NFL Playoffs: 4 things we learned from the Divisional Round

The Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs brought multiple nail-biting finishes and one lopsided blowout. Here’s four things we learned from it.

The playoffs continued on Saturday, with the AFC’s No. 1-seeded Ravens hosting the Texans and the NFC’s top-seeded 49ers welcoming the Packers to San Francisco.

Led by NFL MVP favorite Lamar Jackson, Baltimore handed Houston an old-fashioned beatdown. Jackson and Co. dominated on offense, putting up 34 points, while the defense held C.J. Stroud to only 10 points on the day.

Elsewhere, the 49ers protected home field by ending Jordan Love’s spectacular debut campaign. Brock Purdy did just enough to pull off a late fourth-quarter comeback.

On Sunday, NFL fans got treated to two competitive contests. The Lions continued their Cinderella story with a 31-23 win over the Buccaneers, thanks to an inspired effort from the defense.

The final matchup of the weekend was the most anticipated of the bunch. For the third time in four postseasons, the Bills and Chiefs met for a January showdown; this time, in Buffalo.

Once again, the Bills failed to execute down the stretch, even with a raucous stadium behind them. Patrick Mahomes took advantage, as he will now appear in his sixth conference championship game as a starter — in only six years.

With a quick recap out of the way, Dexerto Sport has tallied four takeaways from this past weekend of football as the NFL Playoffs dwindle to only four remaining contenders.

No. 1: Baker Mayfield cemented his place in Tampa Bay

Former No. 1 overall pick Baker Mayfield crashed and burned in Cleveland before suffering the same fate in Carolina.

Luckily, the Rams gave Mayfield a shot to rebound his stock in the final month of 2022, allowing the Oklahoma alum to start in place of injured veteran Matthew Stafford.

Mayfield showed enough to elicit belief from the Buccaneers, as the franchise presented him with the only path toward seizing QB1 duties during training camp. That belief paid off in a significant way for the Tampa Bay front office.

After winning the NFC South crown, Mayfield led his squad into a battle with the defending NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles in the Wildcard Round. Entering as underdogs, the Bucs shocked the world.

Mayfield accumulated 337 passing yards and three touchdowns against a once-vaunted Eagles defense. In doing so, Tampa Bay earned the right to play Detroit in the Divisional Round.

The outcome isn’t what Mayfield and the Bucs desired, but it wasn’t Baker’s fault. Sure, the two interceptions were costly, but his 349 yards and three touchdowns through the air kept the game close throughout.

Mayfield is now in line to receive a hefty contract extension this offseason. Given his performance on the field and his standing in the locker room, it is a win-win situation for all involved.

The Buccaneers were a rudderless ship following Tom Brady’s retirement. Mayfield is the captain the fan base has so desperately been searching for — a match made in heaven.

No. 2: Patrick Mahomes is the best quarterback in the world (and maybe ever)

After an exhilarating victory vs. Buffalo, the Chiefs will make a sixth straight appearance in the AFC Championship Game, all led by quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

Of the five previous instances, Mahomes won three, fetching two Super Bowl rings in the process. He’ll look for a fourth AFC title on Sunday, but it won’t come easy as the team travels to Baltimore.

Still, Mahomes has proven that he’s not one to doubt. Whether by the skin of his teeth or in a comfortable manner, No. 15 usually comes out on top.

His six appearances during conference championship weekend already place him in the top five all-time in NFL history. Only Tom Brady (14), Steve Young (7), Joe Montana (7), and Roger Staubach (7) have more in their career.

No. 3: Lions are more than a “Cinderella” story

For a team that entered the 2023 regular season with a playoff drought spanning 32 years, “underdog” is an appropriate title.

However, after witnessing Detroit’s ascension this season, along with two impressive playoff victories vs. the Rams and Buccaneers, it’s time to retire that narrative for good.

With head coach Dan Campbell leading the way, the Lions have gone from a feel-good story to legitimate Super Bowl contenders. These back-to-back wins in January solidify it.

Now, quarterback Jared Goff will stare down a familiar foe — the San Francisco 49ers. Originally a member of the Rams, Goff has played the Niners nine times in his career, sporting a dismal 3-6 record.

But none of those matchups came in the postseason, so all cards are on the table for Goff and the Lions. Fueled by a remarkable stockpile of weapons on offense and a stingy defense full of “knee-cap biters,” don’t be surprised if Detroit emerges victorious.

The Lions better soak up the underdog talk because next season they will be ranked amongst the cream of the crop — for the foreseeable future.

No. 4: The Ravens are the best team in the NFL

Lamar Jackson sent a commotion around the Baltimore fan base in the offseason, posturing for a new deal elsewhere if that’s what it took.

Thankfully for the Ravens, cooler heads prevailed, as the two sides struck an agreement, making Jackson one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the league.

The former NFL MVP made the front office look brilliant in 2023, spearheading a new-look offense and providing his patented MVP level of play. The Ravens earned the No. 1 seed in the AFC, guaranteeing that the playoffs go through Baltimore.

One 34-10 shellacking later vs. the Texans, and Jackson and Co. find themselves only one win shy of returning to the Super Bowl for the first time since 2012.

Beating Mahomes is never easy, as the Chiefs legend boasts the best winning percentage in NFL playoff history. But the Ravens should still be the favorites, and that’s thanks in large part to Jackson.

The offense averages north of 28 points per contest, while the defense allows a mere 17 points to opponents. That is in line with the outcome vs. Houston in the Wildcard Round.

Get your popcorn ready for Sunday. We have a potential barn burner in store. A couple of NFL MVP quarterbacks going back and forth — what else could fans ask for?