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National reaction to Ravens advancing to AFC Championship game with 34-10 win over Texans

We’re looking at the national reaction to the Baltmore Ravens advancing to the AFC Championship game after a 34-10 iwin over the Houston Texans

The Ravens avoided the repeat of 2019, advancing to the AFC title game after a dominant 34-10 win over the Houston Texans at M&T Bank Stadium.

The win gave Baltimore two wins over DeMeco Ryan’s team, and the combined scores of 56-19 provide insight into how far Houston has to climb before they start thinking about championship Sunday.

Lamar Jackson was dominant from start to finish and will likely win his second NFL MVP after accounting for 252 yards, four total touchdowns, and a `121.8 quarterback rating.

Mike Macdonald’s defense held Houston to 213 yards of total offense on 47 offensive plays, limiting C.J. Stroud to 19-33 passing for 175 yards and no touchdowns.

After overcoming past failures, here’s the national reaction to the Ravens’ dominant victory.

Twitter reacts to Ravens TE Isaiah Likely making leaping TD catch over Texans CB Derek Stingley Jr.

Twitter reacted to Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely making a leaping TD catch over Texans CB Derek Stingley Jr.

Isaiah Likely has seen his role increase with Mark Andrews out, and as the All-Pro prepares for his return, his backup continues a breakout campaign.

In what may have put the game away, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson hit Likely with a 15-yard pass to cap the 12-play, 93-yard scoring drive and give Baltimore a 14-point advantage.

The play was highlighted by Likely making the leaping grab over Texans star cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., and social media reacted.

Ravens vs. Texans: 10 takeaway from first half of Divisional Round matchup

We’re looking at ten takeaways from the first half as the Ravens and Texans are tied 10-10 in AFC Divisional Round matchup at M&T Bank Stadium

Baltimore got off to a slow start on Saturday before kicking things into gear on both sides of the football.

All-Pro quarterback Lamar Jackson was 7 of 11 passing, for 52 yards, one touchdown, and a 105.1 quarterback rating. Jackson had runs of 23 yards and 15 yards in the second quarter, scoring a drive that put the Ravens up 10-3 on the youthful Texans.

Houston responded on special teams, as recently elevated running back Steven Sims brought a punt return back 67 yards with 5:00 left in the first half.

With both teams back on the field, we’re looking at ten takeaways from the first half.

Projecting the Ravens depth chart for divisional round matchup vs. Texans

We’re looking at the Baltimore Ravens updated depth chart of ahead of the Divisional Round playoff matchup vs. the Houston Texans

We’re a little over five away from the Ravens (13-4) and Texans (11-7) kicking off the AFC divisional round of the playoffs on ESPN.

Houston advanced to the Divisional round of the NFL playoffs for the fifth time in franchise history with a 45-14 win over the Browns in Super Wild Card Weekend.

The playoff win earned the Texans a rematch against the Ravens, and they’ll return to M&T Bank Stadium hoping to avenge a 25-9 loss in Week 1.

Baltimore has ruled out Marlon Humphrey for the contest, while Pro Bowl tight end Mark Andrews won’t be active after being listed as questionable.

With Humphrey out, Brandon Stephens and Ronald Darby are the likely starting cornerbacks against C.J. Stroud, Nico Collins and the Texans’ dynamic passing attack. Darby has made seven starts this season, as Humphrey will miss his eighth game.

Outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney returned from an illness that kept him out of practice Wednesday and told reporters he’ll play. Wide receiver Zay Flowers (calf) and outside linebacker Odafe Oweh (ankle) also both returned to full practice and said they’ll suit up.

With kickoff fast approaching, here’s a projected two-deep depth chart for Baltimore.

WATCH: Lamar Jackson talks ‘growth’ at QB; Why this Ravens playoff run will be different

Lamar Jackson says this playoff run will be different from 2019

The Divisional round of the NFL Playoffs will begin on ESPN for the first time as the Houston Texans visit the Baltimore Ravens (Saturday, January 20, 4:15 p.m. ET) on ESPN, ABC, ESPN+, and ESPN Deportes, as the AFC South Champion meets the AFC’s top-seeded team.

Lamar Jackson enters the contest as the MVP favorite and, before the matchup, sat down with the great Chris Berman to discuss his “growth” as quarterback this season and how the Ravens’ playoff run will be different from 2019 when they were the No. 1 overall seed and were upset by the Titans.

Before his ‘24 #NFLPlayoffs debut, @Lj_era8 sat down with Chris Berman to discuss the growth of his game & why he thinks this postseason run will be different for the @Ravens

Postseason NFL Countdown
🏈 Saturday | 2p ET | ESPN pic.twitter.com/u4vCLxh4VM

— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) January 19, 2024

In the first matchup between the two teams, the host Ravens won 25-9, holding Houston to 268 yards, while Jackson had two turnovers and 169 yards passing in his first game action in almost a year. The 78.0 passer rating in C.J. Stroud’s NFL debut for Houston was his second-lowest of the season.

The pressure is on Jackson, who is 1-3 in playoff games and 0-2 at home.

