Thirty-two groups launched into a mission this season to win Tremendous Bowl LVIII. Eight groups stay.
Jeff Howe breaks down every of the 4 divisional-round matchups this weekend earlier than The Athletic’s projection mannequin, created by Austin Mock, reveals every staff’s odds of successful the Tremendous Bowl.
AFC
A take a look at the AFC playoff bracket after the Payments’ win over the Steelers.
◽️ Ravens-Texans: Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET
◽️ Payments-Chiefs: Sunday, 6:30 p.m. ETWho do you suppose advances to the Convention Championships? pic.twitter.com/fsz3vSg6bP
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) January 16, 2024
No. 1 Baltimore Ravens vs. No. 4 Houston Texans, 4:30 p.m. ET, Saturday
Texans rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud dazzled in his playoff debut by finishing 16 of 21 passes for 274 yards and three touchdowns. Stroud’s poise has been exceptional at this early juncture of his profession. He has accomplished not less than 75 p.c of his passes in three consecutive video games and hasn’t thrown an interception in six straight.
Maybe nobody strengthened their head-coaching candidacy extra over wild-card weekend than Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, and groups with vacancies shall be monitoring his chess match towards Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald. The Ravens have allowed a mean of 15.5 factors over their final 4 video games towards high quality competitors (the Jacksonville Jaguars, San Francisco 49ers, Miami Dolphins and Pittsburgh Steelers).
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Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has a robust likelihood to assert his second MVP Award subsequent month, however there’s stress on him to carry out within the playoffs, the place he has misplaced three of his 4 profession begins and accomplished lower than 60 p.c of his passes in every loss.
The Ravens gained these franchises’ solely playoff assembly 12 years in the past.
No. 2 Buffalo Payments vs. No. 3 Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, 6:30 p.m. ET, Sunday
The weekend’s marquee matchup will mark Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ postseason street debut. The Chiefs have been spottier than normal this season, however their protection doesn’t droop; it hasn’t allowed greater than 20 factors in six consecutive video games.
The Payments’ six-game successful streak started in Kansas Metropolis in Week 14, they usually’ve been knocking off high quality opponents alongside the way in which. 4 of these six wins got here towards playoff groups, together with Monday’s victory towards the Steelers.
After all, the most important story right here is the rematch between two of the AFC’s most distinguished powers in recent times. Mahomes has knocked off quarterback Josh Allen’s Payments twice within the playoffs for the reason that 2020 season, and each video games had been entertaining offensive affairs.
The Chiefs try to succeed in their sixth consecutive convention championship recreation, and the Payments are hoping to keep away from their third straight loss within the divisional spherical.
NFC
The NFC Divisional spherical is ready.
◽️ 49ers vs. Packers
◽️ Lions vs. BuccaneersName it now. Who advances to the NFC Convention Championship? pic.twitter.com/D2RzHcRhYe
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) January 16, 2024
No. 1 San Francisco 49ers vs. No. 7 Inexperienced Bay Packers, 8 p.m. ET, Saturday
The Packers, who now have as many playoff wins at AT&T Stadium because the Dallas Cowboys (three), delivered the most important upset of the wild-card spherical behind big-time performances from quarterback Jordan Love and operating again Aaron Jones. They’d an extremely disciplined recreation plan to regulate the sport on the bottom, take their photographs when essential and stop huge performs on protection, they usually executed it to perfection. The mixture of nice teaching and high-level manufacturing ought to make the 49ers nervous as a result of these traits can carry over within the playoffs.
The 49ers allowed the third-fewest speeding yards within the common season, however that’s as a result of their opponents had been compelled to play from behind so often that the Niners confronted the least quantity of speeding makes an attempt within the league. They allowed 4.1 yards per carry, which ranked 14th and was simply marginally higher than Dallas (4.2).
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The Niners are the well-earned No. 1 seed and have professional Tremendous Bowl aspirations, however there’s trigger for concern as they put together for a sizzling and assured Inexperienced Bay staff that has gained 4 in a row and 7 of 9. The Niners sat a number of of their starters within the regular-season finale, in order that they’re about to seek out out in the event that they’re rested or rusty after a lot of their stars haven’t performed since New Yr’s Eve.
The 49ers have gained 4 consecutive playoff conferences towards the Packers.
No. 3 Detroit Lions vs. No. 4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 3 p.m. ET, Sunday
No one threw an even bigger occasion over the weekend than the Lions, who gained their first playoff recreation in 32 years and captured simply their second postseason victory since 1957. They’ll host a number of video games in a single postseason for the primary time within the franchise’s 94-year historical past.
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This shall be a rematch between two robust groups, because the Lions gained in Tampa 20-6 in Week 6. The Buccaneers simply beat up the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday evening and gained’t again down towards the favored Lions in a hostile atmosphere. It’s additionally a matchup between quarterbacks Jared Goff and Baker Mayfield, every of whom was taken with the No. 1 decide however has since discovered success with new organizations.
These groups have met as soon as earlier than within the playoffs, with the Buccaneers successful 20-10 in 1997.
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(Picture of Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen: David Eulitt / Getty Photographs)
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