NFL PLAYOFFS

DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS Today’s games

AFC: (4) Texans at (1) Ravens, 1:30 p.m., ESPN, Ch. 7

NFC: (7) Packers at (1) 49ers, 5p.m., Ch. 11

Sunday’s games

NFC: (4) Buccaneers at (3) Lions, noon, Ch. 4

AFC: (3) Chiefs at (2) Bills, 3:30 p.m., Ch. 2

INJURIES >> The Ravens will be without cornerback Marlon Humphrey, who has been ruled out because of a calf injury. Tight end Mark Andrews is questionable. He hasn’t played since injuring an ankle in November.

Houston defensive end Jerry Hughes (ankle) is out.

BAD MEMORIES >> This is the second time Baltimore has earned the No. 1 seed in the AFC, but when the Ravens did it four years ago, they lost their playoff opener at home to Tennessee.

Jackson threw for 365 yards and ran for 143 in that game, but he also turned the ball over three times. TAKING IT AWAY >> The Texans were tied for fifth in the NFL in the regular season with a plus-10 turnover differential and continued that success in the wild-card game against Cleveland when they returned two interceptions for touchdowns and didn’t have any giveaways.

Ryans constantly preaches the importance of winning the turnover battle and knows Houston will have to do it again this week to be successful. Baltimore was tied for first in turnover margin this season at plus-12.

“That’s one of the biggest indicators and predictors in wins and losses in the entire NFL,” Ryans said. “No matter when you play, regular season or postseason, the most important thing is taking care of the football and trying to take the ball away.”

NEW ARRIVAL >> Running back Dalvin Cook is expected to make his Ravens debut today after being signed to the team’s 53-man roster. Cook rushed for 1,173 yards with Minnesota last season but did not do much in 15 games with the New York Jets this season.

Baltimore signed him to the practice squad before its regular-season finale earlier this month.

“We’ve seen him in practice,” coach John Harbaugh said. “He looks good, and he’s going to be out there like everybody else trying to do whatever he can do to help us win the game.”

After Dobbins went down, rookie Keaton Mitchell emerged as a speedy big-play threat out of the backfield, but then he was lost to a serious injury of his own.

METCHIE’S PROGRESS >> Houston receiver John Metchie III had a career-high 44 yards receiving in the win over Cleveland last week. While that type of performance might not be a big deal for some players, it was a huge milestone for Metchie after what he’s been through in the past couple of years.

Metchie was drafted in the second round in 2022 but missed his entire rookie season after being diagnosed with leukemia before training camp. He returned after completing treatment and has slowly progressed throughout this season.

He could be more of a factor in today’s game after receiver Noah Brown was placed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury this week.

“He put a lot of time in to make sure he got to where he is now, and that’s not easy,” offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik said. “It’s constant how he’s trying to work, how he’s trying to grow, and it was really awesome to see that bear some fruit there in the game on Saturday . ... What he has done for this team, I think a lot of people have noticed, it’s really been an inspiration to all of us.”