Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, and the Ravens traveled to Orchard Park for a highly anticipated Divisional Round playoff matchup. Buffalo was able to hold onto their lead despite a slow second half, thanks to constant, backbreaking mistakes from Baltimore.
Signs of a Shootout
Baltimore started with the football, and wasted no time trying to establish the run game. However, Buffalo’s defense was surprisingly up to the task, stuffing Henry twice for back-to-back gains of one yard. Jackson was able to scramble for nine to prevent an early punt, and found an open Isaiah Likely for a 39 yard completion two plays later. With plenty of time in the pocket, Jackson connected with Rashod Bateman over the middle for a 16 yard touchdown.
Buffalo responded with a touchdown drive of their own. Facing an early third and long, Allen hit Shakir down the middle of the field for a 34 yard completion. A QB draw on 4th and 2 saw Allen run for seven to move the chains, thanks to a crucial block from Dion Dawkins. James Cook gained 18 yards on his next three carries, then it was rookie Ray Davis who punched it in at the goal line for a one yard touchdown.
Baltimore’s First Mistake
Damar Hamlin got to Henry in the backfield for a loss of one on first down. A blitz by Matt Milano pressured Jackson into an errant throw right into the hands of Taylor Rapp for an interception at midfield. Dalton Kincaid moved the chains with an 11 yard catch. A holding call on Dion Dawkins moved the Bills back 10 yards, although the broadcast and many offensive linemen on Twitter/X disagreed with the flag from the referee. Between the “hold”, and a sack on the next play, Buffalo was forced to punt, unable to capitalize on the turnover.
Baltimore’s Second Mistake
The Ravens eventually found success in the run game, with a 10 yard run from Henry, 20 yards from Justice Hill on two carries, and a 16 yard run from Jackson. DaQuan Jones blew up a play at the line of scrimmage, bulldozing the center and causing Jackson to trip on the foot of his own lineman. Epenesa touched Jackson as soon as the QB fell down for a loss of four yards. Two plays later, Jackson connected with Anthony Miller underneath for 16 yards to move the chains anyway. A high snap from Linderbaum forced Jackson to turn and secure the catch, allowing the blitzing Hamlin to immediately reach the QB. While trying to spin out of the sack, Jackson lost control of the ball. The fumble was scooped up by Von Miller, who ran back 39 yards into Baltimore territory before being chased down by Hill.
This time, Buffalo was able to capitalize on the turnover, with a 13 yard slant to Shakir setting up 1st and Goal. Following a seven yard Cook run, a tush push up the middle got Allen into the endzone for a one yard touchdown.
Bend Don’t Break
Jackson completed a bomb down the middle to Bateman for a 42 yard gain to quickly set up 1st and Goal from the two yard line. However, Buffalo’s defense sent the Ravens in the wrong direction on their next two plays. The defensive line quickly converged on Henry on the 1st and Goal run, with Dorian Williams getting credited for a one yard tackle for loss. On the next play, Greg Rousseau sacked Jackson for a loss of five, setting up 3rd and Goal from the eight yard line. Jackson rolled right and tried to throw a checkdown to Henry, but it was broken up by Taron Johnson. Justin Tucker drilled the 26-yard field goal to make it 14–10.
Baltimore’s defense wasn’t as successful in the redzone on Buffalo’s next drive. Davis carried the Bills into Ravens territory with two runs totaling 25 yards. A critical pass interference call against former Bill Tre’Davious White extended the drive on third down. There was hand fighting from both White and Keon Coleman, although White was grabbing both of the rookie’s arms by the time the ball was close enough to catch. Three plays later, Allen bulldozed up the middle for a four yard touchdown run, pushed into the endzone by Connor McGovern. Buffalo would go into halftime up 21–10 and would receive the second half kickoff.
