The wild-card weekend has come and gone, with five of the six games ending up either boring or blowouts. Thus has largely been the fate of “Super” wild-card weekend since its inception in 2020.
But the divisional round is typically where the playoff drama simmers, anyway. In the AFC, all four division winners are in action. The NFC has three of its four division winners still going, and the lone wild-card team to advance has a rookie quarterback who has the style of a seasoned veteran.
Let’s rank the four games from least exciting to most – not that we don’t love them all the same.
4. No. 4 Houston Texans at No. 1 Kansas City Chiefs (Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC)
Welcome to the divisional round, ESPN. “The Worldwide Leader” is making its divisional-round debut with two-time defending Super Bowl champions hosting a team that was a popular pick to be upset last weekend.
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Even with Patrick Mahomes and C.J. Stroud quarterbacking the two teams, the strengths of both squads were on the defensive side of the ball. The two QBs do add a star element to the game, at least. But the likelihood of a low-scoring effort is why this one simply has to be fourth on the list. Perhaps one day the Texans will emerge from leading off a playoff weekend.
3. No. 6 Washington Commanders at No. 1 Detroit Lions (Saturday, 8 p.m. ET, FOX)
The primary reason this did not leapfrog the other NFC matchup is the chance of a blowout. Washington was (and still is) one of the league’s best stories of 2024 with the emergence of Jayden Daniels and the turnaround in Year 1 of Dan Quinn’s tenure on the heels of the hellscape that was the Dan Snyder ownership era. The Lions aren’t a great matchup for them – or basically any team, for that matter. They will be well-rested and determined to host the NFC championship game the following week.
However, the Commanders did play the most exciting tilt of wild-card weekend (as we expected). Maybe this time they can prove me wrong.
2. No. 4 Los Angeles Rams at No. 2 Philadelphia Eagles (Sunday, 3 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock)
Like its NFC counterpart, this one could have been interchangeable with the No. 3 spot. That’s because of the way the defenses have come on in recent weeks – or in Philly’s case, the way the unit has played all season – could be the groundwork for a defensive battle. This one should be closer though, and that’s why it’s at No. 2. Plus, the teams will (likely) be fighting for a chance to travel to Detroit the next Sunday with a spot in the Super Bowl on the line.
1. No. 3 Baltimore Ravens at No. 2 Buffalo Bills (Sunday, 6:30 p.m. ET, CBS/Paramount+)
For the second straight season, CBS has the crown jewel of divisional weekend as the finale. Last year, it was the Bills hosting the Chiefs. Now it’s a matchup of the two MVP favorites.
This one is billed as Josh Allen vs. Lamar Jackson, but newsflash: Quarterbacks don’t face each other. That these two will be facing each other during arguably the best years of their careers is the real treat. This is also a rematch of when the Bills and Allen sent Jackson and the Ravens home four years ago, also in the divisional round.
Allen will have to best a Baltimore defense that has been the best in the league over the final third of the regular defense against the pass. Jackson will have to win his second road playoff game ever. Can either quarterback go on the road and upset the Chiefs on Championship Sunday (the likely scenario)? Which one will have the chance for revenge against the Chiefs? They’ll have to dispatch the other first.