We head to upstate New York to wrap up the NFL Divisional Round as we will see the Baltimore Ravens take on the Buffalo Bills. The presumably top MVP candidates will square off in a battle for who will head to Kansas City next week.
Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson have been battling back and forth this entire season to determine who will take home the MVP hardware. These two squads met back very early in the season which resulted in a dominant Ravens win in Baltimore. This time home-field advantage goes to Buffalo.
Baltimore has been steaming hot. They have not lost a game since December 1st as they ride their five-game winning streak into the divisional round. After not controlling the AFC North for most of the season, the Ravens late season push is what put them over the top.
The dynamic duo of Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry has created nightmares for opposing defenses. Baltimore has the best rushing offense in the league and averages just around 190 rushing yards per game. In their wild card win over Pittsburgh, they combined to rush for 299 yards. In a game that will involve lots of weather, the Ravens are not afraid to use their legs.
Buffalo also is coming off a dominant victory from a week ago. After falling behind 7-0 early to Denver, the Bills scored 31 unanswered points en route to a 24 point victory over the Broncos. Like the Ravens, the Bills also have a scary backfield with Josh Allen not afraid whatsoever to put his head down and run and James Cook as well.
Ultimately, these teams match up pretty similarly. A top tier backfield accompanied by a subpar receiving corps is what both of these teams are made of. Baltimore will most likely be without Zay Flowers to add to their receiver room woes. Look for Jackson to heavily involve his tight ends.
Like Jackson, Josh Allen also has a soft spot for his tight ends. The X-Factor in this game could very well be the role of these tight ends. Although the playoffs do not matter towards awards, the winner of this game should determine who is the MVP.
In my opinion, currently Lamar Jackson has my vote for the MVP award. On a side note, I do believe that Joe Burrow should be involved in this race, but most likely he will not be included. Jackson has been the most dynamic player across the NFL. His amazing ability to run and his improved arm since he entered the NFL makes him so dangerous to opposing defenses.
In the end, I believe that Baltimore will take this game and head to Arrowhead for a rematch with Kansas City next round. This game will come down to who can be more successful in the run game and I believe that Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry have that edge over the Bills.
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