- The Buffalo Bills defeated the Baltimore Ravens 27-25
- The Bills advance to the AFC Championship for the first time since 2020
- Ravens’ tight end Mark Andrews lost a fumble and dropped a 2-point conversion
Our Ravens vs Bills Divisional Round recap analyzes Buffalo’s two-point win over Baltimore. The Bills advance to the AFC Championship to play the Chiefs in Kansas City.
The opening odds have KC as a 2-point favorite to beat Buffalo and advance to Super Bowl LIX.
Ravens’ Sure-Handed Tight End Was Not So Sure-Handed
The Ravens scored a touchdown on the opening drive when Lamar Jackson hit Rashod Bateman with a 16-yard pass. Buffalo responded with a touchdown drive of its own. After that, Baltimore was playing catchup the rest of the game.
Jackson threw an uncharacteristic interception but was otherwise efficient, completing 18 of 25 passes for 254 yards and 2 TDs. The Bills’ strategy centered on containing the Ravens’ running game of Derrick Henry and Jackson. They largely succeeded holding Henry to 84 yards on 16 carries and Jackson to 39 yards on six carries. Justice Hill carried six times for 50 yards.
The reliable veteran Andrews — a three-time Pro Bowler and one-time All-Pro — had perhaps the worst big game of his life. With Baltimore trailing 24-19 with just over 12 minutes to go in the game, they were driving into Buffalo territory when Andrews caught a pass from Jackson at the Bills 44. Buffalo linebacker Terrel Bernard punched it out of Andrews’ grasp and the Bills recovered.
Buffalo kicked a field goal to make the score 27-19.
Still, Baltimore had its chance with 3:23 remaining. Starting from the Ravens’ 12-yard line, Jackson pulled his version of John Elway and marched down the field, hitting Isaiah Likely for a 24-yard TD with 1:44 remaining. The two-point conversion would have tied it. But…
Buffalo ran out the clock.
Despite the Ravens defending their teammate, Andrews needs to catch that ball — period. There are no ifs, ands, or buts.
Buffalo’s Conservative Game Plan Was Key
In the 20-degree, snowy Buffalo weather, the Bills played it safe. Josh Allen completed 16 of 22 passes for 127 yards. He rushed 10 times for 20 yards and scored two TDs.
They stuck to the ground with James Cook rushing for 67 yards on 17 carries, Ray Davis 4 for 29 yards and a TD, and Ty Johnson 5 for 31 yards — 17 of which came on the final drive before Allen kneeled.
The Bills did not turn the ball over while Baltimore turned it over three times. Combining the drops and the turnovers, Baltimore managing to get in position to tie the game was borderline miraculous.
Super Bowl LIX Is in the Bills’ Sights
Kansas City eliminated Buffalo in 2020, 2021 and 2023. They are the monolith standing in the Bills’ way. Buffalo has not been to a Super Bowl since its fourth consecutive loss in the Big Game in 1993. That’s more than three decades, for those counting.
But the Bills beat KC in Week 11 in Buffalo, 30-21. It ruined the Chiefs’ run at the NFL‘s Holy Grail: an undefeated season. The Bills held Patrick Mahomes to 196 yards passing and intercepted him twice. He did throw 3 TD passes. Allen’s ground game was a major factor with 12 rushes for 55 yards.
This is the AFC’s marquee matchup as Buffalo hopes to stop the Chiefs’ chance at a third straight Super Bowl and a linear dynasty. As our Ravens vs Bills Divisional Round recap shows, if Buffalo adheres to its plan, they have a good chance of being the AFC’s representative in Super Bowl LIX.
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