Struggling in the Third
Despite Buffalo’s opportunity to double-dip out of halftime, the Bills went three and out after two incomplete passes from Allen, including one that hit Kincaid in the hands. Baltimore responded with a field goal, finding more success in the ground game with an 11 yard run by Hill and 12 yard run from Henry. Hill was tackled two yards behind the line of scrimmage by Epenesa, and a delay of game penalty set up 3rd and 17 for the Ravens. Following a gain of just five yards, and a big hit from Milano on Bateman, Tucker kicked a 47-yard field goal to make it a one possession game.
Following a first down to Curtis Samuel, Cook was stuffed on first down, and a short completion to Shakir set up 3rd and 5 from midfield. Allen audibled to a screen pass to Dawson Knox, which went nowhere, setting up fourth down and a punt for Buffalo after a questionable play.
Derrick Henry came alive on Baltimore’s next drive, which was inevitable despite Buffalo’s good job containing him up until that point. Three straight runs of six, three, and 17 moved the Ravens to midfield. A 12 yard out route to Mark Andrews and explosive 22 yard run from Hill moved Baltimore into the redzone. Henry ran for 15 yards to set up 1st and Goal, and he punched it in from five yards out on the next play. On the two point conversion attempt to tie the game, Jackson tried to connect with an open Isaiah Likely running across the goal line, but Milano broke up the pass at the line of scrimmage, barely preserving Buffalo’s lead.
Buffalo’s run game finally found more success with an 11 yard run to the right from Cook, thanks to a great block from Reggie Gilliam to lead the way. A completion over the middle to Shakir set up 3rd and 2 as the third quarter ended, and Ty Johnson was able to move the chains with a four yard carry to start the fourth quarter. Allen couldn’t connect with Amari Cooper on a comeback route along the sideline, and his pass to Shakir over the middle was incomplete with no flag despite early contact, forcing the Bills to settle for a long field goal attempt. Bass was good from 51 yards out to extend Buffalo’s lead.
Baltimore’s Third Mistake
Henry was stuffed on 3rd and 1 by DaQuan Jones, but a tush push with Andrews under center moved the chains. Following a tackle for loss on Hill by Ed Oliver, Jackson found an open Andrews 15 yards downfield. As the tight end tried to juke around Terrel Bernard, the linebacker was able to punch the ball out, and fell right on the football for Buffalo’s third turnover.
A checkdown to Mack Hollins turned into a 12 yard gain, and an illegal use of hands penalty on the Ravens moved Buffalo to Baltimore’s 34 yard line. Allen opted to throw out of an RPO, hitting Coleman on a slant for five yards. A play-action bootleg to Johnson moved the chains with an eight yard gain. After a one yard completion to Samuel, John Harbaugh called Baltimore’s first timeout with 5:55 remaining in the fourth quarter. Cook displayed his patience and shiftiness as he followed blocks from Knox and O’Cyrus Torrence up the middle for an eight yard gain. Allen picked up the first down with his legs on 3rd and 2, and a five yard run two plays later set up 3rd and Goal from the two yard line. The Ravens went all-out to stop the QB-keeper, and they were successful, meeting Allen at the line of scrimmage for no gain. I think the Bills could’ve gotten into the endzone with a tush push, but Joe Brady elected to go with a QB power run out of shotgun. Now, Sean McDermott faced a decision, opting to kick a field goal to go up eight instead of icing the game with a touchdown on 4th and Goal from the two yard line. Bass was good from 21 yards out to make the score 27–19, but the Ravens had 3:29 (and one timeouts) for a potential game-tying drive.
