Cold, cold, cold.
It is forecasted to be 33 degrees in Philadelphia and half that temperature in Buffalo when the two remaining Divisional Round National Football League games are played today. Rain and snow at Lincoln Financial Field when the Eagles host the Los Angeles Rams, and snow at Highmark Stadium during the Bills battle with the Baltimore Ravens.
One top seed is out following the Washington Commanders upset win in Detroit last night where they downed the Lions by two touchdowns, 45-31. The other top seed in action yesterday, the Kansas City Chiefs, were out gained by the visiting Houston Texans in total yards but won their initial postseason game this season by nine points, 23-14.
It was the Chiefs ability to control the action at critical times and a defense that has the ability to shut the door when it matters most that led to the win for Andy Reid’s squad. The victory by Kansas City was anchored by the defense sacking Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud eight times. If the public wasn’t so concerned about the Chiefs offense not being as prolific as it has been in recent years, they might notice just how good the Chiefs defense is.
Next week, the Chiefs will be challenged at Arrowhead no matter what opponent they face. It can be argued that the best two teams in football are meeting today in Buffalo when Lamar Jackson leads his Ravens into battle against the only player that could get more votes than him for league Most Valuable Player, Buffalo’s Josh Allen.
The Bills are at home today by virtue of winning one more game than Baltimore during the regular season, 13 wins to 12. The Bills are undefeated on their home field this season and slight underdogs.
How can an undefeated team with a better record be an underdog on the point spread?
It is because of the current state of the Ravens. While they won one less game than the Bills over the course of the season, their losses were bunched early in the season. Those setbacks include an opening loss to the Chiefs in Kansas City and a second week home upset defeat to the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Ravens had a new defensive coordinator this year, and for the first two months Zach Orr, who had served the prior two seasons as linebackers coach on John Harbaugh’s staff, seemed in over his head. But, as he better learned his role and the players took to his guidance the Ravens defense has distinguished itself as the best unit in football over the past ten weeks.
If the defense is good, and the offense is spearheaded by Jackson and runningback Derrick Henry, how is the Ravens team not unbeatable?
Add to their talent the fact that Jackson has a dismal record in postseason play, which gives them something to overcome, and you get a primary reason why they are favored over a Buffalo team with a better record playing on their home field.
Six teams left in the NFL with a chance to win it all this year. We’ll knock off two of them today and two more in next week’s Championship Games. All four games promise to be fierce battles.