NFL fans witnessed three closely contested Divisional Round playoff games this weekend, but Colin Cowherd believes that one of them stands out and could potentially lead to another lopsided matchup in the AFC Championship Game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens.
While the Chiefs managed to secure a hard-fought 27-24 victory on the road against the Buffalo Bills, the Ravens had a dominant performance, cruising to a 34-10 triumph over the Houston Texans. Cowherd wouldn’t be surprised if Baltimore continued their impressive form and dominated Kansas City to secure a coveted spot in the Super Bowl.
“I think we’ve undervalued Baltimore because we paid so much attention to San Francisco’s roster and [Patrick] Mahomes and [Josh] Allen. I think Baltimore can beat Kansas City badly.”
Cowherd emphasized that the Ravens have a history of making strong offenses and quarterbacks appear ineffective. He pointed out their ability to “humiliate” teams like the Miami Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers during the regular season, even making C.J. Stroud “look really small” in comparison.
Saturday’s victory marked Baltimore’s 10th double-digit win, including a 14-point triumph over the 49ers and a commanding 38-6 victory against their NFC Championship Game opponents, the Detroit Lions.
Notably, Baltimore finished the regular season with the NFL’s highest point differential, boasting an impressive +203. Conversely, Kansas City struggled against playoff teams during the regular season, with a less favorable 1-4 record.
Despite Cowherd’s optimism, the early betting odds don’t fully align with his assessment. Baltimore is currently a modest 3.5-point favorite, despite having the advantage of playing at home.
While it’s challenging to discount the abilities of Patrick Mahomes, the Ravens have a strong case on their side. They have won 11 of their last 13 games, including an inconsequential Week 18 loss when key starters were resting. Baltimore is led by the favorite for the MVP title, Lamar Jackson, and boasts the top-ranked scoring defense in the league.
The highly anticipated AFC Championship Game is scheduled to kick off on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET, and it will be televised on CBS. Football enthusiasts can look forward to an exciting matchup between these two formidable teams.
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