The Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans each superior to the divisional spherical of the playoffs Saturday, beating the Pittsburgh Steelers and Los Angeles Chargers, respectively.
The Ravens, the AFC’s No. 3 seed, put up a dominant efficiency within the day’s nightcap. Baltimore beat its divisional rival 28-14, powered by an unstoppable dashing assault.
The Ravens ran 50 occasions for 299 yards towards the Steelers. Running again Derrick Henry had 26 carries for 186 yards and two scores, whereas quarterback Lamar Jackson added 81 yards of his personal on the bottom.
Pittsburgh was inept offensively for a lot of the night time. Russell Wilson completed with 270 yards passing and two touchdowns, however the Steelers had solely 11 first downs and 280 whole yards over the course of the sport.
Baltimore marched down the sector for 3 huge landing drives within the first half alone. The Ravens went 95 yards in 13 performs for his or her first rating, then 85 yards in 13 performs earlier than a nine-play, 90-yard masterpiece for a landing two seconds earlier than halftime.
Pittsburgh’s offense awakened with 14 factors within the third quarter, with Wilson making some good throws. Baltimore’s lead by no means went beneath two scores, nonetheless, and the Ravens in the end ran out the clock.
Jackson, typically talk-show fodder for his playoff struggles, performed at an MVP stage. In addition to his success working, he accomplished 16 of 21 passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns.
Earlier within the day, the Texans superior after a wacky recreation towards the Chargers during which each defenses shined. The two groups mixed for seven turnovers, however Houston was higher capable of reap the benefits of the miscues.
Quarterback C.J. Stroud threw for 282 yards with one landing and one interception for the Texans. Justin Herbert, in the meantime, threw for 242 yards with one rating and a whopping 4 interceptions — together with a pick-six.
Los Angeles took a 6-0 lead early within the first quarter, however didn’t rating once more till the fourth. On the Chargers’ solely landing, their additional level was blocked and returned for 2 factors by Houston. Los Angeles scored solely three factors off the Texans’ three giveaways.
Houston, in the meantime, overcame a gradual offensive begin to take a 10-7 lead into halftime, scoring twice within the remaining minute of the second quarter — as soon as on the tip of a 99-yard landing drive. That possession was practically derailed when Stroud fumbled a snap on Third-and-16, however he recovered the ball and accomplished a deep move on the identical play.
The Texans would add 13 extra factors earlier than the touchdown-turned-blocked kick-turned-two-pointer sequence. Stroud then led another landing drive whereas Herbert was picked off on the Chargers’ remaining possession.
Both Houston’s and Baltimore’s opponents for the subsequent spherical will rely on Sunday’s outcomes.
