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Here we go, then. The AFC Divisional Round playoff games throw up two intriguing clashes this weekend with storylines aplenty.

Firstly, the Houston Texans look to keep their above-expectations season going when they take on the AFC’s No. 1 seed the Baltimore Ravens in the Divisional Playoffs opener on Saturday. C.J. Stroud’s stunning rookie season would write its most impressive chapter yet if he can prevail against the best defense in the NFL while Lamar Jackson is putting up MVP numbers for the hosts.

Then, in Sunday night’s closer, arguably the most-anticipated clash of the round pits the defending champions Kansas City Chiefs against the red-hot Buffalo Bills. Patrick Mahomes has got the better of Josh Allen twice in the postseason in recent years but heads out on the road in the playoffs for the first time ever, and to the home of possibly the hottest team in football right now.

While you’re getting set for the weekend’s AFC action, check out the latest AFC championship odds breakdown.

Here, we detail three special bets that are worth a look for the AFC conference games.

AFC Divisional Round Special bet boost: Lamar Jackson and C.J. Stroud each to record 200+ passing yards (boosted to +140 at Caesars)

Jackson and Stroud meet for the second time this season, this time with an AFC Championship Game berth on the line. Their numbers this season are staggering, with nearly 8,000 passing yards between them in 2023. Jackson threw for 3,678 yards while Stroud racked up over 4,100 in the regular season and added another 274 in the Wild Card win over the Browns last weekend.

Stroud is averaging 273.9 yards this season through 16 games including last weekend, while Jackson is hitting nearly 230 per game. Although these two teams had a defensive battle in a 25-9 Ravens win in Week 1, both quarterbacks and both teams’ overall offenses have come an awful long way since then. Even with the pressure of the occasion, the blustery outdoor conditions, and the defensive excellence on show, Caesars’ price of +140 (boosted from -125) for both QBs to hit 200 passing yards is too good to turn down.

AFC Divisional Round Player Special bet: Rashee Rice and Travis Kelce to combine for 15+ receptions (+225 at DraftKings)

The Chiefs have a tricky task ahead, there’s no doubting that. The Bills have won their last six games, a run that started win a 20-17 win over KC on December 10, and have home advantage in Sunday evening’s clash. But with Mahomes, it’s hard to ever call Kansas City a true underdog. The QB is 12-3 in the playoffs and is unlikely to be too unnerved by playing in Buffalo. His offense has dropped more passes than any other team this season; if they can correct that issue, the likes of Rashee Rice and Travis Kelce will have a slate of looks against an injury-hit Bills defense.

So far this season, Rice has caught 79 passes from 102 targets for 938 receiving yards. He’s averaging 4.9 receptions per game over 16 games played but he had eight catches against Miami last week. Meanwhile, Mr. Taylor Swift, Kelce, has 93 catches from 121 targets, averaging 6.2 receptions per game. This total is a tad high, we’ll admit, but it’s not out of the question if Mahomes and the Chiefs’ primary catchers play to their best.

AFC Divisional Round Player Special bet: Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, and Patrick Mahomes to combine for 5+ passing touchdowns (+150 at FanDuel)

Finally, we’ve already looked at Jackson’s pedigree but it’s worth noting that, while he’s thrown for 24 touchdowns this season, those numbers and his overall consistency rose steadily as 2023 progressed. He hasn’t failed to throw a TD pass in over two months and he’s chucked multiple in his last four games, including three against the Rams and five against the Dolphins.

Meanwhile, Allen has 32 passing TDs in 18 games this season including a treble in last weekend’s Wild Card win over the Steelers, and Mahomes has 28 of his own in 17 outings. These are three quarterbacks who are objectively among the NFL’s most talented crop and getting five passing TDs between them at plus money is a steal. Jackson could get more than half of that tally alone against the Texans’ lackluster aerial defense.

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