Buffalo Bills Edge Out Baltimore Ravens in Thrilling Divisional Round Clash
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — In a game that had fans on the edge of their seats, Josh Allen once again proved why he’s one of the most exciting quarterbacks in the NFL. As the Buffalo Bills quarterback galloped into the back of the end zone, he took a moment to soak in the atmosphere, flexing triumphantly towards the stands. This touchdown, following center Connor McGovern, extended the Bills’ lead to 11 points over the Baltimore Ravens during Sunday’s divisional round showdown.
Despite a late rally from the Ravens, the Bills managed to hold on for a nail-biting 27-25 victory, securing their spot in the AFC Championship Game. A crucial moment came when Ravens’ tight end Mark Andrews dropped a would-be 2-point conversion, followed by a successful onside kick recovery by the Bills, sealing the win for Buffalo.
This victory marks the second conference title game appearance for Allen, breaking a streak of three consecutive divisional round losses. While Allen’s passing stats weren’t eye-popping—completing 16 of 22 passes for 127 yards—his leadership on the field was undeniable. He orchestrated the offense to rushing touchdowns on three of their four first-half drives and added eight carries for 22 yards himself.
Running back James Cook contributed significantly with 67 yards on 17 carries, while kicker Tyler Bass nailed two field goals, including a 51-yarder. The Bills’ home record this season was impeccable, going 10-0 and tying their franchise record for most home wins in a season, a feat last achieved in 1990.
Looking ahead, the Bills are set for another postseason clash with the Kansas City Chiefs. This will be the second AFC Championship Game meeting between Allen and Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, with their last encounter in 2020 in Kansas City. The Chiefs have had the upper hand in their previous three playoff meetings.
Buffalo Bills (15-4)
Describe the game in two words: Statement made. The Bills weren’t favored against the Ravens, and there were plenty of questions about how this team measured up to Baltimore. But the Bills answered almost all of them, never giving up the lead after going up 14-7 in the second quarter.
Pivotal play: Bills linebacker Terrel Bernard forced and recovered Mark Andrews‘ fumble in the fourth quarter. With the Bills leading 24-19, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson connected with Andrews downfield, however, after he caught the pass, Bernard punched the ball out and jumped on it. The play not only gave the Bills offense the ball back late in the game, but stopped what would have been a good gain for the Ravens. The play was part of an opportunistic day for the Bills defense, which forced three takeaways against an offense that had just 11 in the regular season.
Troubling trend: Third-down defense. The Bills defense struggled in the regular season on third downs (43.8%, fourth worst) and that trend continued against the Ravens, who converted 7 of 10 third downs. The Ravens’ third-down success helped them mount a second-half comeback. That was showcased by Derrick Henry picking up 17 yards on a third-and-1 in the third quarter. — Alaina Getzenberg
Next game: at Chiefs (6:30 p.m. ET, CBS, Sunday)
Baltimore Ravens (13-6)
Jackson delivered a performance that was unlike any of his this season — but was eerily reminiscent of his playoff struggles.
After committing two turnovers, Jackson will have to wait another year to reach that elusive Super Bowl. He had multiple turnovers for the first time all season, but it follows a trend in the postseason.
This was the fourth playoff game Jackson threw an interception and lost a fumble. The Ravens are 0-4 in those games.
Jackson put Baltimore in position to tie the score with 1:33 left in the game when he hit Isaiah Likely for a 24-yard touchdown pass. But Andrews’ drop on the 2-point conversion sealed the disappointing defeat.
Jackson falls to 1-4 in divisional round and conference championship games. He remains the only two-time NFL Most Valuable Player not to win a Super Bowl.
Troubling trend: The Ravens’ struggles on 2-point conversions. Andrews’ drop stopped the Ravens from tying the score and became an all-too-familiar sight. It was the second failed 2-point conversion for Baltimore in this game, and the Ravens finished the season 1-of-5 on 2-point conversions. The Ravens’ only conversion came on a designed rushing play.
Pivotal play: Jackson’s fumble in the second quarter. With the score tied at 7, it looked like the Ravens were about to take the lead, but another Jackson mistake cost them. After driving to the Bills’ 28-yard line, Jackson pulled in a high snap and then lost his grip on the ball when he tried to escape pressure. The Bills returned the fumble 39 yards and scored on Allen’s touchdown run four plays later. It was only the second time that Jackson has lost a fumble in his past 12 games.
Describe the game in two words: Uncharacteristic mistakes. After setting a team record in 2024 with the fewest turnovers in a season (11), the Ravens turned the ball over three times against the Bills. The last came in the middle of the third quarter when Andrews had the ball punched away around midfield. This was Andrews’ second lost fumble of his seven-year career. — Jamison Hensley
Originally Written by: Alaina Getzenberg,Jamison Hensley
