Josh Allen heard fans chanting “MVP! MVP!” in his honor, but the Buffalo quarterback credited his entire team after the Bills’ hard-fought 27-25 victory over Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens in the divisional playoff round on Sunday night.
The win ended a streak of three straight playoff losses at this stage and sent Buffalo to the AFC Championship game against the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs next Sunday.
This year’s Buffalo team was seen as lacking depth on both offense and defense. However, it wasn’t just one player or unit that led to the win. It was the entire team working together.
“What a complete win,” Allen said. “All year, this team has heard we’ve got no talent, we’re too small, we can’t stop the run, we’re not good enough to compete. We’ve just put our head down and worked hard. I’m so proud of our defense. I’m so proud of our offense and special teams.”
Allen scored two touchdowns on the ground, rushing for 1-yard and 4-yard touchdowns. But he only threw for 127 yards and ran for 20. The Bills’ offense totaled 273 yards, and rookie Ray Davis also scored with a 1-yard touchdown run.
Buffalo’s defense, which had struggled earlier in the season, played a big role in the win. In Week 4, the Bills allowed 271 rushing yards in a 35-10 loss to Baltimore. This time, they allowed 176 rushing yards and 416 total yards but forced three turnovers.
“We were motivated all week, man,” said linebacker Terrel Bernard, who forced and recovered Mark Andrews’ fumble to set up a 21-yard field goal by Tyler Bass with 3:29 left. “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 game came down to crucial mistakes. On a snow-slicked field, the Ravens made more mistakes than the Bills. The turning point came when Andrews, who is known for his reliability, dropped a 2-point conversion pass from Jackson with 1:33 left.
The ball bounced off his chest, leaving Baltimore trailing. Jackson had earlier connected with Isaiah Likely for a 24-yard touchdown, giving the Ravens a chance to tie it up. Afterward, Baltimore tried an onside kick, but Bills cornerback Rasul Douglas fielded the ball cleanly, securing the win.
Buffalo finished the season 10-0 at home, including a 30-21 win over the previously unbeaten Chiefs in Week 11. Now, the Bills will face Kansas City, a team that has eliminated them twice in the past four years. The most memorable loss came three years ago when the Bills blew a three-point lead in the final 13 seconds of regulation, losing 42-36 in overtime.
“We know what they are. They’re the perennial of what you want to be in the NFL,” Allen said. “You’ve got to beat them to get past them. So, you know, we’re going to enjoy this one tonight.”
On the other hand, the Ravens had one of the NFL’s top offenses during the regular season but fell short of reaching the conference title game. Jackson’s playoff record now stands at 3-5, and his performance will continue to be questioned. He fell to 1-5 in playoff games when committing turnovers.
“We got to get over this, because we’re right there,” Jackson said. “I’m tired of being right there. We need to punch in that ticket.”
The Ravens’ playoff struggles continued, as they are now 5-8 in the divisional round, including 1-4 in their last five such games.
Jackson finished 18 of 25 for 254 yards and two touchdowns, including a 16-yard pass to Rashod Bateman on the Ravens’ opening drive.
In the battle between MVP candidates, Jackson committed two costly turnovers: an interception and a fumble. Meanwhile, Allen had his 11th turnover-free game of the season.
“It was uncharacteristic to have turnovers like that. There were opportunities for us to not have those, but we had them,” said Ravens coach John Harbaugh. “You try to bounce back from them in the course of the game. You can’t take them back.”
Andrews did not speak to the media after his critical drop but received plenty of support from his teammates.
“One play doesn’t define anybody. He’s the all-time leading touchdown receiver in Ravens history,” said safety Kyle Hamilton. “He’s been a consistent beacon of success the whole time he’s been here.”
The Bills played well-rounded football, which helped them match a franchise record with 13 regular-season wins. They became the first NFL team to score 30 touchdowns both passing and rushing, and they achieved this without a single receiver gaining 900 yards. Buffalo also finished the regular season with the league’s best turnover differential, at plus-24.
“The mindset is what it’s all about,” said coach Sean McDermott. “These guys believed, played to win, and you find a way, right?”
Buffalo’s defense played well, limiting Derrick Henry to 84 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries, after he had rushed for a season-high 199 yards in Week 4.
Allen’s 1-yard touchdown run in the second quarter gave the Bills a 14-7 lead. The play was set up by a fumble from Jackson, who had trouble securing a high snap. After gaining control, Jackson tried to scramble forward but lost the ball when safety Damar Hamlin grabbed his ankle. Von Miller recovered the fumble and took it to the Baltimore 24-yard line.
The Ravens failed on both of their 2-point conversion attempts. On the first, linebacker Matt Milano batted down Jackson’s pass after Henry’s touchdown made it 21-19.
