Lamar Jackson, Ravens top Texans, reach AFC Championship Game

BALTIMORE — Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson answered some questions about his playoff performance Saturday night in a 34-10 divisional round victory over the Houston Texans, but he had plenty of help .

The Ravens' dominant defense showed no rust after a bye week, shutting down sensational rookie quarterback CJ Stroud as the Baltimore advanced to the AFC Championship Game against the winner of Sunday's game between the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs.

Jackson accomplished just about everything during the regular season and is likely headed for his second MVP award, but he was just 1-3 in the playoffs through Saturday. He hopes that two more victories during this campaign will silence all the doubters.

Baltimore Ravens

Jackson gave the Ravens something they've never had in their 28 years of existence: an AFC championship game on their home field.

Hurting the Texans as much with his legs as his arm, Jackson totaled four touchdowns and 100 rushing yards for the Ravens' first divisional round victory since their 2012 Super Bowl campaign.

Jackson recorded his third 100-yard rushing game in the playoffs, surpassing Colin Kaepernick for the most by a quarterback in NFL history. Jackson is also the fourth player to record 100 rushing yards and two touchdown passes in a playoff game in NFL history and the first since Kaepernick in 2012.

In doing so, Jackson broke the narrative that he couldn't win in the playoffs after just one playoff victory in his first five seasons.

This is the first time Baltimore will host the AFC Championship Game in 53 years, when the Baltimore Colts did so during the 1970 season. It is the longest interval for a city hosts a conference championship game.

The Ravens defense continually frustrated Stroud. After keeping the Texans out of the end zone in the season opener, Baltimore held Stroud's offense and Houston out of the end zone in the playoffs. Ravens coach John Harbaugh is now 18-2 against rookie quarterbacks in Baltimore.

A mind-blowing statistic: When Jackson found Nelson Agholor in the end zone in the second quarter, it marked the signal-caller's first touchdown pass of the playoffs before the fourth quarter. Before Saturday, Jackson had thrown three touchdown passes in five playoff games and all of them came in the fourth quarter. Jackson did not record a touchdown pass in his previous two playoff games. It was also Agholor's first touchdown of the playoffs; he had been one of six active players with at least 20 receptions in the postseason but no touchdowns.

Promising trend: Jackson beat Houston repeatedly with his legs, producing his fourth career playoff game with 50+ rushing yards. That ties him with Steve Young, Russell Wilson and Kaepernick for second most for a quarterback since 1950. Jackson's 100 rushing yards are the most allowed by the Texans to a quarterback this season. With a 15-yard run, Jackson became the first player in Ravens playoff history with a rushing and passing touchdown in the same game.

A crucial game: Jackson converts a courageous fourth-and-1 call at midfield. With the Ravens leading 17-10 in the third quarter, Baltimore put the ball in the hands of Jackson, who ran away from offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley for a 14-yard gain. He kept alive a 12-play, 93-yard drive that ended with a 15-yard touchdown pass from Jackson to Isaiah Likely.

Disturbing trend: Steven Sims' 67-yard punt return for a touchdown in the second quarter marked the third straight playoff game that Baltimore allowed a return for a touchdown. During the 2020 divisional playoff game in Buffalo, Jackson threw a pick six in the red zone. Last year, in a wild-card game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Tyler Huntley's fumble near the goal line was returned 98 yards for a touchdown by Sam Hubbard. — Jamison Hensley

Next game: The AFC Championship Game against the winner of Sunday's game between the Bills and Chiefs.

Houston Texans

The Texans' surprise season, in which they reached the divisional round for the first time since 2019, is over.

Coach DeMeco Ryans and Stroud became the third rookie coach-rookie quarterback duo since 1950 to win a playoff game, but they couldn't make it two. The offense struggled like it hadn't since Week 14, when Houston lost 30-6 to the New York Jets.

The problems started early, as the Texans didn't run or block well, and Stroud was pressured on 45.7 percent of his 35 dropbacks, tied for his second-highest pressure rate this season.

The defense was able to take over in the first half, but eventually broke down in the second half, allowing 21 points.

Describe the Texans in two words: Without wanting to offend you. The offense had no answers for the Ravens defense. The Texans averaged 343 yards per game (12th) in the regular season, but finished with 38 rushing yards (averaging 2.7 per carry) and 213 total yards on Saturday. And just like in the first game of the season, they didn't score an offensive touchdown against the Ravens.

Biggest hole in the game plan: The Texans didn't have a consistent answer to Jackson's scrambling ability. They were hyper aware of him, but they still struggled – allowing 48 scrambled yards. The Texans had 217 total yards in the regular season (12th fewest), and the most they allowed in a game was 43 yards against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 11.

Crucial game (first half): Sims' punt return gave the Texans life. The score was 10-10 with 4:17 left in the first half – before things fell apart in the second half. The touchdown was the Texans' third non-offensive score of the postseason, the most by any team in a single postseason since the Green Bay Packers had three in 2010.

Mind-blowing statistic: The 11 penalties the Texans accepted against them set a franchise record, surpassing the previous mark of eight. In the first quarter, they had three false starts, an intentional grounding and a delay of game, and they were called for holding on special teams. Those six penalties in the first quarter were the most of any quarter this season. — DJ Bien-Aimé

Next game: The season is over.