ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Josh Allen rushed for 2 touchdowns, Buffalo’s protection compelled three turnovers and the Payments superior to the AFC championship recreation with a 27-25 win over the Baltimore Ravens within the divisional spherical on Sunday night time.
The Payments held on when a wide-open Mark Andrews dropped a 2-point conversion move from Lamar Jackson, permitting the ball to bounce off his chest with 1:33 left. Jackson linked with a sliding Isaiah Doubtless for a 24-yard landing to provide the Ravens an opportunity to tie it.
“How about that Buffalo Bills defense?” stated Allen, the Payments’ potential MVP quarterback. “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. What a complete win.”
The Payments will play for the AFC title subsequent Sunday towards the convention’s high seed, the two-time defending Tremendous Bowl champion Kansas Metropolis Chiefs. Buffalo snapped a three-year run of being eradicated within the divisional spherical.
It’s a well-recognized matchup for Buffalo, which has been overwhelmed by Kansas Metropolis in three of the previous 4 postseasons.
Allen scored on runs of 1 and 4 yards whereas Ray Davis additionally scored on a 1-yard run. Tyler Bass hit each discipline aim makes an attempt, together with a 21-yarder with 3:29 left after the Payments stalled at Baltimore’s 2. That drive was arrange by the Ravens’ ultimate turnover, when linebacker Terrel Bernard stripped the ball from Andrews on the Buffalo 44.
The Payments closed their season an ideal 10-0 at residence. That included a 30-21 win over the beforehand unbeaten Chiefs in Week 11.
“We know what they are. They’re the perennial of what you want to be in the NFL,” Allen stated. “You’ve got to beat them to get past them. So, you know, we’re going to enjoy this one tonight.”
The Ravens had one of many NFL’s best offenses within the common season however fell a win wanting reaching the convention title recreation, which they misplaced to the Chiefs a yr in the past. Scrutiny of Jackson’s playoff performances will solely improve as he fell to 3-5 within the postseason. He had two first-half turnovers on this loss, throwing an interception and dropping a fumble.
Baltimore fell to 5-8 within the divisional spherical, together with 1-4 in its final 5.
“It was uncharacteristic to have turnovers like that. There were opportunities for us to not have those, but we had them,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh stated. “You try to bounce back from them in the course of the game. You can’t take them back.”
Andrews didn’t make himself accessible following the sport, however obtained loads of help from his teammates.
“One play doesn’t define anybody. He’s the all-time leading touchdown receiver in Ravens history,” security Kyle Hamilton stated. “He’s been a consistent beacon of success the whole time he’s been here.”
The Payments continued taking part in complementary soccer to beat a patchwork protection and an offense that didn’t have a receiver attain 900 yards this season. Buffalo completed the common season with a league-best plus-24 turnover differential.
That continued on Sunday with a turnover-free recreation from Allen and the Payments that was simply adequate on a discipline that was slick with a dusting of snow.
Buffalo’s protection held up, limiting Derrick Henry to 84 yards dashing and a landing on 16 carries. In Week 4, Henry had a season-best 199 yards dashing within the Ravens’ 35-10 win — the Payments’ most lopsided defeat of the season.
In a matchup of MVP candidates, Jackson went 18 of 25 for 254 yards and two touchdowns.
Allen went 16 of twenty-two for 127 yards and his 1-yard run with 8:49 left within the second quarter gave the Payments the lead for good at 14-7.
That rating was arrange by Jackson’s fumble. Dealing with second-and-10 on the Buffalo 28, Jackson first needed to safe a excessive snap. After gaining management, he tried to scramble ahead, solely to lose the ball when security Damar Hamlin grabbed the quarterback by the ankle.
Von Miller scooped up the fumble and was lastly chased down at Baltimore’s 24. Allen scored 4 performs later to chants of “MVP! MVP!”
The Ravens failed on each 2-point conversion makes an attempt, with linebacker Matt Milano batting down Jackson’s move try after Henry scored to make it 21-19.
Baltimore took the opening kickoff and drove for a landing, with Jackson hitting Rashod Bateman from 16 yards out.