Jackson is the leading candidate for NFL MVP and will start his first postseason game since the 2020 season. Jackson was injured and missed Baltimore’s lone playoff game last season.

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Breaking down the final 4 teams in the AFC playoff field

We’re breaking down all four AFC playoff teams left in the divisional round as the Ravens, Texans, Chiefs and Bills look to reach Championship Sunday

The divisional round matchups are set and ready to begin.

The Texans will travel to Baltimore to play the Ravens in the AFC, while the Chiefs will head to Buffalo to face the Bills. On the NFC side, the Packers will face the 49ers in San Francisco, and the Lions will host the Buccaneers after Tampa Bay beat Philadelphia on Monday night.

With the week of preparation completed, we can look ahead to the divisional round schedule, including the first postseason games for the Niners and the Ravens, who each had a bye.

We’re breaking down the final four teams in the AFC playoff field to prepare you for the Saturday and Sunday slate.

Studs & Duds for the Lions playoff victory over the Rams

The Detroit Lions Studs and Duds for their playoff victory over the Los Angeles Rams

The Detroit Lions have finally broken a decades-long playoff drought, securing their first playoff victory in over 30 years with a narrow 24-23 win against the Los Angeles Rams.

The Lions dominated the early stages of the game, establishing an early lead. However, the second half became a defensive battle where the Lions showcased their supremacy by making crucial stops. Despite the mainstream media framing the game as Matthew Stafford’s return to Detroit, it was, in fact, Jared Goff’s revenge against his former team that ultimately led Detroit to victory.

The entire Lions community is buzzing with excitement on this triumphant day, with well-deserved praise circulating. While there is much to celebrate, there are also areas that need attention as the Lions gear up for the next round, where they will face either the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or the Philadelphia Eagles. Let’s delve into this week’s Studs and Duds from the Lions’ playoff victory against the Rams.

Jared Goff earns the game ball and redemption in Lions playoff win over the Rams

Jared Goff did not have his time in Los Angeles end well. After three Pro Bowl seasons in four years, Goff and Rams head coach Sean McVay just weren’t working out anymore.

The Rams shipped Goff to Detroit as part of a massive bounty to acquire Matthew Stafford. For a long time, the narrative was that Goff was a “throw-in”, but the Lions–specifically GM Brad Holmes–didn’t see it that way.

Three years later, Goff proved capable of doing something Stafford never could in 12 years in Detroit. Goff led the Lions to a playoff victory over Stafford and the Rams. Detroit’s 24-23 nail-biting win on Sunday night was a testament to the organization’s faith in Goff.

Head coach Dan Campbell presented the game ball to Goff in the locker room. Campbell also heaped praise on Goff to lead off his postgame press conference.

“In the critical moment, to seal the game we put it in Goff’s hands,” Campbell said. “He gets it to (Amon-Ra St. Brown) Saint and we’re able to kneel on it.”

Campbell was just getting started in showing grace and respect to Goff. From unwanted to unprecedented, Goff was the man of the night.

“I thought he played top-notch football,” Campbell said of Goff. “H probably had two errors, and everything else was on point. He looked loose. He looked relaxed. I thought he threw the ball with conviction, was strong in the pocket. Got us in the right play.”

It did not come as a surprise to Campbell or the Lions.

“He felt that way all week. He just was locked in all week,’ Campbell said.

“Just really proud of him.”

We all are, coach.

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Lions beat the Rams for the franchise’s first playoff win since 1991

The first three games of wild card weekend were uncompetitive blowouts. The Lions and Rams changed that with a very competitive Sunday night affair that left few fingernails for fans of either team.

In the end, the Lions prevailed in Ford Field, 24-23, with Jared Goff kneeling in victory formation. The former Rams quarterback outdueled the former Lions quarterback for the first postseason victory in Ford Field and Detroit’s first playoff win since the 1993 season.

Both offenses came out on fire. There were points scored on the first six drives of the game, with three touchdowns by Detroit and two TDs and a field goal from the Rams. Jared Goff completed his first 10 passes, while counterpart Matthew Stafford threw for 137 yards and two TDs in the second quarter,

Detroit took the 21-17 lead into the half, though their final drive ended in some officiating controversy, because no Lions game is complete without one.

In the second half, the defenses put their better feet forward. Detroit managed just one field goal, a 54-yarder from Michael Badgley, in their next four drives. The Lions defense held tough in the red zone, holding the Rams to two short field goals in their next three drives.

That set up crunch time over the final half of the fourth quarter. Detroit’s defense got a critical stop with a little over four minutes left, thanks in part to a couple of officiating decisions from referee Craig Wrolstad’s crew that went their way.

Goff hit Amon-Ra St. Brown for a massive first down inside the two-minute warning to seal the cathartic win for Detroit. He finished 22-of-27 for 277 yards and a touchdown. Stafford threw for 367 and two touchdowns, but the stalled drives in the red zone prevented the narrative of No. 9 returning to Detroit and ruining the party from happening.

The Lions now advance to the divisional round, where they will face the winner of the Buccaneers/Eagles game. Detroit will host that game no matter the opponent.

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