The Texans upset the Chargers to maneuver on within the AFC playoffs final weekend. Can they do it once more towards the Chiefs? Will the Ravens get previous Buffalo? This is our ideas. (odds vis ESPN)
Baltimore Ravens at Buffalo Payments (-1)
It’s arduous to consider {that a} 12-5 workforce with a two-time MVP at quarterback may ever be an underdog within the divisional spherical of the AFC playoffs, however such is Baltimore’s destiny towards the Payments this Sunday night time.
The Ravens dominated their wild-card matchup with the Steelers, working out to a 21-point halftime lead earlier than profitable the sport 28-14. Quarterback Lamar Jackson had two touchdowns and 256 complete yards whereas working again Derrick Henry rushed for 186 yards and two scores, together with this 87-yard sprint on the workforce’s first offensive snap.
Henry rushed for 199 yards because the Ravens beat the Payments 35-10 in Week 4. Buffalo working again James Prepare dinner ran for a season-high 120 yards towards the Broncos final week however had solely 39 yards towards Baltimore’s top-ranked run protection in September.
In different phrases, Sunday’s sport ought to come right down to the quarterbacks. If the Ravens’ Thirty first-ranked move protection can’t cease Payments quarterback and MVP front-runner Josh Allen, then Jackson may need to outscore him with out main receiver Zay Flowers, who missed final week’s sport with a knee harm.
It gained’t be simple however Jackson may steal the sport, and presumably the MVP award, with one other robust efficiency towards the Payments.
Houston Texans at Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (-8)
When the Texans protection performs prefer it did towards the Chargers final week, they will beat anybody in soccer, together with the defending Tremendous Bowl champions. Houston didn’t simply win, they took L.A.’s soul in a 32-12 upset victory in final week’s wild-card sport.
Not solely did the Texans register 4 sacks on Justin Herbert, they intercepted him 4 instances for 108 yards, a career-high for the Chargers quarterback who’d solely thrown three picks all yr.
“Our protection, they dominated right this moment,” head coach DeMeco Ryans said. “And that’s who we need to be. They performed our model of soccer.”
After all, the Texans offense did its half as properly. QB C.J. Stroud threw for 282 yards with a landing to broad receiver Nico Collins, who caught seven of eight targets for 122 yards and a rating. Stroud additionally ran for 42 yards, whereas working again Joe Mixon rushed 106 yards and a rating.
However can they do it towards the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium? Houston misplaced 27-19 on the street to Kansas Metropolis in Week 16 in a sport the Texans misplaced broad receiver Tank Dell to a season-ending knee harm. Evidently, Houston ought to have loads of motivation for Saturday’s sport.
Whereas the Chiefs offense ranked six spots forward of the Texans in 2024, it managed solely 7.9 extra yards and 0.7 extra factors per sport than the Texans. In the meantime, solely 4 groups gave up extra yards per contest (315.0) than Houston within the common season.
It gained’t be simple, but when the Texans can construct on the momentum gained from final week’s win, they may catch Kansas Metropolis sleeping and advance to the AFC Championship Recreation.
