Buffalo Bills Edge Out Baltimore Ravens in Thrilling AFC Divisional Game
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — In a game that kept fans on the edge of their seats, Josh Allen showcased his dual-threat capabilities by running for two touchdowns, leading the Buffalo Bills to a nail-biting 27-25 victory over Lamar Jackson and the turnover-prone Baltimore Ravens in an AFC divisional game on Sunday.
The Ravens, who were plagued by three turnovers, had a golden opportunity to tie the game in the final moments. However, tight end Mark Andrews dropped a crucial pass from Jackson on a 2-point conversion attempt. Earlier in the quarter, Andrews also lost a fumble, adding to the Ravens’ woes.
Ravens coach John Harbaugh was quick to defend Andrews, saying, “Nobody cares more, and fights more than Mark. We wouldn’t be here without Mark Andrews. … It’s like anything else. Destiny is a decision that you make, and how you handle what comes in life. And Mark will handle it fantastic.”
With this victory, the Bills are set to face Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game. This will mark their fourth playoff matchup in five years. The Chiefs have had the upper hand in their previous encounters, defeating the Bills three consecutive times in the playoffs, including a conference title game four years ago in Kansas City.
Allen’s performance was nothing short of spectacular, scoring on runs of 1 and 4 yards. Ray Davis also contributed with a 1-yard touchdown run. Tyler Bass was perfect on his field goal attempts, including a critical 21-yarder with 3:29 left on the clock after the Bills’ drive stalled at Baltimore’s 2-yard line. This drive was set up by the Ravens’ third turnover, when linebacker Terrel Bernard stripped the ball from Andrews at the Buffalo 44.
The Bills have been a force to reckon with at home, closing their season with a perfect 10-0 record. This impressive run included a 30-21 victory over the previously unbeaten Chiefs in Week 11.
Despite having one of the NFL’s most productive offenses during the regular season, the Ravens fell short of reaching the conference title game, which they lost to the Chiefs a year ago. The spotlight on Jackson’s playoff performances will only intensify as he now holds a 3-5 record in the postseason. In this game, he had two first-half turnovers, throwing an interception and losing a fumble. Overall, Baltimore’s record in the divisional round fell to 5-8, including 1-4 in their last five appearances.
Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton summed up the game succinctly, saying, “At the end of the day, the chips didn’t fall our way.”
Meanwhile, the Chiefs (16-2) had the luxury of watching the drama unfold after securing their spot in the AFC championship game with a 23-14 victory over the Houston Texans on Saturday. Mahomes threw for 177 yards and a touchdown to Travis Kelce, who had seven catches for 117 yards, with girlfriend Taylor Swift and WNBA star Caitlin Clark watching from a suite.
This will be the seventh consecutive AFC championship game for Mahomes, Andy Reid, and the Chiefs. They have a 4-2 record in these games and have won three Super Bowls, including two in a row. Kansas City is aiming to become the first team in NFL history to achieve a three-peat in the Super Bowl era.
The Bills (15-4) have a 4-2 record in AFC title games but are 0-4 in the Super Bowl, having lost four consecutive times from the 1990-93 seasons. According to ESPN BET, Buffalo opened as 1-point underdogs, and the total opened at 48.5 points.
Reflecting on the game, Allen said, “We gave our defense a chance to go make a play. We made a play there at the end. I’m just so proud of our guys.”
- Josh Allen: 2 rushing touchdowns
- Mark Andrews: 1 fumble, 1 dropped 2-point conversion
- Buffalo Bills: 10-0 home record
- Baltimore Ravens: 3 turnovers
- Kansas City Chiefs: 16-2 record
Originally Written by: ESPN.com
