ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Josh Allen heard the “MVP!” MVP!” Chants were directed at him from the stands, but the Buffalo quarterback deflected the credit after the Bills’ hard-fought victory in the divisional playoff round.
This season’s Bills were thought to be thin on both sides of the ball. And it wasn’t a single player or unit that helped Buffalo beat Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens 27-25 on Sunday night, ending its three-game losing streak to this point in the playoffs and play double. the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game next Sunday.
It was everyone.
“What a complete victory,” Allen said. “All year this team heard that we had no talent, that we were too small, that we couldn’t stop the run, that we weren’t good enough to compete. We just put our heads down and worked hard. I’m so proud of our defense. I am so proud of our offense and our special teams.
Allen rushed for touchdowns of 1 and 4 metersbut he threw for just 127 yards and rushed for 20. Buffalo finished with a modest 273 yards of offense that included the rookie. Ray Davis scoring on a 1-yard run.
What do you think of this oft-maligned defense, which gave up 271 rushing yards in a 35-10 loss to Baltimore in Week 4?
On Sunday, the Bills allowed 176 rushing yards and 416 total yards to the Ravens, but made up for it by forcing three turnovers.
“We’ve been pumped all week, man,” said linebacker Terrel Bernard, who forced and recovered Mark Andrews’ fumble to set up Tyler Bass’ 21-yard field goal with 3:29 to play. “We put a lot of work into it. And to see the results start to pay off right now, I can’t say enough about this team.
The Bills made fewer mistakes than the Ravens on a snowy field and held on when Andrews, usually safe and wide open, dropped a 2-point conversion pass from Jacksonallowing the ball to bounce off his chest with 1:33 left. Jackson connected with a slide Isaiah Probably for a 24-yard touchdown to give the Ravens a chance to tie.
Baltimore attempted an onside kick and cornerback Rasul Douglas fielded the ball with two jumps.
Buffalo closed out its season 10-0 at home, including a 30-21 victory over the previously undefeated Chiefs in Week 11. The Bills now head to Kansas City, where they have been eliminated twice in the last four recent years – most recently in an unforgettable ending three years ago, when Buffalo blew a three-point lead in the final 13 seconds of regulation and lost 42-36 in overtime.
“We know what they are. They are the sustainability of what you want to be in the NFL,” Allen said. “You have to beat them to overtake them. So, you know, we’re going to enjoy this one tonight.
The Ravens had one of the most productive offenses in the NFL during the regular season, but failed to reach the conference title game, which they lost to the Chiefs a year ago. Scrutiny of Jackson’s postseason performance will only increase as he falls to 3-5 in the postseason.
“We have to get over this, because here we are,” said Jackson, who fell to 1-5 after committing a turnover in the playoffs. “I’m tired of being here. We need to validate this ticket.
Baltimore fell to 5-8 in the divisional round, including 1-4 in its last five.
Jackson finished 18 of 25 for 254 yards and two touchdowns, including a 16-yarder to Rashod Bateman to cap Baltimore’s first possession.
In a showdown between MVP candidates, Jackson lost the turnover battle with an interception and a fumble, while Allen enjoyed his 11th game of the season without a turnover.
“It wasn’t usual to have turnovers like that. There were opportunities for us not to have them, but we had them,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “You try to bounce off them during the game. You cannot take them back.
Andrews did not make himself available after his critical fall, but received plenty of support from his teammates.
“One piece doesn’t define anyone. He’s the all-time greatest touchdown receiver in Ravens history,” said safety Kyle Hamilton. “He has always been a model of success throughout his tenure. »
The Bills relied on complementary football that allowed them to tie a franchise record with 13 regular season wins, become the first NFL team to score 30 passing and rushing touchdowns, and do so without than a receiver gains 900 yards. Defensively, Buffalo finished the regular season with the league’s best plus-24 turnover differential.
“Mindset is what matters,” coach Sean McDermott said. “These guys believed, played to win, and you find a way, right?
The Bills held Derrick Henry to 84 rushing yards and one touchdown on 16 carries after throwing for a game-high 199 yards in Week 4.
Allen’s 1-yard touchdown run with 8:49 left in the second quarter gave the Bills the lead for good at 14-7.
This score was set up by Jackson’s fumble. Facing second-and-10 at the Buffalo 28, Jackson first had to get a high snap. After gaining control, he attempted to rush forward, but lost the ball when safety Damar Hamlin grabbed the quarterback by the ankle.
Von Miller recovered the fumble and was eventually chased down to the Baltimore 24.
The Ravens failed on both 2-point conversion attempts, with linebacker Matt Milano knocking away Jackson’s pass attempt after Henry scored to make it 21-19.
To be continued
The Bills get a rematch of the AFC Championship Game after the 2020 season, which Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs won 38-24. This Kansas City team lost the Super Bowl to Tom Brady and Tampa Bay.
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