Any season the Baltimore Ravens fail to make the playoffs or come up short in their Super Bowl pursuit is considered a disappointing one by the coaches and players. But, for the Ravens and their fan base, there is no more painful way for the postseason to unfold than to watch the Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots advance to the AFC Championship Game like they did this weekend.
The Steelers and Patriots are the Ravens' chief rivals. They're also Baltimore's biggest sources of frustration in the postseason.
Since 2008, coach John Harbaugh's first season, the Ravens have been knocked out of the playoffs five times, and it's usually been by the Steelers or the Patriots.