Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen are set to face off in a crucial AFC playoff game, but this matchup isn’t just about competing for the NFL MVP title. More importantly, it determines who will advance to the AFC Championship game.
Jackson’s Baltimore Ravens, who boast a strong record of 13 wins and 5 losses, will head to Buffalo to challenge Allen and the Bills, who finished the season with 14 wins and only 4 losses. Meanwhile, the Kansas City Chiefs, led by Patrick Mahomes, will play against the Houston Texans, represented by C.J. Stroud. The winners of these games will own a spot in the Super Bowl, scheduled for January 26.
The Bills secured their place in the divisional round with a convincing victory of 31-7 against the Denver Broncos, while the Ravens triumphed over the Pittsburgh Steelers with a score of 28-14 during the wild-card weekend. The Texans managed to defeat the Chargers 32-12 in their opening playoff game. The Chiefs, having performed excellently this season, earned a bye in the first round as the top seed.
Before the weekend concluded, the divisional matchups were already established. The Philadelphia Eagles made their presence known by defeating the Green Bay Packers 22-10, allowing them to progress to the next round. They will face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers if Tampa prevails over Washington. Conversely, should the Commanders come out on top, the Eagles will play against the Detroit Lions.
In terms of individual accolades, Jackson narrowly beat Allen for a spot on the Associated Press All-Pro Team, claiming 30 of 50 first-place votes. Allen received 18 votes, earning him second-team All-Pro recognition. Historically, it’s rare for a player to win MVP without being named to the first-team All-Pro; the last instances were in 2003, when Steve McNair and Peyton Manning shared the MVP title, and in 1987 with John Elway taking home MVP honors while Joe Montana was recognized as All-Pro.
Jackson, a two-time NFL MVP, had an impressive performance against the Steelers, completing 16 of 21 passes for 175 yards and scoring two touchdowns, while also rushing for 81 yards. On the other hand, Allen threw for 272 yards on 20 of 26 passing and also rushed for 46 yards during the Bills’ victory over the Broncos.
The two quarterbacks previously clashed in Week 4 at Baltimore, where the Ravens dominated with a stunning 35-10 victory. This playoff showdown marks a rare moment as the same four teams from last year’s AFC playoffs return to the divisional round, a feat previously seen in 2011-2012.
As the excitement builds for this thrilling playoff encounter, fans are eager to see which team will rise to the occasion in pursuit of the ultimate prize: a chance to compete for the Super Bowl title.
