AFC Divisional round preview: Chiefs, Ravens laying big points

The Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs. It seems to be the AFC Championship Game everyone wants around the football world, but will it be the one everyone gets?

Baltimore and Kansas City are running a combined 18-game winning streak going into this weekend. The Ravens haven’t lost since the Cleveland Browns beat them in Week 4, while the Chiefs have won six straight after their Week 11 bye. Now, both come into the AFC Divisional round as 9.5-point favorites.

In Baltimore, the Ravens will play host to the Tennessee Titans. Tennessee is the team nobody expected to make it this far, a plucky sixth seed that dispatched the three-time defending conference champion New England Patriots. The Titans are largely winning with their ground game, led by rushing champ Derrick Henry. Henry went for more than 200 combined scrimmage yards last Sunday in the win over New England.

If the Titans are going to pull the upset against the Ravens, Henry will likely need another such day. Baltimore has won 12 consecutive games on the back of likely MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson, who in 15 games accounted for 43 touchdowns. Jackson has been brilliant on the ground, shattering Michael Vick’s old single-season rushing record for a quarterback, amassing more than 1,200 yards.

Meanwhile, the Houston Texans come to Arrowhead Stadium for a date with the Chiefs. Houston actually beat the Chiefs at Arrowhead in Week 6, 31-24. However, Kansas City was without left tackle Eric Fisher, receiver Sammy Watkins, defensive tackle Chris Jones and middle linebacker Anthony Hitchens. All four are expected to play this week, although Jones is questionable. Patrick Mahomes and Tyreek Hill are also fully healthy, something they were not in the original matchup.

So how does Houston win in Kansas City again? It starts and ends with Deshaun Watson making plays. The Texans have the league’s worst defense by yards per play. Barring a divine miracle, the Chiefs are going to score. Watson needs to keep pace by finding receivers DeAndre Hopkins, Will Fuller and Kenny Stills. If he can beat a good Kansas City secondary, the Texans have a real shot.

The world seems to be in unison, rooting for a showdown between Jackson and Mahomes. One more win for each and it happens.

The Titans and Texans are hoping to play spoiler as big underdogs in games nobody expects them to win.