After a Wild Card weekend without much suspense, the Divisional allows the NFL to move to a new level. Between Ravens and Bills will compete one of the most anticipated meetings of the year. Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, which MVP favorite will take his team to the conference finals? There, the winner has a good chance of finding the Chiefs, favorite against the Texans. Although the Houston defense has one or two tricks to play on Patrick Mahomes, who would be better off activating play-off mode.
In the NFC, Sean McVay's Rams have a heavy task with a complicated trip against the unstoppable Eagles, especially on the ground. The Lions enter their play-offs against Commanders within their reach. Two games before the Super Bowl, every action will count.
The match (of the year?): the Ravens or the Bills, two enemy brothers
Monday January 20 at 12:30 a.m.
Buffalo Bills – Baltimore Ravens
One is an excellent AFC team, 6 times in the playoffs in the last 7 editions, led by a brilliant quarterback both in passing and running and in the running for the MVP, AFC finalist in 2020, era to whom he was promised access to the Super Bowl in the medium term, and who presents himself in these playoffs with legitimate title ambitions. The other is an excellent AFC team, 6 times in the playoffs in the last 7 editions, led by a brilliant quarterback both in passing and running and in the running for the MVP which he won twice, who seems destined for the Super Bowl for several years already, and who presents himself in these playoffs with legitimate title ambitions.
A feeling of déjà vu? It's normal. From a distance, the Bills (one) and the Ravens (the other) have similar profiles. Here are two teams that are relentlessly among the favorites for the title, but who each time break their teeth along the way, often against a certain Missouri team led by Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes, Chris Jones and Travis Kelce. Given what they do every year, these two franchises deserve their place in the AFC final, or even after. But the law of sport is that there will only be one place. And coming back to try your luck is never a guarantee. In such a match, the joy of victory will be immense, but short-lived given the remaining deadlines. While the wound of a defeat will take a very long time to heal.
The Ravens' ground game, the key to the match?
What is hard for the entities is even harder for the men involved. We think in particular of Josh Allen (QB, Bills) and Lamar Jackson (QB, Ravens), whose level of play makes it almost absurd that they were unable to go to the end. And since there is no room for two, on Monday, one destiny will continue, sending the other and his frankness back to very expensive studies. Suffice to say that the meeting will have a considerable impact which already makes it a historic match.
On the ground, expect a festival. If they are at home, the Bills are not total favorites against an opponent who dominated them in week 4 (35-10), thanks to a simple recipe: floor, floor, floor. Derrick Henry (RB) then reached 199 yards, at 8.3 per carry, to which Lamar Jackson added 54. To win, Buffalo will have to contain the Ravens runner, who are 11-0 when he exceeds 90 yards. . To reassure itself, Buffalo can say that its linebackers Matt Milano and Terrell Bernard were not yet back, and that Josh Allen did not have Amari Cooper (WR) to advance in front. Will this be enough? Faced with a formidable defense against the run (1st with 3.6 yards per carry) but permissive against the pass (22nd in yards per opposing attempt), Allen will be more than ever the key player of his team.
Player of the Week: Patrick Mahomes, time to get started?
Saturday January 18 at 10:30 p.m.
Kansas City Chiefs – Houston Texans
It's almost inconceivable to realize how much of a supporting character Patrick Mahomes has been this year. The one who has just had a third child has not been at his level this season, with 7 yards per pass, his worst record in his career. With 26 touchdowns and almost 4000 yards, he wasn't bad either. However, against the Texans, and with a view to what may follow, we will have to return to being the Mahomes we know.
The Houston defensive line led by Will Anderson Jr. tortured the Chargers last week, inflicting 4 sacks on Justin Herbert, who completed only 14 of his 32 attempted passes. And to protect him, Mahomes still has an unknown on his left side: DJ Humphries is certainly back at left tackle, but he should share snaps with Joe Thuney, who would nevertheless be very useful inside. And Humphries was not very reassuring during the debacle against Denver, even if he played with the B team. Mahomes and the Chiefs have not played seriously for 3 weeks, we will have to avoid the delay at the 'ignition. But we know their ability to excel in the playoffs: since the quarterback started, they have had a record of 15 wins and 3 losses.
Coach of the week: Sean McVay, still getting stronger?
Sunday January 19 at 9 p.m.
Philadelphia Eagles – Los Angeles Rams
So where will Sean McVay stop? The Rams were adrift after 6 games with a 2-4 record amid a cascade of injuries and the retirement of Aaron Donald that was difficult to digest. Los Angeles is now two games away from the Super Bowl after terrorizing Sam Darnold and the Vikings offense in the Wild Card. So, why don't we go any further?
To do this, we would once again have to defy the predictions, because the Eagles are indeed the favorites of the match, for a simple reason: led by Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia is one of the two teams in the league (with the Ravens) which has more of 3,000 rushing yards, and the Rams have only the 24th-ranked rushing defense. In week 12, Barkley had accumulated 302 yards (including 255 on the ground!) alone in Los Angeles' latest defeat. Next to him, it's hard to see Jalen Hurts failing like Darnold with the Vikings. Add to that the quality of the Eagles' air defense, the best in the league, which should put considerable pressure on Matthew Stafford, and the fact that the Rams played Monday night in Minnesota… if Los Angeles passes, the qualifiers would be missed for Sean McVay and his gang.
The game phase of the week: for Commanders, watch out for play actions!
Sunday January 19 at 2 a.m.
Detroit Lions – Washington Commanders – live on W9
It will be a long road for Washington in Detroit. The Commanders were able to win at the finish against the Buccaneers. The march will be even higher in Michigan against arguably the best team of the regular season. On offense, Jayden Daniels is one of the best quarterbacks in the league on the outside (73.8% of completed passes, 12 touchdowns, 2 interceptions), and Detroit can be weakened by his absences, even if the Lions have always found a way to fix it for the moment.
On the other hand, to have a chance of winning, Washington must contain Detroit's attack, which will be significantly more difficult. A phase of play will be key in this matter: the defense of play actions. Ben Johnson's squad is lethal on these actions. Jared Goff has accumulated nearly 2,000 yards and 14 touchdowns over the season, the best totals in the league. Fortunately, Washington only conceded 873 yards (4th total in the league) on these actions. But to properly defend these race feints, you will have to have already found solutions to the real races of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, the second being back this weekend. In an electric Ford Field, facing a team that was rested last week, the Commanders have work to do.
Posters of the week
Saturday January 18 at 10:30 p.m.
Kansas City Chiefs – Houston Texans
Sunday January 19 at 2 a.m.
Detroit Lions – Washington Commanders – live on W9
Sunday January 19 at 9 p.m.
Philadelphia Eagles – Los Angeles Rams
Monday January 20 at 12:30 a.m.
Buffalo Bills – Baltimore Ravens
