The most important duels in the Philadelphia Eagles’ game against the Los Angeles Rams and the Buffalo Bills’ game against the Baltimore Ravens.

The hot phase of the NFL season is underway!

Only eight teams are still fighting for a spot in the Super Bowl. The Divisional Round will take place on Saturday and Sunday, after which we will know the two best teams in each conference.

This time, we take a closer look at the Los Angeles Rams at Philadelphia Eagles and then the Baltimore Ravens at Buffalo Bills, and name the five most important key duels on the pitch for each game.

We have already identified the key duels in the other two divisional round duels (Houston Texans at Kansas City Chiefs and Washington Commanders at Detroit Lions).

Los Angeles Rams at Philadelphia Eagles

1st key duel: Power defense vs. defense power

The defenses will be in focus on both sides. The Rams sacked the Minnesota Vikings nine times in the Wild Card Round – in the past four games, all opponents stayed under ten points. That’s quite a statement. If they manage to do that again, it will probably be tight for the Eagles.

However, the “Philly” defense also knows what it means to keep the opponent’s score low. Since the bye week in week 5, the Eagles have only conceded an average of 15 points against themselves. It may be a defensive battle.

When running back Saquon Barkley faced the Rams defense in Week 12, he set a career-best 255 yards. So the Rams defense has been warned. To defend the Eagles star, LA’s linebackers are primarily in demand.

In collaboration with the D-Line, they have to be at their best against Barkley in the run defense. Because everyone knows: Barkley is particularly strong when he breaks through the first line. Christian Rozeboom and Omar Speights, who will have to stand up to Barkley at the latest, also know this.

5. Key duel: Hurts vs. Stafford

Of course, the quarterbacks of both teams are always the focus. But in a supposedly low-scoring game, this is even more the case. After all, every mistake or every big play can be decisive for the game.

Hurts had a modest completion rate of around 62 percent in the wild card game against the Green Bay Packers. Against the Rams, he would do well to hand the ball to Barkley. Once the running game is established, opportunities will arise for long passes to his star receivers. Stafford does not have the running game that Stafford has at his disposal. He will have to rely on the passing game from the outset. However, both playmakers should avoid one thing: an interception.

Baltimore Ravens at Buffalo Bills

1. Key duel: players vs. cold

Of course, neither Buffalo nor Baltimore are known as sunny vacation destinations at this time of year, but the cold is familiar to everyone involved. Nevertheless, it is expected to be freezing cold when the Bills host the Ravens. The US weather service is forecasting temperatures as low as -13 degrees Celsius, and it is expected to feel as cold as -20 degrees Celsius during the night from Sunday to Monday.

On top of that, snow is forecast. So it will depend on who copes better with the weather conditions. If it actually snows, it will probably not be a game for the receivers. A disadvantage for the Bills?

2. Key duel: Jackson vs. Allen

It’s the clash of arguably the two best active dual-threat quarterbacks in the NFL – and the two favorites for this year’s MVP award. When you’re a linebacker facing Lamar Jackson or Josh Allen, you never know whether the next play will be a pass or a run.

In terms of pure yardage, reigning MVP Jackson (915 rushing yards in the regular season) has the edge over Allen (531 yards). But the Bills playmaker is a force in the red zone: he has 12 rushing touchdowns to Jackson’s mere four. In the Buffalo snow flurries, that could be the key stat.

However, there is a reason why Jackson has not scored even more touchdowns. And that reason is Derrick Henry. The Ravens’ human steamroller often cannot be stopped, even with three men.

Baltimore’s star running back will once again be the X-factor in the Ravens’ offense – especially if the weather is predominantly suitable for running the ball. Henry was already unstoppable in the Wild Card Round against the Pittsburgh Steelers, when he ran for 186 yards and scored two touchdowns. Can the Bills defense do the same?

2. Key duel: Puka Nacua vs. Darius Slay

Before Puka Nacua’s return from injury, the Rams had a tough time. Quarterback Matthew Stafford did not even throw a handful of touchdowns in the wide receiver’s absence. Now the Rams playmaker’s top target is back in full force, delivering more than 100 receiving yards in almost every second game. On average, he is putting up 90 yards per game.

Stopping him and his position colleague is the job of Philadelphia’s secondary. In Nacua’s case, that’s probably cornerback Darius Slay. In week 12, Slay had a terrible day against Nacua. Slay conceded 39 yards and three flags against the Rams star.

3. Key matchup: A.J. Brown vs. Ahkello Witherspoon

What is fundamental on one side also applies on the other. The Eagles have their star duo at receiver in A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. Above all, Brown is to quarterback Jalen Hurts what Nacua is to Stafford: the number one target.

Brown’s opponent will likely be Ahkello Witherspoon, after his teammate Darious Williams allowed 86 yards against the Eagles star in Week 12. At around 6’2”, the Rams cornerback is probably the best chance of keeping the equally tall Brown in check.

4. Key duel: Ravens vs. Bills Mafia

Yes, the regular season duel went clearly to the Ravens 35-10. Henry (199 yards, one touchdown) and Jackson (156 yards, two touchdowns) were outstanding that day. However, the game took place in Baltimore.

Now the Ravens have to go to Buffalo – and the Bills are undefeated at their own Highmark Stadium this season. They have nine wins and not a single loss. Taking on the Bills Mafia in Orchard Park is a mammoth task. Even for the mighty Ravens.

5. Key duel: Brandon Stephens against Keon Coleman or Amari Cooper

If the weather conditions allow for a decent passing game, wide receivers Keon Coleman and Amari Cooper will be a factor for the Bills. One of them will face Brandon Stephens in each play.

The Ravens’ cornerback lost the duel against rookie Coleman in the Week 4 clash. Will the Bills coaches line him up against Coleman again or will the supposed weak point of Stephens be allowed to tackle the experienced Cooper?