‘Deep breath. The Bills escaped with a 27-25 AFC divisional-round win despite not scoring a second-half touchdown.’
BillsBeat - January 20, 2025
Bills offense not flashy in Sunday's win but establishes run early
‘Overall, it wasn’t an explosive day for the offense. Only seven of the Bills’ 59 plays went for 10 yards or more. The Bills finished with 273 yards compared to the Ravens’ 416. Buffalo has played just three games this season where it finished with fewer total yards. But what mattered were points. Well, and the turnover margin.’
Mark Andrews had the ball. Then he didn't. Inside the Ravens' locker room after their loss to the Bills
‘He didn’t stick around to answer questions about the pass that he dropped on a two-point conversion attempt, which would have tied their AFC divisional playoff game against the Bills with 1:44 left to play. His reaction to his earlier fourth-quarter fumble, which helped the Bills pad their lead, remained a mystery. It will stay that way, at least until the Ravens’ end-of-season media availability.’
Three questions: How critical were the Bills' coaching adjustments against the Ravens?
‘You have to hand it to Bills defensive coordinator Bobby Babich and head coach Sean McDermott. They made changes from their Week 4 blowout loss in Baltimore. They were not going to let Derrick Henry steamroll them again or let Lamar Jackson’s scrambling kill them.’
Takeaways, game balls from Buffalo Bills' 27-25 win over Baltimore Ravens
‘Bills linebacker Terrel Bernard made a huge play with 8:41 left when he forced Andrews to fumble after a 16-yard gain and recovered the fumble at the Bills’ 46. It was Andrews’ first lost fumble since 2019. The Bills ran down the clock to 3:29 and made it 27-19 on Bass’ 21-yard field goal. Coach Sean McDermott sent in Bass instead of going for it on fourth-and-goal from the 2.’
Plays that shaped the game: Damar Hamlin's timely blitz causes big turnover in Bills' victory
‘“We felt like last game our game plan was just sit back and play our defense,” Hamlin said of the Bills’ 31-10 loss to the Ravens in Week 4. “This time we came in with the plan to attack. We were going to die shooting our guns. And we did.”’
Report Card: Run game, special teams come through for Bills in narrow win over Ravens
‘The Bills had fallen short in this round of the playoffs the past three seasons – including the last two at home. Sean McDermott cleared a major hurdle. No, it was not perfect. The offensive game plan felt overly conservative at times, and coordinator Joe Brady would have come under scrutiny had the Bills not found a way.’
Bills convert 3 Ravens turnovers into trip to AFC title game vs playoff rival
‘Well, here we go as the Bills defeated the Baltimore Ravens 27-25 on a night not even an ice cube could enjoy, a pulsating, down to the final minute thriller, and Buffalo will indeed get the chance to exorcize its postseason demons against a dynastic Chiefs team that has ended its season in three of the previous four Januarys.’
Bills report card: Buffalo has luck go its way, holds on for thrilling win over Ravens
‘But when the game’s biggest moment arrived with 1:33 left to play, the Bills benefited from an incredibly fortunate for them and ill-timed for the Ravens muff. Mark Andrews, one of the best tight ends in the league, got wide open at the right front pylon of the end zone and probably 99 times out of 100, he catches the Lamar Jackson that would have completed a game-tying two-point conversion.’
Turnovers make the difference again for Bills’ defense
‘For all the hype about MVP candidate quarterbacks Jackson and Josh Allen facing off, the Bills’ defense had a significant say in the game’s outcome.’
Ravens’ Lamar Jackson has two-word message for Bills’ Josh Allen following divisional round
‘Jackson’s message? Go win.’
Bills defense wins turnover battle, beat Ravens 27-25 (Encouraged/worried)
‘The Ravens struggled to run in the first half, but Derrick Henry and Justice Hill had several runs that went for big gains in the second half.’
Terrel Bernard makes play of his career as Bills eliminate Ravens (Observations)
‘Bernard’s play brought back memories of Taron Johnson’s pick-six in the 2020 playoffs. Jackson threw it into traffic in the end zone, and Johnson came away with it and took it all the way to the house. Bernard’s turnover didn’t put the game away, but it was a massive play when the Ravens were driving and threatening.’
How the Buffalo Bills pulled off stat-defying win over Ravens while major weapon emerged
‘How improbable was the win? The Ravens are the first team in NFL history (regular or postseason) to rush for 175 yards, complete 70% of passes, average 10+ yards per pass, convert 70% or more of third downs, and have no punts or missed field goals. But the Bills still won the game.’
Bills’ Micah Hyde gets his flowers from Damar Hamlin following win over Ravens. Could veteran suit up vs Chiefs?
‘Sean McDermott could not provide any update on Rapp’s hip injury following Buffalo’s win on Sunday. If the injury is severe, Buffalo could sign Hyde or veteran Kareem Jackson to the main roster or simply elevate one of the two players from the practice squad for the AFC Championship Game.’