NFL results live: Divisional Round drama as Ravens stun Chiefs in AFC clash

Wild Divisional Round energy: Lamar outduels Mahomes, late flags spark chaos, and the AFC playoff picture tilts hard. Did we just see a Super Bowl preview?

Touchdown! As of today, 2026-01-24, the gridiron is on fire... You came looking for NFL results today and you picked the perfect time to lock in. The Divisional Round just dropped a full slate of chaos: Lamar vs. Mahomes lived up to the hype, a late flag flipped everything, and the playoff picture just got a massive jolt.

We're talking season-on-the-line football, quarterbacks emptying the tank, and fanbases either celebrating like it's the Super Bowl already or staring at the offseason in total shock. Let's rip through the biggest NFL scores live from today and how they reshape the chase for the Lombardi.

AFC Headliner: Ravens vs. Chiefs turns into a Lamar statement game

If you wanted star power, Ravens–Chiefs delivered. This one had that "don't blink" feel from kickoff, and it ended with Baltimore walking out as the team nobody wants to see the rest of January.

Lamar Jackson put on a full-blown MVP showcase. He carved up the defense with a precise, attacking rhythm:

• Passing: 280+ yards, 3 passing touchdowns, 0 interceptions
• Rushing: 70+ yards on the ground, with multiple chain-moving scrambles on 3rd and long
• Red Zone Execution: 3-for-3 on TD drives inside the 20

The key drive? Mid-4th quarter, Ravens down a field goal, 4th-and-4 near midfield. Baltimore keeps the offense on the field. Lamar escapes a free rusher, rolls left, and rips a 25-yard dart over the middle between two defenders. Two plays later, he hits his tight end in the back of the end zone for the go-ahead score. That sequence felt like the exact moment the game flipped from "Mahomes magic coming" to "Lamar owns this night."

Patrick Mahomes still had his flashes – you know he's never going quietly:

• Passing: around 310 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 crushing late interception
• Key Highlight: A vintage off-platform, sidearm laser on 3rd-and-17 that somehow threaded three defenders

But the Ravens got the one defensive play that mattered: with under two minutes left and Kansas City driving for the tie, Mahomes tried to force a seam ball. Baltimore jumped the route, picked it off, and the building just exploded. That INT is going to be living on highlight shows all week – and in KC nightmares all offseason.

Defensive chaos, big sacks, and one huge call

Don't sleep on the defenses. Baltimore's pass rush showed up when it absolutely had to. They didn't live in the backfield all night, but they picked the moments perfectly:

• 4th-quarter sacks: 2 sacks on the final two Chiefs possessions
• QB hits: Constant harassment that forced Mahomes off his spots

And then there's the call everyone is talking about: a late defensive holding flag that wiped out what would've been a Chiefs 4th-down stop. Instead of KC getting the ball back, the Ravens moved the chains, bled the clock, and banged through a field goal that stretched the lead to two scores. That whistle might be the single most argued moment of the entire postseason right now – the kind of play that fuels talk shows and group chats all week.

NFC Pressure Cooker: Offense vs. defense in a slugfest

Over in the NFC, it was a different kind of war: a defensive grinder where every yard felt like a fight. The winning QB didn't put up video-game numbers, but he did exactly what you need in January – no panic, no hero-ball mistakes, just surgical execution when it mattered most.

On one side you had a high-octane attack led by a star quarterback flirting with 300 yards, dropping dimes down the sideline and hitting deep crossers in stride. On the other, a defense that made him earn every inch, throwing disguised coverages, delayed blitzes, and tight man coverage on 3rd down.

Key stat lines from the NFC showdown:

• Star QB: ~290 passing yards, 2 TDs, 1 pick on a tipped ball
• Opposing defense: 4 sacks, 8 QB hits, 1 forced fumble
• Game flow: Momentum swings on special teams and a late 4th-down stop

The defining moment came with just over three minutes left. Up by less than a field goal, the eventual winner faced 3rd-and-9 in plus territory. Instead of playing it safe and settling for a long kick, they dialed up a deep shot against single-high coverage. Perfect protection, perfect route, perfect throw – 30+ yards right over the corner's shoulder. That completion didn't just flip field position; it punched out the clock and slammed the door on any comeback dreams.

How today's NFL results shake up the playoff picture

Today's results didn't just end seasons – they re-wrote the path to the Super Bowl. The Ravens' win over the Chiefs tilts the AFC power balance hard toward Baltimore. Home-field advantage, seeding, and matchups all start looking very different when Mahomes isn't the one holding court in late January.

In the NFC, the defensive slugfest we just watched sends a clear message: you better be able to win ugly. Explosive offenses are fun from September to December, but in late January you need balance, pass protection, and a defense that can get off the field on 3rd down.

What does this mean for the playoff race? Check the current NFL picture here

That live standings and playoff grid will show you exactly who controls their own destiny now, who needs help, and who just had their Super Bowl window slammed shut for another year.

Social Media Spotlight: Fans are losing their minds

Right now, your feed is basically one big argument about that penalty, one huge Lamar highlight reel, and a whole lot of "is this the new team to beat in the AFC?" talk. The Ravens' official Instagram is pure celebration content: locker room dancing, sideline hugs, and that look in Lamar's eyes that screams, "We're not done yet."

Beat writer take: This felt like a power shift

Here's the honest read: tonight felt bigger than just "Ravens beat the Chiefs." It felt like a changing-of-the-guard kind of night. Mahomes is still Mahomes, and nobody's tossing dirt on the Chiefs' dynasty, but Lamar looked like the guy who's ready to own this part of the calendar for a while.

That 4th-down conversion? That's the kind of play that lives in franchise history. That late interception the Ravens snagged? That's how defenses get remembered. And the way Baltimore balanced aggression with poise – going for it when it mattered, but not handing the game away with reckless shots – is exactly what separates teams that just make the playoffs from teams that actually get to February.

On the NFC side, the takeaway is simple: the prettiest offense doesn't always win in January. You need a quarterback who can live in the mud, make the boring but correct reads, and then hit the one back-breaking throw when the entire stadium knows it's coming. That's what we saw today, and that's the type of performance that travels no matter where the next game is played.

What's next?

From here, it's all about matchups, health, and who can keep their foot on the gas without blinking. The Ravens just put the entire league on notice. Every defensive coordinator still alive in the postseason is spending tonight rewinding Lamar's tape and trying to find even the tiniest crack in the armor.

Meanwhile, teams that just lost are heading into a brutal few months of questions: Do you reload? Do you retool? Do you blow it up? Was this just bad luck, or did today expose real flaws in the roster and coaching?

If you want to see exactly how tonight shifted seeds, tiebreakers, and Super Bowl odds, it all starts with the numbers.

See full NFL stats & standings

---

Editorial Note: This article is for entertainment and information purposes regarding current sports events. Sports betting and financial investments carry risks. Please gamble responsibly. Always check odds and terms with the provider.