Orchard Park, NY – The game was heralded as a final showdown between elite young quarterbacks, but it was the Buffalo Bills’ defense that showed a showcase performance to jump the franchise into its first AFC championship game since 1994.
Bills and Ravens drew 3-3 for 30 minutes, but Bills’ attack came to life to start the third quarter. The defense closed the door on the Ravens when cornerback Taron Johnson scored in a pick-six that went 101 yards in the next series.
Buffalo advances to the next round after a 17-3 victory Saturday night at Bills Stadium. The Bills will play the winner of Sunday’s AFC divisional game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Cleveland Browns.
Here are five instant observations of the historic victory for the Bills.
The defense of accounts continues with the number of Lamar Jackson
Last season, the Bills kept Jackson just 40 yards in 11 runs in a week 14 regular season game. This time, Jackson managed just 34 yards in nine runs a week after accumulating 136 yards on the ground, including a 48 yard touchdown. The defensive plan was the same as last season: stay on your defensive line and try to contain Jackson as much as possible.
Bill’s defensive side, Jerry Hughes, was excellent. Hughes has two sacks and two tackles for a loss to lead the defensive attack against Jackson. Trent Murphy had been a healthy scratch for weeks, but was activated with Darryl Johnson unable to go with a knee injury. Murphy had an important game in which he tracked Jackson as he tried to escape from his pocket and go for a run.
The Bills really prevented Jackson from getting any momentum with his legs. Jackson left the game after the last move of the third quarter after a hit by Murphy and middle linebacker Tremaine Edmunds. Jackson was running back to his own goal line and tried to throw it away, but it was called an intentional ground. Jackson ran into the locker room and did not return because he was enrolled in the league’s concussion protocol. The Bills played mostly nickel packs in defense all season with cornerback Taron Johnson on the field. They reached a 4-3 base with AJ Klein as the third linebacker in this game and it worked to stop Jackson.
Taron Johnson with more heroism
Before Jackson left the game, he had the Ravens about to make Baltimore drop seven points. In a third and 9 in the red zone, Jackson passed again and played over the middle of the field near the goal line. Two Buffalo defenders were in the area and Johnson spotted, intercepted and ran 101 yards to give Bills a two-point lead. Tre’Davious White came out and blocked Jackson to help facilitate the race back. Johnson had a choice of six from 51 yards against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday Night Football in Week 14. The interception return drew an NFL postseason record.
When things are not working, go to Diggs
Throughout the season, Bills quarterback Josh Allen talked about his relationship with Stefon Diggs. He tells the All Pro receiver to open and he will pick up the ball. Bill’s attack failed to sustain any momentum in the first half and was only 1 to 6 in the third down. The Ravens were not putting much pressure on Allen because of his ability to win the blitz all season. They missed a few deep kicks in the first half and Allen seemed determined to do the same for Diggs in the third quarter. He took a 20-yard pass on the second to 16 and then a 3-yard touchdown pass on a short screen near the goal line. Diggs had all the attention of the elite Baltimore cornerback trio of Marlon Humphrey, Marcus Peters and Jimmy Smith. He was confronted with all three at different points in the game and ended up making plays to win the game. He ended with eight 106-yard receptions to lead all recipients in the game. Diggs and James Lofton are the only two receivers in Bills history to pass 100 yards in consecutive playoff games.
Josh Allen, Brian Daboll and the racing game
Allen was a little erratic in the first half, while he was dealing with the strong wind and a Baltimore defense that changed things while playing mostly in the coverage zone. Don “Wink” Martindale’s heavy defense wasn’t pushing as hard as trying to confuse Allen. Bills missed a few deep plays, but also decided not to run the ball in the first half. Devin Singletary had only a 3-yard load in the first half and the Bills were trying to attack only from the air. That changed in the second half, when they started to involve the second year. He finished with just seven runs for 25 yards, but there were some important runs that helped get the chains moving in what turned out to be the victory of the match. Daboll has stood out this season, but it was defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier whose action skyrocketed after his defense’s performance. Frazier has an interview with the Houston Texans coach on Sunday.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7xET25GWmw
Game summary
Score: Accounts 17, Ravens 3
Total net yard accounts: 220
Net Crows Yard Total: 340
Team approving accounts: 188 yards
Team passing Ravens: 190 yards
Team running accounts: 32 yards
Ravens running team: 150 yards
Penalties: 2 beads for 11 yards | Ravens 8 for 59 yards
Possession time: Accounts 23:51 | Ravens 35:33
Points Box
Next: AFC Conference Championship, opponent and playing time to be determined. Post-season CBS NFL bracket here.
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