New York’s Orchard Park. With a 27–25 victory over the Baltimore Ravens in the divisional round on Sunday, Josh Allen ran for two touchdowns, Buffalo’s defense forced three turnovers, and the Bills advanced to the AFC championship game.
When a wide-open Mark Andrews dropped a 2-point conversion pass from Lamar Jackson with 1:33 remaining, letting the ball bounce off his chest, the Bills managed to hold on. The Ravens had an opportunity to tie it when Jackson connected with a sliding Isaiah Likely for a 24-yard touchdown.
The two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City, the top seed in the conference, will face the Bills in the AFC championship game on Sunday. Buffalo ended a three-year streak of divisional round elimination.
Buffalo is accustomed to this battle, having lost to Kansas City in three of the previous four postseasons.
Ray Davis also scored on a one-yard run, while Allen scored on rushes of one and four yards. After the Bills stalled at Baltimore’s 2, Tyler Bass made both of his field goal attempts, including a 21-yarder with 3:29 remaining. The Ravens’ final turnover, in which linebacker Terrel Bernard took the ball away from Andrews at the Buffalo 44, set up that drive.
At home, the Bills finished the season with a perfect 10-0 record. In Week 11, they defeated Kansas City, who had never lost, 30–21.
Despite having one of the most effective attacks in the NFL throughout the regular season, the Ravens lost to Kansas City last year and missed out on a conference title game. Jackson dropped to 3-5 in the postseason, which will only make his playoff performances more scrutinized. In this defeat, he lost a fumble and threw an interception in the first half.
After losing 1-4 in their previous five games, Baltimore dropped to 5-8 in the divisional round.
To get past a patchwork defense and an offense that didn’t have a receiver top 900 yards this season, the Bills kept up their complementary football strategy. Buffalo had the best plus-24 turnover differential in the league at the end of the regular season.
That continued on Sunday, when Allen and the Bills played a game without any turnovers that was merely passable on a sloppy field dusted with snow.
Derrick Henry was restricted to 84 yards rushing and a touchdown on 16 carries by Buffalo’s defense. Henry ran for a season-high 199 yards in Week 4 as the Ravens defeated the Bills 35–10, the most lopsided loss of the season.
Jackson went 18 of 25 for 254 yards and two touchdowns in a game between two MVP contenders.
With 8:49 remaining in the second quarter, Allen’s 1-yard run gave the Bills the lead for good at 14–7. Allen finished 16 of 22 for 127 yards.
Jackson’s blunder set up that score. Jackson had to get a high snap first since he was facing second-and-10 at the Buffalo 28. He tried to rush forward after regaining control, but safety Damar Hamlin grabbed the quarterback by the ankle, causing him to drop the ball.
After catching the fumble, Von Miller was eventually caught at Baltimore’s 24. Four plays later, Allen scored to MVP chants! MVP!
After Henry scored to tie it 21-19, linebacker Matt Milano batted off Jackson’s throw attempt, ending the Ravens’ two 2-point conversion tries.
Jackson connected Rashod Bateman from 16 yards out as Baltimore drove for a score after the first kickoff.
Injuries
Ravens: Due to a knee injury, star wide receiver Zay Flowers missed both postseason games.
Bills: Security After suffering a hip injury in the second quarter, Taylor Rapp did not return.
Up next
The 2020 AFC championship game, which Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City won 38–24, will be rematched for the Bills.
— AP Sports Writer John Wawrow