Baltimore’s Fourth, and Final Mistake
A holding penalty on the kickoff led to the Ravens starting back at their own 12 yard line. An eight yard run from Jackson set up third and short, with a checkdown to Hill barely moving the chains. Right before the two-minute warning, Jackson rolled to his right and hit Tylan Wallace across the middle for a 27 yard gain. Cam Lewis actually forced a fumble as he tackled the receiver, but Wallace fell right on the ball before anyone could react. Now past midfield prior to the two-minute warning, the clock was unlikely going to run out on the Ravens. A 19 yard completion to Andrews across the field saw the tight end go out of bounds at Buffalo’s 24 yard line. On the next play, Jackson had plenty of time to throw since Buffalo rushed just three. After dancing around, Jackson finally threw the ball to an open Likely for a 24 yard score. On the game-tying two point conversion attempt, Lamar took the snap and immediately rolled to his right. Mark Andrews got open at the pylon after a legal pick play prevented Hamlin from keeping up with him running across the field. Despite being wide open, the ball was dropped by Andrews! Jackson had thrown the ball a little low, but Andrews had no defenders around him and two hands on the football.
Rasul Douglas recovered the onside kick attempt, and Ty Johnson iced the game with a 17 yard run, sliding in bounds to keep the clock rolling. Buffalo was going to Kansas City.
Afterthoughts
This matchup between the two MVP favorites and two of the best teams in the NFL did not disappoint! Baltimore outgained Buffalo 416 to 273, but some of that had to do with the Bills taking advantage of short fields off of turnovers.
Baltimore’s offense completely flipped the script in the second half, unlocking the run game and driving down the field for a potential game-tying drive. I think Sean McDermott and Bobby Babich deserve a ton of credit for the game plan against the Ravens. Buffalo’s defense did a fantastic job limiting Henry, as he finished the day with just 84 yards. The Bills generated pressure on man blitzes when it was apparent after the first drive that rushing four would not be enough. According to NextGen Stats, the Bills blitzed Jackson on 15 of his 31 dropbacks (48.4%), the highest rate for the Bills since 2021. On those blitzes, Buffalo generated nine pressures (60%), compared to just four pressures without blitzing (25%). We rarely see the Bills blitz or play man coverage, so credit to McDermott and the coaching staff for being willing to switch up your defensive philosophy to counter arguably the greatest backfield duo in NFL history.
The Bills had plenty of opportunities to move the ball in the second half and simply failed to do so. Allen was off on some of his throws, and he also wasn’t asked to do too much, attempting just 22 passes compared to 36 team rushing attempts. It’s refreshing to see the defense step up and play such a big factor in a playoff win, but to win the Super Bowl, Allen will need some flashes of Superman in the next two games.
At the end of the day, the Ravens did just enough to lose and the Bills did just enough to not lose, and sometimes, that’s all it takes.
Game Awards
Offensive Player of the Game: Josh Allen
It wasn’t the QB’s best performance in the playoffs, especially through the air, totaling just 127 passing yards and no touchdowns. But, he added 20 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, and most importantly, didn’t turn the ball over.
Defensive Player of the Game: Damar Hamlin
Hamlin finished the day with a strip sack and eight total tackles, including one on Henry in the open field that probably saved a touchdown. He also tied AJ Epenesa for a team-high two tackles for loss.
MVP: Linebacker Trio – Milano, Bernard, Williams
The Bills were missing their top two linebackers in their first matchup this year against Baltimore, and what a difference that made. Milano tipped the first two-point attempt, keeping Buffalo in the lead, and Bernard’s forced fumble and fumble recovery was the play of the game. I wanted to shout-out Dorian Williams as well, who played about 40% of the snaps to match Baltimore’s personnel with a fullback. He finished with four total tackles, including a tackle for loss on Henry inside the ten yard line.
What’s Next: Bills @ Chiefs 1/26
Buffalo travels to Kansas City for the AFC Championship Game, the first time Buffalo has been in the conference final since the 2020 season. The Bills have a chance to finally best Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid in the postseason, and have a perfect opportunity to do so with an almost fully healthy team versus the weakest KC has ever looked with Mahomes.
Editor’s babble: What a game! Let’s go punch a ticket to the Super Bowl!!! Many thanks to Colin Richey for his contributions to our blog. You can also find Colin on Xwitter @whatthef00tball.
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