [is] we need to win three games in a row," Harbaugh said. "We’ve been here before. Let’s do it. But all we need to think about right now is Tampa Bay, our upcoming opponent, and play our best football on Sunday. That’s what we’ll be focused on doing."