Many people believe that the NFL’s divisional round offers the best weekend of football every year, in terms of quality and importance from game to game.
And now, it’s here.
The action starts on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET, with the Kansas City Chiefs opening their playoff run to win an unprecedented third straight Super Bowl against the Houston Texans. Then, at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, the Detroit Lions will start their pursuit to win their first-ever Super Bowl in franchise history, facing off against rookie sensation Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders.
The games continue on Sunday, beginning at 3 p.m. ET with the Philadelphia Eagles hosting the Los Angeles Rams. The day wraps up with what could be the game of the year so far, as MVP contenders Josh Allen’s Buffalo Bills host Lamar Jackson’s Baltimore Ravens.
Who will come out on top? What will be the key factors?
Yahoo Sports NFL writer Frank Schwab breaks down all four games. Click the matchup link to read the full preview.
Chiefs vs. Texans
It wasn’t long ago that the Chiefs beat the Texans 27-19 in Week 16. A major factor in that win for Kansas City was rookie Xavier Worthy, who had seven catches for 65 yards and a touchdown. The Chiefs’ strategy in that game was simple: they ran the ball well, Patrick Mahomes played efficiently, Worthy was a key target, and the defense did its job, including two interceptions of Texans QB C.J. Stroud. For the Texans to win, they’ll need a near-perfect performance. The Chiefs, however, should win if they play their usual game.
Lions vs. Commanders
Despite numerous injuries this season, including one that seemed to end running back David Montgomery’s year with a knee injury, it turns out Montgomery’s injury wasn’t as serious as expected. He is expected to play this week, and the Lions are confident in his ability to contribute. When both Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs are at full strength, it’s tough to stop the Lions’ rushing attack. If Montgomery performs at his usual level, that will be bad news for a Commanders defense that ranks 28th in the NFL in yards allowed per run.
Eagles vs. Rams
When the Rams and Eagles first met, Saquon Barkley had one of the best rushing games in NFL history, running for 255 yards, the ninth-most in league history. That game may have served as a wake-up call for the Rams’ defense. Since then, they’ve allowed a much more reasonable 104.1 rushing yards per game. The Eagles aim to control the game with Barkley and their offensive line. The Rams need to contain the Eagles’ running game to have any chance at an upset.
Bills vs. Ravens
This game is as close to a 50/50 matchup as you can get. Both teams have great quarterbacks and similar strengths. While the regular-season game between these teams was a while ago and may not reflect what we see this Sunday, it’s hard to ignore that the Ravens dominated the Bills in that matchup.
They outgained Buffalo 427 to 236 yards and won by 25 points—the largest loss of the season for the Bills. It was also just one of three times since Josh Allen’s rookie year in 2018 that the Bills lost by 20 or more points. Will that game have any bearing on Sunday’s rematch?
