And then there were four. While the NFC championship game features the San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions, the AFC championship game is undeniably one of the most anticipated showdowns of the decade.
Let's get right into our analysis of this explosive matchup between the top-seeded Ravens and the dynasty-minded Chiefs.
When: 3:00 P.M, Sunday, January 28
Where: M&T Bank Field, Baltimore, MD
How to Watch: CBS
NFL Picks and Predictions Ravens vs. Chiefs: Familiar Foes
These teams don't have the postseason history that the Chiefs have with the Bills, but the Mahomes-led Chiefs and Jackson-led Ravens have had several memorable regular season battles.
Now, they finally go head-to-head in January, and the stakes could not be higher.
Jackson and the Ravens need this one to cement their postseason reputation in a positive light. They took care of business against an up-and-coming Texans team last week, but knocking out the Goliath that the postseason Chiefs are is a whole other level of challenge.
For the Chiefs, a win puts any and all questions about their ability to win on the road in the postseason to bed. They had not been asked to do it with Mahomes until last week, and they survived a valiant effort by the Bills. If they can go on the road and knock off a one seed as dominant as Baltimore has been this year, the dynasty talk becomes undeniable.
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NFL Picks and Predictions Ravens vs. Chiefs: Who Wins and Why?
Ravens 27, Chiefs 17
This Baltimore defense will be the biggest challenge that the Chiefs have faced in the postseason since they lost the 2020 Super Bowl to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
In that game, Patrick Mahomes was marvelous, but he was held back by poor play from his offensive tackles and untimely drops by his pass-catchers.
Does that sound familiar? It should, because that was the story for the Chiefs for the vast majority of this season. They've turned things around in the playoffs against two injury-stricken units in Miami and Buffalo, but Baltimore is both far better and far healthier than those two groups.
Tight end Travis Kelce struggled for most of the season, but was outstanding last week against Buffalo's reserves at linebacker and safety. This week, he'll see a lot of Roquan Smith and Kyle Hamilton, two players with the size and ability to match up with one of the all-time greats.
It's hard to imagine where Kansas City will have an advantage against Baltimore's defense, but it's not hard to see how the Ravens will succeed with the ball against the Chiefs.
While the Chiefs' defense has been outstanding this year, that has largely been due to shutting down passing games. Against the run, they've been fairly vulnerable.
Baltimore should have little trouble utilizing Jackson and their stable of running backs to chew the clock and pick up chunks of yardage on the ground.
With tight end Mark Andrews returning from injured reserve, they should have enough in the passing game to keep the Chiefs off balance and move the ball down the field.
The Ravens will be able to go on long, methodical scoring drives. Mahomes will be great as he always is, but his supporting cast likely does not have enough to help him keep pace with the home team.
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