The Houston Texans dominated in the Wild Card Round but will face a much bigger challenge on Saturday against the Baltimore Ravens.
The Texans have been one of the most surprising teams in the NFL this season behind the play of rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud and first-year head coach DeMeco Ryan. The Ravens enter the game coming off a first-round bye owing to the team’s No.1 seed.
Stroud looks to become one of just a handful of rookie QBs to win two playoff games. Joe Flacco, Russell Wilson, and Brock Purdy are the only other rookies to win twice in their first trip to the postseason. No rookie quarterback has ever played in a Super Bowl. Stroud could change that, but will have to get through the Ravens and then the AFC Championship next week first.
The Ravens are led by potential NFL MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson who has been playing at another level this season. The Ravens added depth at the running back position this week, elevating Delvin Cook to the active roster after signing him from the New York Jets at the end of the season.
Jackson leads the team in yards-per-carry and total yards, a testament to how dangerous his versatile play style can be. Primary back Gus Edwards piled up over 800 yards this season and is averaging more than four yards per carry. Cook replaces Melvin Ingram in the lineup and could add yet another versatile weapon.
Houston is primed to be a perfect foil to the Ravens’ robust run game. The Texans gave up the sixth-fewest yards per game in the NFL with an average of just 94.4 yards per game. Safety Jalen Pitre will be a key component against the Ravens running game, particularly on outside runs.
The two teams met in Week 1, but neither team will resemble the same outfit. Stroud, while still a rookie, now has an entire season under his belt and has been playing at an elite level. For Houston to pull off the upset over the Ravens, Stroud will need to protect the football and will need to get the ball out of his hands quickly on pass plays. The Ravens often bring disguised pressure from four- and five-man fronts that can quickly create headaches for quarterbacks.
After a Super Wild Card Weekend that saw several emotional upsets -including lopsided defeats to the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles- the Divisional round could include some surprise contests. While the odds makers favor Baltimore in this game, Ryan and Stroud have the pieces in place to earn the upset and find themselves in the Championship game. The Texans have never won in the divisional round, posting an 0-4 record. The last trip this deep into the playoffs was a loss to the Ravens in 2012.
Kickoff is set for 3:30 pm CT from Baltimore on Saturday, January 20.
