BR NFL StaffJanuary 19, 2025
- Chiefs TE Travis KelceJamie Squire/Getty Images
- Three of the divisional round playoff matchups are rematches from the regular season, though some things have changed and teams have progressed since those contests.
- On Saturday, the Kansas City Chiefs made their first step toward a historic three-peat with a win over the Houston Texans. The Chiefs offense, most notably tight end Travis Kelce, is in full playoff mode.
- The Detroit Lions and Washington Commanders will meet for the first time in this campaign. Coming off a bye week, the Lions are getting healthier with the return of running back David Montgomery. Washington is trying to reach the NFC Championship Game for the first time since the franchise won a title in the 1991 season.
- On Sunday, the Philadelphia Eagles will try to find their inner excellence against a Los Angeles Rams team they beat in Week 12. As the Rams’ starting quarterback, Matthew Stafford is 5-1 in the playoffs.
- The Baltimore Ravens will face the Buffalo Bills in the final divisional matchup that features MVP candidates Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen. The Ravens ran all over the Bills in a Week 4 win at M&T Bank Stadium, but this game will be in freezing Buffalo temperatures.
- Texans QB C.J. StroudJamie Squire/Getty Images
- C.J. Stroud will take the brunt of the blame for the Houston Texans’ underwhelming 19th-ranked scoring offense and passing attack, which finished outside the top 20 in yards. Rightfully so, but the Texans must strengthen their quarterback’s supporting cast to advance beyond the AFC Divisional Round.
- This season, Stroud has taken the second-most sacks (52). On Saturday, the Kansas City Chiefs sacked him eight times, and he needed assistance walking off the field late in the game.
- According to Pro Football Focus, offensive linemen Shaq Mason (eight), Tytus Howard (four), Blake Fisher (four), Kenyon Green (five) and Juice Scruggs (five) gave up 26 sacks combined.
- Fisher, a rookie, and Scruggs are 25 years old or younger and have room for growth. Green is entering the final year of his rookie deal and hasn’t started at guard since Week 9. Mason will be 32 in August, and his contract carries a $14.6 million cap hit for the 2025 term. He could lose his starting job in the offseason.
- Houston must address uncertainty at wide receiver.
- Recovering from a torn ACL, 31-year-old Stefon Diggs will be a free agent. Late in December, Tank Dell suffered a torn ACL and a dislocated kneecap.
- According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 in Houston, Dell will need several surgeries and has a “very long road” to full recovery.
- In the meantime, the Texans have to add wide receivers, which could lighten the coverage on Nico Collins and help Stroud in his development.
- Chiefs QB Patrick MahomesDavid Eulitt/Getty Images
- For three-quarters of the season, the Kansas City Chiefs seemed vulnerable, winning by thin margins, but over the past month, they have kicked into high gear with their sights set on a third consecutive Super Bowl title.
- Excluding Travis Kelce’s rookie season in which he didn’t play an offensive snap, the star tight end finished the 2024 campaign with his lowest totals in receiving yards and touchdowns. Kelce only reached the 100-yard mark in one game during the regular season.
- On Saturday, the Chiefs activated playoff Kelce. He had his most productive outing of the campaign, hauling in seven passes for 117 yards and a touchdown.
- Kelce joined Hall of Famer Jerry Rice as the second player to record 2,000-plus receiving yards in the playoffs (h/t CBS Sports).
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Travis Kelce joins Jerry Rice 🔥 <a href=”https://t.co/c7uFjnbvEr”>pic.twitter.com/c7uFjnbvEr</a>
- Patrick Mahomes threw an incredible touchdown pass to Kelce while falling to the ground, allowing the Chiefs to take control of the game with a commanding fourth-quarter lead.
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MAHOMES TD TO KELCE AS HE FALLS DOWN<br><br>📺: <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/HOUvsKC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#HOUvsKC</a> on ESPN/ABC<br>📱: Stream on <a href=”https://twitter.com/NFLPlus?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@NFLPlus</a> and ESPN+ <a href=”https://t.co/ytEUsoGyin”>pic.twitter.com/ytEUsoGyin</a>
- With Mahomes as their starter, the Chiefs have won 11 regular-season games in seven consecutive terms, and yet, they find another gear during the playoffs.
- If you thought Kelce lost a step in his age-35 term, think again. As usual, he’s playing at his best in the postseason.
- Bills QB Josh Allen (left) and Ravens QB Lamar Jackson (right)Greg Fiume/Getty Images
- NFC Divisional Round—(6) Washington Commanders at (1) Detroit Lions: 8:00 p.m. ET (FOX)
- NFC Divisional Round—(4) Los Angeles Rams at (2) Philadelphia Eagles: 3:00 p.m. ET (NBC)
- AFC Divisional Round—(3) Baltimore Ravens at (2) Buffalo Bills: 6:30 p.m. ET (CBS)
