BALTIMORE — It wasn’t even six weeks ago that the Ravens were coming off a 30-point loss in Houston and looking like roadkill.
Coming on the heels of what looked to be season-ending injuries to Ray Lewis and other key pieces of Baltimore’s defense, that 43-13 thrashing by the Texans on Oct. 21 looked to be the loose thread that would cause the Ravens’ once-promising season under to unravel.
But a funny thing happened on the way to Baltimore’s demise — John Harbaugh’s team regrouped during the bye week (reportedly with the help of a heated team meeting involving the head coach), started winning again and hasn’t stopped since.
Unbeaten in four games since the Houston debacle, Joe Flacco and the 9-2 Ravens can’t think of a better opponent than the Steelers without injured Ben Roethlisberger Sunday afternoon to help Baltimore clinch the AFC North title and a third consecutive 10-win season.
Pittsburgh already has lost once to the Ravens this season, falling 13-10 at home in Byron Leftwich’s first game as the starter in place of Roethlisberger just two weeks ago.
“It’s not emotionally hard to get back up,” Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs said. “I walk in here, and [the Steelers’] color is still that color. When we see it, we have unpleasant memories of them, and when they see us, they have unpleasant memories of us. Both teams love it. So it’s going to be good that we get to do it again in the short time span.”
The Steelers (6-5) thought they might get Roethlisberger back this week, but he was ruled out Friday after being unable to practice fully due to rib and shoulder injuries. Leftwich also is out, meaning Pittsburgh will go with Charlie Batch for the second week in a row as it tries to stave off elimination in the division and snap a two-game skid.
The Steelers will have safety Troy Polamalu and receiver Antonio Brown back, but their train wreck of an offensive line (rookie seventh-round pick Kelvin Beachum will start at right tackle) appears likely to make for a very long afternoon against Suggs and the Ravens’ relentless pass rush.
The Ravens, who are in search of their 15th consecutive home victory, also are starting to feel like fate is on their side after last week’s amazing comeback win at San Diego — a 16-13 overtime decision that wouldn’t have been possible without an incredible fourth-and-29 conversion by Ray Rice on their last possession of regulation.
“We’ve positioned ourselves well, but we haven’t decided anything yet,” Flacco said.
That might be true, but the Ravens won’t have to wait long to get the division out of the way.
PICK: Ravens, 24-3
CONTENDERS
Buccaneers (6-5) at Broncos (8-3): Denver can clinch the woeful AFC West as soon as Sunday with a victory over Tampa Bay or a loss by the Chargers, but the Buccaneers — even on the road — are unlikely to be a pushover for Peyton Manning & Co. Tampa Bay has won four of its past five games, and rookie sensation RB Doug Martin is second in the NFL with 1,382 yards from scrimmage. The Bucs also will test Manning with their ability to produce turnovers — they are plus-11 in turnover margin. Even so, Peyton and the thin air will prove too much for coach Greg Schiano’s club.
PICK: Broncos, 24-10
Vikings (6-5) at Packers (7-4): This could be a pivotal moment in Green Bay’s season as the Packers try to pick up the pieces from their shocking, 38-10 demolition at the hands of the Giants last week that snapped a five-game winning streak. All signs indicate Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay will be able to do exactly that, considering they have won the past four meetings in this NFC North series and the Vikings — Adrian Peterson’s remarkable comeback season aside — are just 1-3 since a 5-2 start.
PICK: Packers, 30-14
bhubbuch@nypost.com