Next week's matchup between Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen won't determine the NFL MVP, but it carries significant weight as the Baltimore Ravens and the Buffalo Bills vie for a spot in the AFC championship game. The Ravens, with a record of 13-5, will face off against the Bills, who stand at 14-4, in the divisional round. Meanwhile, the Kansas City Chiefs, led by Patrick Mahomes, will host the Houston Texans, helmed by C.J. Stroud. The winners of these matchups will compete on January 26 for a chance to secure a berth in the Super Bowl.
The Bills secured their spot in the divisional round with a commanding 31-7 victory over the Denver Broncos, while the Ravens advanced after a 28-14 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Texans also emerged victorious with a 32-12 win over the Chargers. The Chiefs, having clinched the No. 1 seed, enjoyed a bye week.
On the NFC side, the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Green Bay Packers 22-10 to advance to the divisional round, where they will face the winner of the Vikings-Rams matchup. The Washington Commanders pulled off a surprising 23-20 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and will now take on the No. 1 seed Detroit Lions.
Lamar Jackson, a two-time NFL MVP, outpaced Josh Allen in the Associated Press All-Pro Team voting, securing 30 first-place votes compared to Allen's 18. The last time a player won the MVP without making first-team All-Pro was in 2003 when Steve McNair and Peyton Manning shared the award.
In their previous encounter in Week 4, the Ravens dominated the Bills with a 35-10 victory. This year marks the second consecutive season where a conference's final four teams have returned, with the Chiefs facing the Bills and the Ravens taking on the Texans in the divisional round.
