In Louisville, Kentucky, the 2023 NFL Playoffs Divisional Round has concluded, ushering in the Conference Championships where teams are just one victory away from reaching Super Bowl LVIII. Among the 11 former Louisville football players initially on the rosters of the 14 playoff-clinching teams, only three remain in the final four. Quarterbacks Lamar Jackson and Malik Cunningham, both part of the AFC’s top-seeded Baltimore Ravens, secured a 34-10 victory over the No. 4 Houston Texans last Saturday, earning the organization its first AFC Championship appearance since 2012.
On the NFC side of the bracket, the remarkable journey continues for quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and his No. 3 Detroit Lions. They secured a 31-23 victory over the No. 4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, propelling them to their first NFC Championship appearance since 1991. Despite a playoff record of just 1-3, quarterback Lamar Jackson needed an outstanding playoff performance, and he delivered precisely that. Jackson completed 16 of 22 pass attempts for 152 yards and two touchdowns, in addition to rushing 11 times for 100 yards and two more scores. Meanwhile, Malik Cunningham, who joined the Ravens a little over a month ago, did not see playing time in Baltimore’s win over Houston. Similar to the regular season, Teddy Bridgewater also remained on the sidelines during Detroit’s triumph over Tampa Bay.
Lamar Jackson had an outstanding 2023 season, solidifying his position as the clear frontrunner for this season’s MVP—potentially his second, having previously won it in 2019. He achieved a career-high 67.2 completion percentage and threw for 3,678 yards, marking another career-best. Jackson demonstrated impressive efficiency with 24 touchdown passes and just seven interceptions. On the ground, he showcased his dual-threat capability, rushing for 821 yards and scoring five touchdowns.
Malik Cunningham began the 2023 season with the New England Patriots but experienced a journey between their practice squad and active roster before being signed by the Ravens last month. Despite his rookie status, Cunningham has seen limited action, playing only six snaps in the Patriots’ week six matchup against the Raiders.
Teddy Bridgewater has been primarily on the sidelines throughout the season, serving as the main backup to Jared Goff. He played in just one game this season, rushing twice for negative-two yards in Detroit’s week five game against the Panthers. Bridgewater disclosed earlier in the year that he plans to retire after the season.
The AFC Championship between the Ravens and the No. 3 Kansas City Chiefs is scheduled to take place at M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday, January 28, at 3:00 p.m. EST, airing on CBS. Following that, the NFC Championship will see the Lions journey to Levi’s Stadium to face the No. 1 San Francisco 49ers at 6:30 p.m. EST on FOX.
