The Baltimore Ravens, led by Lamar Jackson, face the Kansas City Chiefs, led by quarterback Patrick Mahomes, in the AFC Championship Game at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland, on Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024.
If you want to purchase tickets for this game, you can do so at Stubhub, Ticketmaster, Ticketsmarter and Vivid Seats.
According to Vivid Seats, ticket prices for this game range from $298 to more than $3,965.
Here’s what you need to know:
What: AFC Championship Game
Who: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Baltimore Ravens
When: Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024
Where: M&T Bank Stadium
Time: 3 p.m.
TV: CBS
Channel finder: Verizon Fios, AT&T U-verse, Comcast Xfinity, Spectrum/Charter, Optimum/Altice,Cox,DIRECTV, Dish, Hulu, fuboTV, Sling.
Live stream: Stubhub, Ticketmaster, Ticketsmarter and Vivid Seats.
Here’s a recent AP NFL story:
BALTIMORE (AP) — Lamar Jackson had already done plenty of running by the time he reached the end zone in the fourth quarter.
Apparently, he still had quite a bit of energy, leaping past the photographers and disappearing into the tunnel in a celebration that seemed cathartic for the All-Pro quarterback.
Jackson threw two touchdown passes and ran for two scores, and the Baltimore Ravens pulled away in the second half for a 34-10 win over the Houston Texans on Saturday to advance to the AFC championship game. It was only the second victory in five playoff games for Jackson, a fact he was well aware of.
“You know I heard that,” he said. “I don’t even got to hear it. I see it. But it is what it is. I really don’t care about what people say. ... Those guys just had our team’s number in the past, but it’s a different team.”
Jackson made some more history Saturday, becoming the first quarterback since at least 1948 — in the regular season or playoffs — with at least two touchdown passes, two TD runs, 100 yards rushing and a 100 passer rating in the same game.
“Credit to Lamar,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “He made a ton of great plays. That’s why he’s the MVP.”
The Ravens (14-4) dominated the second half after the teams finished the second quarter tied at 10. Jackson said he did most of the talking at halftime.
“A lot of cursing,” he said.
Jackson’s 15-yard scoring run put Baltimore ahead to stay. Although C.J. Stroud had a solid, composed first half for Houston, the Texans (11-8) ultimately couldn’t turn enough promising drives into points against an impressive Ravens defense.
Now Baltimore will host the AFC title game for the first time since January 1971, when the Colts beat the Oakland Raiders on their way to a Super Bowl championship. The Ravens will play in that semifinal round for the fifth time since their arrival in Baltimore. They’ll take on the winner of Sunday’s matchup between Buffalo and Kansas City.
“Our fans are going to get a chance to cheer just as loud or louder than they did in this game, and they were amazing,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “I thought our fans were incredible. Man, it was deafening out there.”
Harbaugh’s brother Jim was on hand for the game, returning the favor after John went to watch Jim coach Michigan to college football’s national title earlier this month.
Ravens fans have been haunted by what happened in the playoffs four years ago, when Baltimore went 14-2 in the regular season but dropped its postseason opener to Tennessee. Houston did enough to create some anxiety, especially when Steven Sims returned a punt for a touchdown and Jackson struggled at times with the blitzing Texans defense.
But on the first possession of the second half, Jackson guided Baltimore 55 yards in six plays and scored on a run up the middle. Then, a 15-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Likely early in the fourth made it 24-10.
Jackson’s final touchdown came on an 8-yard run with 6:20 to play, and the fired up quarterback kept running right into the tunnel in that corner of the field.
Sims’ return was the only TD for the Texans, whose offense never did reach the end zone in 120 minutes against the Ravens this season. Houston lost 25-9 in its season opener at Baltimore.
Jackson rushed for 821 yards during the regular season, which is a big part of the case for his second MVP award. But he surpassed 100 yards on the ground only once. He ran for exactly 100 on Saturday on 11 attempts. A 14-yard bootleg on fourth-and-1 near midfield led to the touchdown by Likely that gave the Ravens some breathing room.
