This weekend’s divisional round of the NFL playoffs will showcase two quarterbacks in similar positions. Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills and Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens are leading MVP candidates this season. Both are aiming for their first Super Bowl appearances but have been unable to surpass Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs. They are also known for their dual threat abilities, with Jackson leading all quarterbacks in rushing yards this year and Allen ranking fifth in the same category.
The marquee game on Sunday will see these two quarterbacks face off, along with the Kansas City Chiefs hosting the Houston Texans, and the Detroit Lions playing against the Washington Commanders on Saturday. The other Sunday contest is between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Los Angeles Rams. With many storylines to follow, NBC News’ Rohan Nadkarni and Andrew Grief, along with NBC Sports’ Patrick Daugherty, will provide in-depth analysis.
In the MVP race between Jackson and Allen, Nadkarni leans towards Jackson due to his superior stats in passing and rushing categories. Greif sees it as a close call but acknowledges the impact of Henry on Jackson’s performance. Daugherty also favors Jackson, citing his exceptional efficiency and statistical achievements this season.
After the wild-card round, Greif’s perspective on the Los Angeles Rams has changed, noting their strong defensive performance and resilience despite external challenges.
The Rams thoroughly defeated Minnesota, proving Sean McVay’s coaching prowess in the playoffs once again. McVay’s strategic game-planning and exploitation of the Vikings’ weaknesses led to a dominant performance, showcasing the team’s preparation and experience. Despite missing key players like Aaron Donald, the Rams displayed resilience and earned respect on any given Sunday.
In the upcoming divisional round, the Rams face the Eagles, whose defense has been strong but offense inconsistent. The key matchup to watch is the Rams’ defensive line against the Eagles’ offensive line. If the Rams can pressure Jalen Hurts early and disrupt the Eagles’ rhythm, it could tilt the game in their favor. With the Rams being underestimated as underdogs, their chances of causing another upset are high.
Another team to keep an eye on is the Houston Texans, whose fierce defense poses a challenge for opponents. Their ability to disrupt quarterbacks combined with an improving offense could make their game against the Chiefs a close one. Meanwhile, the Bills, despite being slight underdogs initially, have a strong home record and have defeated top teams, making them a formidable opponent for the Ravens.
Could the game turn on a failed fourth-down attempt? That will be the game-within-the-game when these teams face off, and it should add a decent dose of drama.
When Houston faces Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes, can its defense make life miserable for yet another top quarterback? Already this season the Texans’ scheme has led Buffalo’s Allen to post a career-worst completion percentage, Detroit’s Jared Goff to throw five interceptions and Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa to throw three interceptions and lose a fumble. The latest data point came in Houston’s wild-card playoff victory last week against the Chargers, when Justin Herbert was intercepted four times — the same Herbert who had thrown three interceptions in his previous 17 games.
You would think the two-time defending Super Bowl champions’ beginning their quest for a threepeat as 15-2 home favorites would be the storyline of the divisional round. Alas, the Chiefs find themselves well behind the Bills and Ravens’ “game of the century” and the Lions’ hunt for the first Super Bowl title in franchise history. So I’ll ask: Can the Chiefs win convincingly after an anything but convincing 2024?
Because let’s be real: The Chiefs are going to win. The only question is if they will do so in a fashion that actually makes them favorites for the AFC championship game. You can lean on your “championship pedigree” when you are grinding out regular season victories over the Chargers and the Steelers. The same is true for the Texans in the divisional round. But Baltimore or Buffalo with the Lamar Hunt Trophy on the line? We are going to need to see some proof it’s possible this Saturday.
