Just when you think you’ve started to get a grip on what is going to happen this season, reality slaps you right across the mouth. The NFL’s divisional round gave fans what they wanted and then some, and here is what we have to go off as we approach Championship Weekend.
Texans at Chiefs: 23-14 Kansas City
The first and most predictable game from this weekend had a little more kick to it than expected. At one point, the contest between the reigning champion Kansas City Chiefs and the wild card Houston Texans was just a one-point game before what we all thought would happen, happened: Kansas City won the line of scrimmage, capitalized on friendly calls, and before you knew it, the Chiefs were winners again.
One could argue that a roughing the passer call on Houston’s defensive end, Will Anderson, signaled that the refs were swaying this one for KC, but that’s just excuses. Houston’s o-line was dismantled to the tune of eight sacks.
Overall, if the Houston Texans want to be treated as serious as quarterback CJ Stroud wants them to be, they need to do two things: stay healthy and bolster the offensive line. They have plenty of firepower and a certain toughness about them, but need to bring more substance to be viewed as a legit contender.
Commanders at Lions: 45-31 Washington
Wasn’t this game just something else? Two long-since-dormant franchises duking it out with deep shots and intuitive play calling from great offensive coordinators was the name of the game, but let’s get to brass tacks.
The Lions have so much talent in all levels of the organization, but if honesty is the best policy, it’s time to address one thing: Detroit has problems with postseason play. In the Lions’ last two playoff games, Jared Goff has thrown for more interceptions than touchdowns, aggressive coaching has had negative effects and, now in back-to-back years, the Lions have stumbled when it mattered most.
The Lions’ future may have gotten murkier with the loss, but as one window inches towards being closed, another opens with great fury and optimism. Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels is for real – and it’s finally time to view Washington seriously, as they play a team they have beaten in the NFC Championship.
Rams at Eagles: 28-22 Philadelphia
Coming into this one, the Los Angeles Rams were viewed as a potential threat to the ever-talented Eagles after their beatdown of the Minnesota Vikings. An old legend says to “never underestimate the heart of a champion,” and Philly took quarterback Matthew Stafford and the Rams at face value.
The Rams played a tough game against the Eagles, and even outgained them, but turnovers bit them in the heel. Both Stafford and running back Kyren Williams fumbled in key situations that gave the Eagles the cushion they needed to propel themselves to a date with their NFC East rival.
Philadelphia, in my eyes, looks great. They have perhaps the best performing football player in the world in Saquon Barkley, a run stopping defense and all the pieces necessary to win it all –to those concerned about Jalen Hurts’ passing numbers, I’d direct them to the box score of the next game.
Ravens at Bills: 27-25 Buffalo
Of these two amazing teams led by MVP candidate quarterbacks, one of them had to lose. This was a tough fought battle, but even though Baltimore seemed to be the better team, the old curse of timely turnovers struck midnight on the Ravens.
It just seems like a tradition now – Lamar Jackson and the Ravens have an unparalleled running game, a top five defense and yet they still lose by turning the ball over in January. Many fingers are being pointed at Jackson and tight end Mark Andrews, but I have a hard time understanding why coach John Harbaugh is seemingly always exempt from receiving any blame.
The Bills were definitely not at their best, as Josh Allen threw for just 127 yards and put up a QBR lower than Jackson’s. Buffalo will need to put this weekend’s doldrums behind them as they prepare for the ultimate test: Patrick Mahomes.
Overall takeaways
As I take a look at our loser’s bracket from Sunday, I have to express some concerns about the title windows of a few teams.
Matthew Stafford isn’t getting any younger, and although LA has a talented young defense to build around, coach Sean McVay and his front office need to start thinking about life after Stafford and what this team will look like as we go to the back half of the decade.
There’s something about Detroit that I just do not trust. I would be remiss not to mention the injury struggles the Lions have gone through this season, but injuries do not lead to Jameson Williams throwing picks in late game scenarios or Jared Goff turning the ball over – they need to hone in their aggressive nature to be viewed as contenders for the 2025 season in my mind.
Finally, the Baltimore Ravens now reside in what I am calling “Limbo Land.” Lamar Jackson has been the starter since late in the 2018 season, and, like clockwork, the Ravens win one, occasionally two playoff games before losing due to turnovers – the solution for Baltimore remains unclear, but they are fastly approaching the state of the Pittsburgh Steelers, which is not good.
Gage Wellman is a reporter. Contact him at [email protected] or @GageWellmanKSTV on X.