Amy E. Price/Getty Images for SXSW.
NFL fans witnessed three close Divisional Round playoff games this weekend, but Colin Cowherd believes the one outlier could produce another blowout in the AFC Championship Game.
Before the Kansas City Chiefs earned a 27-24 road win over the Buffalo Bills, the Baltimore Ravens cruised to a 34-10 triumph over the Houston Texans. Cowherd wouldn’t be shocked if Baltimore dominated Kansas City to earn a trip to the Super Bowl.
“I think we’ve undervalued Baltimore because we paid so much attention to San Francisco’s roster and [Patrick] Mahomes and [Josh] Allen,” Cowherd said. “I think Baltimore can beat Kansas City badly.”
“I think Baltimore could beat Kansas City badly”
—@ColinCowherd on the Ravens dominance pic.twitter.com/CEYey9PKlE
— The Volume (@TheVolumeSports) January 22, 2024
Cowherd noted that the Ravens have made strong offenses and quarterbacks “look awful.” He said the Ravens “humiliated” the Miami Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers during the season before making C.J. Stroud “look really small.”
Saturday marked Baltimore’s 10th double-digit victory. That includes a 14-point win over the 49ers and a 38-6 rout over their NFC Championship Game opponents, the Detroit Lions.
Baltimore ended the regular season with the NFL’s highest point differential (+203). On the other hand, Kansas City went 1-4 against playoff teams during the regular season.
However, the early betting market doesn’t share Cowherd’s assessment. Baltimore is a modest 3.5-point favorite despite wielding home-field advantage.
All things considered, it’s difficult to count out Mahomes. Yet the Ravens, who have won 11 of their last 13 games including an inconsequential Week 18 loss with starters resting, are backed by MVP favorite Lamar Jackson and the top-ranked scoring defense.
The AFC Championship Game starts on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on CBS.