It's Patrick Mahomes' Chiefs at Lamar's Ravens in AFC Title Game: 'Not in The Dance Yet!' Says Jackson
The Baltimore Ravens overcame a sluggish first half to take care of a plucky Houston Texans Texan 34-10 at M&T Bank Stadium to book their spot in the AFC Championship game. And now the Kansas City Chiefs have done the same with a 27-24 "wide-right'' thriller over the Buffalo Bills.
So we know who's in the AFC title game. But that's not "the dance'' quite yet, as Lamar Jackson points out.
“We got to finish,” Jackson said. “Still playoffs, not in the dance yet but I’m looking forward to next week to be honest. I’m not even thinking about Super Bowl until we handle business.”
With the Ravens looking out of sorts in an up-and-down first half, the upset looked on the cards as the Texans gave as good as they got. Baltimore and Lamar Jackson clicked into gear in the second half however, keeping the Texans scoreless, while piling on 24 points.
For Jackson, the long break between games played a factor in the slow start for his team.
“Everything can play a part of it,” Jackson said. “We was rusty, it was windy, it was cold, everything played a factor. But the thing I’m proud about our team is we came out second half and we did what we were supposed to do, put points on the board.”
Baltimore's defense was superb in the second half, forcing two punts and a turnover on downs as it suffocated the Texans' offense.
Tommy Gilligan, USA TODAY SPORTS
As such, the Ravens secured home-field advantage for the AFC title game as the shadow of a Super Bowl appearance looms large.
But despite what is in front of Baltimore, Jackson isn't one for thinking about the possibilities of playing in Las Vegas, there's still one more assignment that needs completing.
The Ravens, after a sloppy first half and as good teams do, put the foot to the floor when crunch time came.
Jackson produced when it mattered most, completing 16 of his 22 passes for 152 yards and two touchdowns while he also rushed for 100 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries.
Baltimore has marched into the championship game and Jackson has a chance to cement his standing as a premier player in the NFL. Mahomes, thanks in part to the Bills missing a game-ending potential tying field goal, is standing right there as well.
There's a potential for Lamar to be a two-time MVP winner, but that elusive Super Bowl ring is now within sight. But first ... one more step before one big dance.
