Ravens offensive players were clear after Sunday’s win that they need to find their mojo over the final six weeks of the season, especially with the schedule getting tougher. That said, given the week-to-week nature of the NFL, no team ever has to apologize for winning, regardless of the aesthetics.

“There is value in this brand of Ravens football,” The Baltimore Banner’s Jonas Shaffer wrote. “Just look at the rest of the NFL. As would-be Super Bowl contenders fall and pretenders rise out of the muck every week, the Ravens continue to plow ahead. Are they winning pretty? No. Are they winning comfortably? Also no, not really.

“But the Ravens’ recent run of form has, surprisingly, distinguished them from most of the NFL’s so-called elite. Pop quiz: Since Week 8, when the Ravens ended a four-game losing streak with a win over the Chicago Bears, which team trails only the Los Angeles Rams, by wide consensus the NFL’s best team, in point differential? Not the New England Patriots (plus-44), who’ve won an NFL-high nine straight games. Not the high-flying Seattle Seahawks, either (plus-50). The answer: You guessed it. The Ravens, at plus-64. Over that stretch, they have never won by fewer than seven points, and they’ve won three games by at least 13.”

While the offense has sputtered, the defense – which has given up less than 20 points in six straight games – and special teams have picked up the slack. The Ravens are also winning the turnover battle and playing disciplined.

Cornerback Marlon Humphrey’s forced fumble at the Ravens’ 2-yard line with the Jets threatening to pull within three points with under seven minutes left in the fourth quarter was the biggest play of the game. The Ravens did not commit a turnover.

Punter Jordan Stout had a huge game, arguably the best in his four-year career. He tied Sam Koch for the longest punt in franchise history (74 yards) and had a 67-yarder that went out of bounds at the 5. Stout averaged 61.5 yards on four punts. Rookie kicker Tyler Loop converted all three of his field-goal attempts.

“They’ve outgained their opponent in just two of their five most recent wins. But their turnover margin during that stretch is plus-seven, tied with the Rams for the NFL’s best,” Shaffer wrote. “Their penalty margin is plus-129 yards. Their special teams advantage, even with a disappointing Week 12 showing in Cleveland, has been considerable.

“If the Ravens win their next three games (vs. the Cincinnati Bengals at home, Steelers at home, Bengals on the road), a third straight AFC North title may be merely a formality. According to The New York Times’ playoff simulator, their odds of winning the division title would improve from about 88% to 98% with a 9-5 record. Dominant? Not yet. But the Ravens are just good enough to get there. And being just good enough has worked out pretty well as a blueprint so far.”