Divisional Round Preview: AFC
Divisional Round Preview: AFC
Tennessee Titans vs Baltimore Ravens
This is a matchup most people didn’t see coming. Last week we saw the Titans knock off the Patriots and possible end one of the greatest dynasties in NFL history. Now the Titans are on a mission to knockoff another juggernaut in the Ravens of this year. This Ravens team has been dominating almost everyone they have played this year. Lamar Jackson is the MVP frontrunner and a breaker of numerous franchise and league records. He also leads a team that has rushed for more yards than any team in NFL history. You accompany that with a defense that has only been getting better as the season goes on and you got a team that is looking very scary after two weeks of resting up. On the other hand, the Titans have just been battle-tested in the wild card round against a solid New England defense through sheer Henry power. Derrick Henry, the league leader in rushing, accounted for 182 yards on the ground and 72% of the total offense for the Titans. They learned they can lean on him and a defense that is highly underrated at times to win. While not only can they do that, but when things open up more for the offense, they have an above-average quarterback that is playing excellent of late and a rising star at receiver. The combination of them is almost as scary as the Ravens. The keyword in that sentence is almost though, the Titans are good, but they aren’t the Ravens. The Titans have shown they can lose of recently, while the Ravens haven’t loss in three months. There is a reason one is coming off a bye with a 14-2 record while the other is on the road all postseason long. If I was a betting man, I would put my money on a well-rested team that is hungry for one thing and one thing only, a Superbowl. For them, everything else they have achieved is just a byproduct to get where they want to be.
Tennessee 16 – Baltimore 34
Houston Texans vs Kansas City Chiefs
This is a rematch that most people are going to like to see. This should be an offensive matchup that just might be a shootout. The last matchup in week 6 saw the Texans come out on top, yet a lot has changed since then. Let’s start with the two teams’ defenses. The Chiefs defense is completely different from before. They finally have their biggest issue under control when it comes to stopping the run. They haven’t allowed a 100-yard rusher since Week 14, and because of that the defense has been making more turnovers and allowing fewer points. They also haven’t allowed over 21 points since week 12. This defense is playing faster, smarter and harder than most teams in the league. The Texans defense is starting to look like themselves again since the return of All-Pro J.J. Watt has given them a boost and got the turnovers and sacks coming at a solid rate. While they are still having some lapses in coverage, overall, they are good. On the other hand, Patrick Mahomes is back to his MVP self while the offense is just humming along with the aerial weapons and a ground game that has found its rhythm. On the flip side, the Texans have a potent attack both by the air and ground, yet they have a fatal flaw that can hurt them against any team, they don’t have a reliable line. Last week they gave up seven sacks to the Bills vaunted defense and looked like a line made of swiss cheese at times. If this matchup is going to be even, then the Texans need to get the line under control and the Chiefs need that defense to hold off the ground game. In a tough matchup, I’m going with the Chiefs to hold up better in the end.
Houston 17 – Kansas City 27
-By: Darren Braxton
Writer/Interview