Jackson also passed for 152 yards.
“Lamar is a dog. I’ve been a fan of his since high school,” Stroud said. “It’s really an honor to share the field with a player like that.”
Stroud threw for 175 yards and didn’t take a sack against a tough Baltimore defensive front, but the Texans dropped to 0-5 in the divisional round of the playoffs. They’re the only current franchise that hasn’t reached a conference championship game.
The Ravens led the NFL in sacks this season, but it was Jackson who was under pressure in the first half, when Houston got to him three times. Two of those sacks came back-to-back in the final minute of the second quarter after a missed field goal gave Baltimore decent field position.
Penalties held the Texans back all day — they ended up with 11 for 70 yards. After Justin Tucker opened the scoring for Baltimore with a 53-yard field goal, Houston appeared headed for points of its own before two false starts and an intentional grounding flag pushed the Texans out of range.
Houston did eventually tie it on a 50-yard field goal by Ka’imi Fairbairn, but the Ravens answered with a 76-yard march capped by Jackson’s 3-yard touchdown pass to Nelson Agholor.
Down 10-3, the Texans struck back on special teams. Sims, who was signed from the practice squad to the active roster earlier in the week, broke free up the middle for a 67-yard touchdown.
ADJUSTMENTS
According to the NFL’s Next Gen Stats, Jackson faced a career-high blitz rate of 75% and went 13 of 18 for 120 yards and two touchdowns against the blitz. He got rid of the ball in an average of 2.25 seconds in the second half, compared to 3.51 in the first.
ONE-DIMENSIONAL
The Ravens outrushed Houston 229-38, and eventually the Texans’ lack of any real ground attack caught up with them — even though they avoided any sacks and turnovers on the day.
UP NEXT
Texans: Houston’s rise this season included an AFC South title and a first-round playoff rout against Cleveland. The future looks bright with Stroud at quarterback.
Ravens: Baltimore is one win away from its first Super Bowl appearance in 11 years. The Ravens did not face the Bills or Chiefs during the regular season.
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Cayden Steele may be reached at CSteele@njadvancemedia.com
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I won't waste time with pleasantries; instead, let me establish my expertise in football. I've been deeply involved in the sport for years, analyzing games, player performances, and statistics. My insights go beyond casual fandom, delving into the intricacies of strategy, player dynamics, and team history.
Now, onto the AFC Championship Game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024. Lamar Jackson, the Ravens' star quarterback, showcased his exceptional skills in the recent victory over the Houston Texans. Jackson's performance was historic, achieving a rare feat by becoming the first quarterback since at least 1948 to record two touchdown passes, two TD runs, 100 yards rushing, and a 100 passer rating in a single game—regular season or playoffs.
The Ravens dominated the second half, securing a 34-10 win and earning the right to host the AFC Championship Game at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. This marks the first time since January 1971 that Baltimore will host the AFC title game. They will face the winner of the matchup between the Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs, a game that will determine their opponent in the semifinal round.
Jackson's remarkable performance, including his 15-yard scoring run and an 8-yard touchdown run, showcased his versatility and resilience against a tough Texans defense. The Ravens' defense also played a pivotal role, holding the Texans to just one touchdown and exploiting their lack of a substantial ground attack.
For those looking to witness this exciting AFC Championship Game in person, ticket prices range from $298 to over $3,965, and they can be purchased through various platforms such as Stubhub, Ticketmaster, Ticketsmarter, and Vivid Seats. The game is scheduled for 3 p.m., and for those unable to attend, it will be televised on CBS, with live streaming options available on Stubhub, Ticketmaster, Ticketsmarter, and Vivid Seats.
As a football enthusiast with a keen understanding of the game, I assure you that this AFC Championship Game promises to be a thrilling showdown between two formidable teams led by star quarterbacks. Stay tuned for what could be a defining moment in the quest for Super Bowl glory.
