Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco guided his team to a 30-17 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field.
Flacco completed 18 of his 29 passes for 259 yards and two touchdowns.
His opposite number, Ben Roethlisberger, had 334 yards and a touchdown from his 31 completed passes.
Shaun Suisham's three first-half field goals had the Steelers trailing just 10-9 at half-time.
Justin Tucker's 45-yard field goal in the third quarter extended the Ravens' lead before Flacco's 11-yard pass found Torrey Smith for a TD.
Roethlisberger's six-yard pass to Martavis Bryant dragged the Steelers back but another Tucker field goal and Flacco's pass to Crockett Gillmore ended any chances of a comeback.
The Ravens will face the New England Patriots in their AFC divisional play-off at Gillette Stadium on Saturday.
The Panthers enjoyed a 27-16 win over the Arizona Cardinals on the back of a solid outing from Cam Newton and their defence.
Quarterback Newton completed 18 of 32 passes for 198 yards and two touchdowns for the Panthers' first play-off win in nine years.
The Panthers held the Cardinals to just a net 78 yards.
Newton's two TD passes in the third quarter – to Fozzy Whittaker and Mike Tolbert – set up the Panthers' win.
If the Dallas Cowboys beat the Detroit Lions, the Panthers will face the Seattle Seahawks.
If the Lions win, Carolina will meet the Green Bay Packers.