Image source, Reuters

The Houston Texans were the surprise package coming into the play-offs. After claiming just three wins last season, they selected quarterback CJ Stroud with the second pick of the 2023 draft and made a big play by trading up to take pass rusher Will Anderson with the third.

The Texans then opened the season with defeat at Baltimore before Anthony Richardson, picked fourth overall by Indianapolis, won the early-season battle of the rookie quarterbacks.

But they were the only back-to-back defeats Houston suffered all season as Stroud and Anderson helped to transform the team's fortunes, with Stroud most impressive in their 39-37 win over Tampa Bay in November. He threw the winning touchdown with just six seconds left, which saw him finish the game with 470 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions.

The Texans ultimately ended the season with a 10-7 record to win the AFC South title for the first time in four years and Stroud continued his record-breaking rookie season with a composed display last week, leading Houston to a 45-14 home win over Cleveland on wildcard weekend.

"You’ve got to worry about him staying in the pocket, getting outside the pocket. He can throw the deep ball. He’s one of the most difficult quarterbacks to guard against when he has weapons. He’s slippery and athletic and can create big plays with his arm and his legs."

Ndamukong Suh, 2021 Super Bowl winner, on Sky Sports talking about Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson

While Lamar Jackson's ability to run the ball has never been in doubt, his passing ability was questioned when he came into the league in 2018.

So after Baltimore opened the 2019 season with a 59-10 win over Miami he quipped "not bad for a running back". He threw five touchdowns, no interceptions and became the NFL's youngest quarterback to achieve a perfect passer rating.

Jackson was named the NFL's Most Valuable Player that season and, speaking in November 2021, Jason Bell and Osi Umenyiora discussed how he had developed into being more of a pocket passer. At that point he seemed on course for another MVP award but a poor finish to the season saw him miss out.

Image source, Reuters

Although Lamar Jackson missed out on a second MVP award for 2021, he's the clear favourite to be this season's MVP.

The 27-year-old was briefly the NFL's highest-paid player last April after signing a new five-year contract with the Ravens worth $260m (£214m) and he's shown he is worthy of that deal. He's relied less on his running game and thrown a career-high 3,678 yards this season, with 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

There could soon be more Irish talent following Dan Whelan into the NFL. This week it was announced that Rory Beggan, Charlie Smyth and Mark Jackson will be leaving Gaelic football to join the NFL's International Player Pathway (IPP).

Compatriot Darragh Leader and Englishman Harry Mallinder will be looking to make the transition from rugby while Wales star Louis Rees-Zammit caused a stir by announcing on the eve of their Six Nations squad announcement that he will be joining the programme too.

They will be among 16 hopefuls training in Florida over the next three months for a chance to join an NFL roster later this year.

Osi Umenyiora
Two-time Super Bowl winner

[Lamar Jackson's play-off record] has been the knock on him for the past few years. He's been outstanding in the regular season but once the play-offs come, he's tended to fall off.

He's been sitting out [the last three weeks], so is he going to be rusty?

There's a lot of pressure on him and the Ravens. They face a young and hungry Texans team and if they can knock the Ravens off, it will put Baltimore's coaching staff and Lamar Jackson in a very difficult situation. They will have some very difficult questions to answer.

Watch last week's highlights as CJ Stroud and the Houston Texans dismantled the Cleveland Browns and their top-ranked defence.

There's a warning for the Ravens in here...

Image source, Getty Images

Welcome back gridiron gang!

Thanks for joining our live coverage from Saturday's two Divisional Round games in the NFL play-offs, and what a couple of humdingers we've got for you.

It's when the big guns enter the fray as the two top seeds play their first play-off games tonight after enjoying a bye last week.

Two of the biggest teams in the league Green Bay and San Francisco go head-to-head later on, creating the most-played fixture in NFL play-off history.

But first, we've got exciting rookie CJ Stroud taking his Houston Texans to the Baltimore Ravens and MVP favourite Lamar Jackson.

Two all-powerful top seeds, two hugely talented and young pretenders, who comes out on top? Keep it right here to find out...