NFL GDT: 2023 AFC Divisional Round: (1) Baltimore Ravens vs. (4) Houston Texans

[MMC]

Ravens

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[Spring in Fialta]

Rotten draw for Baltimore but I think they should go through. It's hard to bet against them after watching them run amok on a bunch of good teams. They're not a paper tiger.

 

[Terry Yake]

ravens match up well with houston obviously should win, but houston is hot and no way im counting out stroud with how he's played

 

[HisIceness]

f*** it, Texans

 

[Unholy Diver]

hopefully a good game, but the Ravens have been on fire if you don't count the meaningless week 18 game

 

[No Fun Shogun]

Ravens

 

[SwordsgoneWild]

Texans got further than anyone expected this season and defied all expectations. They're a great story. Stroud is legit .....But it ends here.

34-17 Ravens.

 

[JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK]

rolling with stroud. do not trust this iteration of baltimore in the playoffs

 

[EpochLink]

Ravens better show up, last time they were the first seed they got f***ed ip by Derrick Henry.

 

[Tuggy]

Ravens but the Texans are dangerous.

 

[PanthersPens62]

I desperately want to pick Houston & I think they have a shot, but I just don't think it is quite their time yet.

Ravens 23 Texans 21

 

[WeThreeKings]

Dak choked and now Lamarner will choke per normal

 

[TheGreenTBer]

I think this is an extraordinarily interesting game.

I'm going Baltimore.

 

[GKJ]

ravens match up well with houston obviously should win, but houston is hot and no way im counting out stroud with how he's played

He is hot, but has hit some potholes with some better defenses. Which is fine as a rookie, but 2 of his top 3 receivers out is a problem too.

 

[Jovavic]

Different Texans team then who played the Ravens in week one. Could be a shoot out as I don't have much hope for the Houston D in containing Jackson. 35-31 Ravens

 

[Bocephus86]

Im willing the Texans to a(nother) win.

 

[Spring in Fialta]

Dak choked and now Lamarner will choke per normal

I didn't realize there were still people dumb enough out there to try and downplay Lamar Jackson.

 

[BackToTheBrierePatch]

Should be a fun game but Baltimore is too good.

 

[Blitzkrug]

I didn't realize there were still people dumb enough out there to try and downplay Lamar Jackson.

To be fair, Lamar historically has been a much different player in the postseason. 1-3 record with the one win he got coming on the back of a pretty meh performance.

I would argue this game against Houston is the most important one he's ever started. If he plays well, a lot of that downplaying disappears. If he doesn't, it's just going to get louder and he runs the risk of being compared to trash like Dak Prescott.

 

[Spring in Fialta]

To be fair, Lamar historically has been a much different player in the postseason. 1-3 record with the one win he got coming on the back of a pretty meh performance.

I would argue this game against Houston is the most important one he's ever started. If he plays well, a lot of that downplaying disappears. If he doesn't, it's just going to get louder and he runs the risk of being compared to trash like Dak Prescott.

Unless something comes out about him having mental difficulty with pressure (which seems extremely doubtful when you see how much he's outperformed what people say of him), I'm going to chalk this up to small sample size and bet on a 2x MVP franchise quarterback to figure it out. It's not like I recall the specifics of every game he's started in the playoffs but it just seems like it's the single last thing his detractors have (not including you in that).

He retires today and he's a borderline HOF player already. He gets it done in the playoffs and every poster who talked shit about him should get publically shamed.

 

[SJSharksfan39]

I picked the Ravens, but I really hope the Texans win. If I were to pick an upset, this game would be it.

 

[Marc the Habs Fan]

Would love to see Stroud keep doing this but the Ravens have just too much going for them.

 

[No Fun Shogun]

Ravens are my pick to win it all, so I wouldn't be shocked if they blow out Houston. But even if they do, the Texans are playing with house money. They already took a gargantuan step forward this year.

 

[Terry Yake]

To be fair, Lamar historically has been a much different player in the postseason. 1-3 record with the one win he got coming on the back of a pretty meh performance.

I would argue this game against Houston is the most important one he's ever started. If he plays well, a lot of that downplaying disappears. If he doesn't, it's just going to get louder and he runs the risk of being compared to trash like Dak Prescott.

he threw for over 360 yds and rushed for over 140 in the 2019 divisional loss to TN. one of his picks was a perfectly thrown pass that went right off andrews's hands into the titans defender's. the ravens lost that game because their run defense was atrocious and because the titans made some key stops on 4th down, combined with roman quickly abandoning the run once the ravens went down. not because of lamar

and in his win against the titans the next year, he still rushed for 136 yds and a TD despite not throwing a TD

but yes, i do agree that this is (so far) the most important playoff game he's played. if the ravens lose this game and lamar plays poorly, then all the criticism will absolutely be warranted. i have a lot more faith in him going into this postseason than in the past, mainly because of the way monken has brought out his true potential as a passer

 

[PeteWorrell]

Ravens

Houston does not have any receiver that can make big plays outside of Nico Collins. I also doubt that Lamar Jackson will throw dumb picks like Flacco did to completely deflate his team.