Roquan Smith and Raven slap CJ Stroud, Texans with harsh reality — ‘We’re not the Browns
Ravens use second-half surge to dispatch upset-minded Texans
The Baltimore Ravens had a bit of a scare in their divisional playoff game against the Houston Texans. The upstart visitors had managed to go to halftime with the score tied 10-10, and it appeared they had a chance to push the Ravens hard in the second half. However, the Ravens increased their focus in final 30 minutes and rolled to a 34-10 triumph.
Not only did the offense put three touchdowns on the board, the defense completely shut down star rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud and the Houston defense. A week ago, the Texans offense had punished the top-ranked Cleveland Browns and earned a dominant 45-14 victory.
Veteran Baltimore linebacker Roquan Smith is almost certainly the best player on head coach John Harbaugh’s defense. He said that the Texans’ performance against the Browns had not impressed the Ravens.
“We’re not the Browns, we’re the Baltimore Ravens at the end of the day. So whoever they play before us really don’t matter.”
Smith led the Ravens with seven tackles against the Texans, while teammate Patrick Queen added five tackles for the victors.
On the offensive side, Lamar Jackson keyed the Baltimore surge in the second half. He completed 15 of 22 passes in the game for 152 yards and 2 touchdowns. He was also the leading rusher in the game as he gained 100 yards on 11 carries and scored a pair of touchdowns.
Jackson is looking forward to leading his team into battle in next week’s AFC title game against the winner of the Kansas City-Buffalo divisional playoff game.
“It’s just, you know, the first playoff (game) we got past, finally in the AFC championship,” Jackson said. “So, still got more work to do.”
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‘Throwing Beer Bottles!’ Travis Kelce Compares Bills Mafia to Browns Fans
The Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills are once again on a collision course, this time headed for Orchard Park, New York. For the first time, the Patrick Mahomes-led Chiefs will enter enemy territory in the playoffs.
Traveling to Buffalo, by both reputation and recent history, makes life difficult. In the Josh Allen era, the Bills are 35-15. Allen’s preternatural ability to mitigate the elements is an advantage, but opposing players aren’t shy about Bills Mafia having an impact as well.
Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce spoke about visiting Buffalo this time of year just days ahead of the AFC Divisional Round matchup.
“It’s Bills Mafia, man. This is their home-field advantage,” Kelce said. “This is why I’m sure the guys love playing for the fanbase. I grew up in Cleveland, we were throwing beer bottles at people … it’s a hostile environment, isn’t it?”
Kelce welcomes the challenge, but it is yet to be seen how good the Chiefs will look. Them not having played on the road come January isn’t an indictment on them – forcing the AFC to consistently go through Kansas City is incredible – but it leaves boxes unchecked. The stage is set for two of the league’s best to go toe-to-toe, and like so many times before, write a memorable chapter in the rivalry’s story. Kelce is all for the theatrics.
“Ready to go,” Kelce said. “Buffalo, cold, playoff game. Doesn’t get any better, baby.”
The Bills are favored by 2.5 points, in part because of the inconsistencies Kansas City has had on offense. Receiver Rashee Rice has stepped up as the season progressed, but slight regression from Kelce’s end and routine disappointments from the receiving corps have knocked the Chiefs off the pedestal of the most feared offense in America.
Kelce’s down year is purely relative. He caught 93 passes for 984 yards and five scores, good for another Pro Bowl nomination. However, he hasn’t looked like the game-breaking option Mahomes has enjoyed for a half-decade.
The Canton-bound tight end knows stepping up is a must in the biggest game of the season.
“Instead of it being on the road again, because everybody’s played on the road, I think that more so in the playoffs we take it up a notch from the Wild Card Weekend last weekend,” Kelce said.” The playoffs, everything just speeds up as you go along the playoffs.
“That, I think, is more important to stay focused, understand your assignments a little bit more, so you can go out and play as fast as you possibly can.”
It’s hard not to feel like contests of this caliber are going to make history of some sort. Sunday’s kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. (ET) on CBS.
