The Houston Texans and Baltimore Ravens faced off in the Divisional Round of the AFC playoffs, and the Ravens came out on top, 34-10. The win for the Ravens continued their season of dominance and ended the exciting run the Texans had.
Now, with the Ravens in the AFC Championship Game, who will be their opponent? They will face either the Buffalo Bills or Kansas City Chiefs. Who would be the preferred contender?
Who Are the 2023 Baltimore Ravens?
The Ravens came into the playoffs as the best team in the AFC. They had beaten seven playoff teams en route to a 12-5 record. Additionally, they have the likely MVP winner in quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Offensively, the Ravens finished the season ranked sixth in total offense, according to FOX Sports. They averaged 370.4 yards per game and scored 55 offensive touchdowns. Jackson himself was credited with 4,499 yards and 29 touchdowns total, as well as just seven interceptions.
The Ravens best win came in Week 16 on Christmas Night, when they defeated the NFC’s top-seeded San Francisco 49ers, 33-19. In that game, Jackson went 23 of 35 for 252 yards and two touchdowns. He also had seven carries for 45 yards.
Aside from Jackson and the Ravens’ offense, a lot of the team’s success can be attributed to their defense. According to FOX Sports, the Ravens’ defense is ranked sixth in the NFL in total defense, allowing 301.4 yards per game. Additionally, they allowed a league-low 26 touchdowns on the season.
The last time the Ravens made it to the AFC Championship Game was 2012. Baltimore defeated the Patriots, 28-13, to earn a trip to the Super Bowl, where they defeated the 49ers, 34-31.
“The fans were incredible. It was deafening,” said Ravens head coach John Harbaugh following the game. The Ravens hosting the AFC Championship Game will mark the first time the city of Baltimore has hosted it since 1971. “Our fans are gonna get a chance to cheer even louder.”
The Case for the Chiefs
The Chiefs finished their 2023-24 regular-season campaign with an 11-6 record and an AFC West title. They are coming off of a win in Super Bowl LVII, where they beat the Philadelphia Eagles. However, this year’s Chiefs team is much different than recent versions.
Offensively, the Chiefs have been up and down, which is very different from several of their previous Patrick Mahomes-led teams. However, despite that, they still finished the season ranked ninth in total offense, averaging 351.3 yards per game. Additionally, they scored 39 offensive touchdowns, including two in the playoffs.
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Defensively, the Chiefs have been one of the best teams in the NFL. They are ranked second in the NFL in total defense, allowing just 289.8 yards per game. On top of that, they’ve allowed just 32 touchdowns. In their one playoff game against the top-ranked offense of the Miami Dolphins, they allowed 264 yards and one touchdown.
At quarterback, the Chiefs have Mahomes, who passed for 4,183 yards, 27 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions during the regular season. Since Mahomes took over the starting job in 2108, the Chiefs have never had a road postseason game until their upcoming matchup with the Bills. Additionally, they have made the AFC Championship Game or better in each season as well.
The Chiefs and Ravens have not faced off in 2023, so there is no previous matchup to look back on. However, the Chiefs are coming into their matchup with the Bills off a three-game win streak, which could extend to four if they are to face the Ravens.
The Case for the Bills
The Bills have been one of the NFL’s biggest comeback stories this season. Despite a slow start, the Bills finished the year 11-6 and won the AFC East, similar to the Chiefs. The Bills are entering the game coming off a dominant 31-17 wild-card win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Offensively, the Bills are one of the best in the NFL. They finished the season ranked fourth in total offense, having averaged 374.5 yards per game. They also scored 54 touchdowns on the season, adding four in their single playoff game.
Defensively, the Bills have been fighting injury after injury. Yet, they still finished the season ranked ninth in total defense, allowing just 307.2 yards per game. They’ve also allowed 34 touchdowns on the season, which is the sixth-best figure in the league. They allowed 324 yards and two touchdowns in their previous playoff game.
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The Bills quarterback is Josh Allen, and he had one of the best seasons by any quarterback in the NFL in 2023. He passed for 4,306 yards, 29 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. He also added 524 yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground, giving him 44 total touchdowns on the season.
The story for the Bills this season has been their miraculous comeback in the second half of the season. Coming into their matchup with the Chiefs, they are on a six-game win streak and have won seven of their last eight games. They, once upon a time, had less than a five percent chance of making the playoffs.
Similar to the Chiefs, the Bills and Ravens did not meet during the 2023 regular season, adding some intrigue to this matchup should it come to pass.
Who Is the Ravens’ Preferred AFC Championship Game Opponent?
Ultimately, it’s a pick-your-poison type of situation. The Chiefs’ offense may not be one of the best, but they are a proven playoff team and have one of the NFL’s best defenses. The Bills, on the other hand, have an explosive offense and a beat-up defense but are one of the hottest teams in the NFL.
Quarterback play is another factor, but all three remaining AFC signal-callers — Mahomes, Allen, and Jackson — are among the NFL’s best. “Playing in it. Just playing,” said Jackson when asked what he’s looking forward to most about playing in the AFC Championship Game, which will be his first.
Regardless, the Ravens will learn their AFC Championship opponent on Sunday night, when the Chiefs and Bills face off. The game will kick off at 3:00 p.m. ET.
Want to predict the results of the 2023 NFL postseason with our FREE NFL Playoff Predictor? How about looking into in-depth breakdowns of team depth charts or the NFL playoff schedule? Pro Football Network has you covered with all that and more!