The Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs faced off in the last Divisional Round match of the 2023 playoffs. Ultimately, the Chiefs came out on top 27-24, giving them their third playoff victory over Josh Allen and the Bills.
With the Divisional Round over, it’s time for the AFC Championship Game. The Chiefs will face the Baltimore Ravens for a Super Bowl bid. Here’s a preview of the big game.
Previewing the 2023 AFC Championship Game
Coming into the playoffs, the Ravens had an NFL-best 13-4 record and were the AFC’s top seed, earning a bye. Following their bye week, they defeated the red-hot Houston Texans 34-10.
The Chiefs, on the other hand, won the AFC West and finished the season with an 11-6 record. They opened up their playoff run by defeating the Miami Dolphins 26-7 in the Wild Card Round. Now, they’ve beaten the Bills.
The first thing to look at is home-field advantage. The Chiefs will have to travel to Baltimore for the game with a likely sold-out crowd. In the 2023 regular season, the Chiefs were 6-2 on the road, and the Ravens were 6-3 at home.
However, in the postseason, the Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes have only traveled once since Mahomes has taken over. That game was this season’s matchup with the Bills, meaning the Chiefs are 1-0 on the road in the postseason under Mahomes.
“We heard it all week,” said Mahomes about traveling for his first postseason game. “We were here to prove a point that we can play anywhere.”
Now, when it comes to offensive and defensive rankings, both teams are ranked in the top 10. The Chiefs’ defense is ranked second in total defense, according to FOX Sports, allowing just 289.8 yards per game, as opposed to the Ravens’ sixth-ranked defense that allows 301.4 yards per game.
However, the Ravens’ defense has allowed just 26 touchdowns on the season, a league best. The Chiefs, on the other hand, have allowed just 32 touchdowns on the season, good for third in the NFL.
Offensively, the Ravens have the Chiefs beat. The Ravens offense has compiled the sixth-best offense, also according to FOX Sports, scoring 55 touchdowns and averaging 370.4 yards per game. The Chiefs have scored just 39 touchdowns and are averaging 351.3 yards per game.
Both teams have some of the best quarterback play in the NFL. For the Ravens, they have Lamar Jackson, the NFL’s presumed MVP. Jackson passed for 3,678 yards, 24 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He also rushed for 821 yards and five touchdowns. According to FOX Sports, Jackson is the heavy MVP favorite with -10000 odds.
The Chiefs, however, have Mahomes, the reigning MVP from the 2022 season. In 2023, Mahomes passed for 4,183 yards, 27 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. He also rushed for 389 yards. Both quarterbacks were voted to the Pro Bowl, with Jackson being named first-team All-Pro as well.
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Another factor in the game is experience. It will be his sixth-straight AFC Championship Game appearance for Mahomes, as he has made it every year as the Chiefs’ starter. Jackson, on the other hand, has never made it to one and has just a 2-3 record in the postseason.
“Playing in it. Just playing in it,” said Jackson when asked what he was excited about in advancing to his first AFC Championship Game. He refused to speak on which opponent he would have rather faced, the Chiefs or the Bills.
“There’s no weakness there,” said Mahomes when asked about facing the Ravens. “It’s gonna take our best effort.”
The Chiefs and Ravens did not face off in 2023, but they have faced off multiple times since Jackson and Mahomes took over. The two have played each other four times, with the Chiefs winning three and the Ravens winning just one. The most recent battle came in 2021 when the Ravens won 36-35.
In those four matchups, Mahomes has passed for 1,479 yards, 12 touchdowns, and two interceptions against the Ravens. Meanwhile, Jackson has passed for 750 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions. He’s also added 303 yards and three touchdowns on the ground as opposed to Mahomes’ 35 yards and one score.
Ultimately, the result will decide itself on the field. The AFC Championship Game will kick off at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, Jan. 28. The game will take place on CBS, with the Ravens being the early 3.5-point favorite, according to Yahoo Sports.
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