Two of the most exciting quarterbacks in the NFL — and the leading contenders for the league's MVP award — will go head-to-head in the playoffs when the Buffalo Bills host the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, who could receive his third MVP award, faces the Bills' Josh Allen in a divisional round clash with a place in the AFC championship game at stake.

Both players epitomize the modern preference for quarterbacks who can not only throw with pinpoint accuracy but can also be a threat running the ball.

Allen rushed for 15 touchdowns in 2023, and shares the single-season record for most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback with the Philadelphia Eagles' Jalen Hurts, who ran for the same amount in the same season.

Jackson, meanwhile, has the most career rushing yards of any quarterback in NFL history with 6,173.

"It's the battle of two heavyweights," Buffalo defensive end Von Miller said.

"This is why the NFL is the greatest league in the world, because you get matchups like this, and you get quarterbacks like this going against each other."

The pair faced each other in Week 4, with the Ravens winning 35-10.

Allen believes the Bills have put that loss behind them.

"Learned a lot from those moments," Allen said. "Going back and watching it, obviously wasn't our best effort. Felt like we didn't play our best football. But, they got a really good team too. They're playing this week for a reason."

Baltimore lost its first two games of the year but has lost just three times since then and ended the regular season on a four-game winning streak. The Ravens opened the playoffs with a convincing 28-14 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the wild-card round last weekend.

"Their defense, the last really 10 weeks has been superb," Allen said. "Their offense is fantastic as well. They got a lot of studs over there, led by Lamar, and it's a tough team to play regardless."

Both quarterbacks entered the league via the 2018 draft, and Jackson has plenty of admiration for Allen's ability to adapt on the field.

"His uniqueness of making things happen when plays break down, strong arm, make any throw on the field," he said of Allen's strongest attributes.

For neutral fans, the way Allen and Jackson play ensures the contest will be an exciting one. Ravens head coach John Harbaugh says they represent the "new normal" of athletic, mobile quarterbacks.

"It seems like most guys now are kind of like that," Harbaugh said.

"I mean, they're kind of everywhere now. It seems like more the mold now. It used to be breaking the mold, but now it seems like it's becoming the mold."

Allen and the Bills have lost at this stage of the playoffs in each of the past three seasons, although they beat the Ravens in the divisional round in 2020.

Baltimore reached the AFC championship game in 2023, losing to the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Chiefs, looking for a third straight Super Bowl win, host the Houston Texans on Saturday.

After a slightly muted season, the Chiefs, who still dominated the AFC, began resemble the best version of themselves late in the season.

Kansas City had a bye last week as the top seed in the AFC.

The Texans took apart the Los Angeles Chargers last week, with their respected defense playing well and second-year quarterback C.J Stroud leading them to a 32-12 victory.

"That defense is extremely real, they have a great quarterback and a great coach," Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said.

"They get after the quarterback really well, they have great secondary players and the linebackers fly around. It'll be a great challenge for us, and we'll have to play our best football."