Two of the NFL’s main quarterbacks – each but to win a Tremendous Bowl – can transfer one step nearer to that final purpose as Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen meet within the playoffs.
With the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs eyeing an unprecedented third-straight Tremendous Bowl triumph, Jackson and Allen have typically been the collateral harm left of their wake over their five-year-and-counting dynasty.
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Jackson and Buffalo Payments QB Allen had been each drafted in 2018, a 12 months after the Chiefs chosen Patrick Mahomes which sparked their sudden ascent to the highest of the NFL.
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Mahomes has led the Chiefs to 4 of the previous 5 Tremendous Bowls, profitable three of them, and whereas Jackson matches him for league MVP awards over that span (two), and Allen is a sizzling favorite to assert his first this season, the pair have too typically fallen brief the place Mahomes has thrived: within the playoffs.
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Jackson is 3-4 within the playoffs, Allen a contact improved at 6-5 however neither can maintain a flame to Mahomes’ mind-boggling 15-3 document.
Certainly one of their data will enhance this weekend, as Jackson’s Ravens and Allen’s Payments meet in an AFC Divisional Spherical matchup in Buffalo – reside on Sky Sports activities NFL, Sunday, 11.30pm – however the different shall be chalking up one other ‘L’ within the playoff loss column.
“It is a legacy recreation [for Jackson and Allen],” Sky Sports activities’ Neil Reynolds mentioned on the newest episode of the Inside The Huddle podcast. “They’ve each struggled on the Divisional Spherical and past.
“Lamar Jackson is 1-3 within the divisional spherical or later, and Josh Allen is 1-4.
“Their Tremendous Bowl home windows are open, however Patrick Mahomes is there ready able to spoil all of the enjoyable if crucial.
“Certainly one of these quarterbacks has obtained to get that Tremendous Bowl sooner or later.”
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And certainly Mahomes may once more be mendacity in wait because the reward for the winner, with the Chiefs internet hosting the Houston Texans – reside on Sky Sports activities NFL, Saturday, 9.30pm – within the different Divisional Spherical conflict within the AFC.
Whereas Mahomes and Kansas Metropolis are the No 1 seed within the convention, and maintain such Tremendous Bowl pedigree, the 2024 season has been an odd one which has seen then scrape 11 of their 15 wins by solely eight factors or fewer.
They ranked seventeenth in yards per recreation (327.6) – Baltimore greatest at school with 424.9 – and fifteenth in factors per recreation (22.6), in comparison with Buffalo’s second-best within the NFL mark of 30.9, with the Ravens tucked in carefully behind at 30.5.
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Sunday’s assembly can also be the primary in playoff historical past between two quarterbacks who’ve accounted for greater than 40 TDs and beneath 10 turnovers in a season (Jackson: 45 complete TDs, 9 giveaways / Allen: 41 complete TDs, eight giveaways).
It is why this Divisional Spherical assembly between the pair is so vastly anticipated as, though, the Chiefs may await the winner, may the Ravens and/or Payments lastly show too highly effective for Mahomes and co?
“I feel the staff that wins this recreation may win the Tremendous Bowl,” mentioned Sky Sports activities’ Phoebe Schecter, a former coach with the Payments.
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The most effective performs from Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson from the 2024 NFL season
“Each of those groups have struggled with their id within the postseason at instances. Lamar and the Ravens have brazenly mentioned they need to have run the ball extra [in playoff loss to the Chiefs] final 12 months, and we have seen the Payments’ struggles.
“This recreation is so arduous to choose, as a result of each of those groups are phenomenal in a large number of various methods, and these quarterbacks are so huge within the huge moments.
“In Buffalo, it is a humorous one as a result of this was presupposed to a rebuild 12 months. Their protection is what worries me essentially the most, however I will go together with the Payments to win this recreation.”
Watch the Baltimore Ravens on the Buffalo Payments within the Divisional Spherical of the playoffs, reside on Sky Sports activities NFL on Sunday, with kick-off at 11.30pm.
