Ravens or Titans? Here’s a look at what awaits Chiefs-Texans winner in AFC title game
The Chiefs have a challenge waiting Sunday — a playoff game against a worthy opponent, a division champion and a team that has already marched into Arrowhead Stadium once this season and escaped with a victory.
We get all that.
But this is the what if.
If the Chiefs get past the Texans Sunday, a second straight appearance in the AFC Championship Game awaits. A trip to Baltimore. Or a home date against Tennessee.
The oddity of it all: That half of the equation will be decided Saturday night, a day before the Chiefs play host to the Texans at 2:05 p.m. Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium. So the Chiefs and Texans will watch with an impartial eye. But that doesn’t mean you have to. Here’s a look at what awaits Kansas City or Houston in the AFC Championship Game.
Baltimore Ravens (14-2, AFC North champion, No. 1 seed)
What makes them tough: Nobody is playing better football than the Ravens headed into the postseason. They won their final 12 regular season games — following back-to-back losses against the Chiefs and Browns.
Quarterback Lamar Jackson is the likely MVP. A transformative player, he set an NFL record for rushing yards in a single season from the position (1,206 yards), yet still led the league with 36 passing touchdowns. The Ravens averaged a league-best 33.2 points per game this season and were second in football in yardage.
They also gave up only 17.6 points per game, third in the NFL. None of their final 11 opponents topped 21 points. A cornerback group bolstered by the mid-season addition for former Chiefs player Marcus Peters has the Ravens ranked fourth against the pass, per Football Outsiders.
They went 14-2 for a reason.
Where an opposing team could benefit: Well, the Chiefs have already beaten the Ravens once. So that would be a good place to start. Only two teams took down the NFL’s best best this season, and the Chiefs’ 33-28 win in September marked one of them. Sure, that came at Arrowhead Stadium and the winner of Houston-Kansas City will make a trip to Baltimore, but the Chiefs were actually better on the road this season (7-1) than at home (5-3).
Even with a soon-to-be MVP at quarterback, the Ravens totaled the sixth fewest passing yards in football. It’s a bit deceptive, though, because of their preference to run the ball. They averaged 7.6 yards per pass attempt, which was 10th in the league.
If the Ravens have a soft spot defensively, it’s just in relative terms. They ranked middle of the pack against the run this season.
Projected line if they face the Chiefs: Ravens by 3 points, per BetOnline.ag oddsmakers.
Tennessee Titans (9-7, AFC Wild Card, No. 6 seed)
Cause for concern: Derrick Henry. Need we say more?He’s overwhelmed the Chiefs in the playoffs before. He overwhelmed them in a Week 10 win. And, well, right now he’s pretty much overwhelming everyone. Henry rushed for 1,078 yards and 11 touchdowns ... in his last seven games.
The Titans have been a different team since Ryan Tannehill took over. He has a 7-3 record and led the NFL with a 117.5 quarterback rating.
Oh, yeah, there’s also this: Chiefs coach Andy Reid is just 1-8 in his coaching career against the Titans — his worst winning percentage against any opponent.
Where an opposing team could benefit: The Tennessee defense has performed pretty average this season — it’s allowed the 12th most yards, including the ninth most yards in the air. Chiefs burned the secondary for 433 passing yards in the regular season meeting, and that came in quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ first game back from a knee injury.
As good as the Titans have been with Tannehill, he has only one postseason game under his belt — last week’s 20-13 win in New England — and the stat line left a bit to be desired: 8 of 15 for 72 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
If the Titans advance, Houston or Kansas City would host the AFC Championship Game.
Projected line if they face the Chiefs: Chiefs by 7 points, per BetOnline.ag oddsmakers.