It was widely understood that the Denver Broncos were not legitimate competition for the Buffalo Bills. Led by the cyborg known as Josh Allen, this year’s possible MVP winner, Buffalo is a seasoned fixture of postseason experience. It is a mainstay of the greater Super Bowl contender conversation.

Lamar Jackson vs. Josh Allen won’t decide the NFL MVP next week. The stakes are higher with a spot in the AFC championship game on the line. Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens (13-5) will visit Allen and the Buffalo Bills (14-4) in the divisional round while Patrick Mahomes and the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs (15-2)

In the cases of both MVP candidates, next week’s divisional round game is not only massive in the obvious sense, but for the prism in which they’re viewed.