Bills, Josh Allen hold off Ravens in battle of top MVP candidates: Here's what we learned
Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills will meet Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game once again.
Allen led the Bills to a 27-25 victory over the Baltimore Ravens to advance to next week’s conference title game in Kansas City.
In a battle of MVP favorites, Allen’s Bills came out on top. Allen threw for 127 yards. He also had 20 rushing yards and two rushing TDs in the victory.
Ravens star quarterback Lamar Jackson had 254 passing yards, two touchdowns and one interception in the loss.
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Buffalo’s win means they will play the Chiefs in the playoffs for the fourth time in five seasons. The Chiefs knocked the Bills out of the playoffs in the divisional round last year and defeated Buffalo in the 2020 AFC championship game.
The Bills got a little revenge against Kansas City when they beat them 30-21 at home in Week 11 but are aiming for the ultimate revenge denying the Chiefs a chance at a record-straight third Super Bowl title.
Here’s what we learned from the Bills vs. Ravens divisional round matchup:
Bills win the turnover battle
Taylor Rapp had an interception in the first quarter and Damar Hamlin registered a strip sack in the second quarter, which Von Miller recovered.
Terrel Bernard forced a fumble on Mark Andrews midway through the fourth quarter when the Ravens were driving.
The Bills scored 10 points off three Baltimore turnovers.
Buffalo had a league-best plus 24 turnover differential during the regular season. The Bills won the turnover battle 2-1 when they beat Kansas City earlier this season.
MARK ANDREWS DROP: Ravens' TE Mark Andrews drops potential game-tying 2-point conversion in loss vs. Bills
Josh Allen plays efficient, turnover-free football
Allen owns a 7-5 career postseason record. He managed the game well against Baltimore and took what the defense gave him.
The Bills quarterback had 147 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns. He needs a similar type of performance in Kansas City next Sunday. Allen must take shots when it’s there, but most importantly, keep the chains moving.
In the previous meeting against Kansas City, Allen was responsible for 262 passing yards, one touchdown, one interception, plus 55 rushing yards and a rushing TD.
Another tough playoff loss for Lamar Jackson
Jackson engineered what would’ve been a go-ahead touchdown drive, but Andrews coughed up the football.
Late in the fourth quarter, Jackson led Baltimore on an impressive eight-play, 88-yard touchdown drive. He connected with Isaiah Likely to bring the Ravens within two points. On the ensuing two-point conversion attempt, Jackson threw a catchable ball to Andrews for a game-tying two-point conversion, but the tight end mishandled the football.
Two tough plays by the three-time Pro Bowl tight end.
Jackson had two turnovers in the first half and his fumble in the second quarter led to a Bills touchdown.
The Ravens quarterback will be criticized for the loss, but he rebounded after his two first-half turnovers.
Jackson's playoff record falls to 3-5 in his career.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bills vs. Ravens takeaways: Josh Allen, Buffalo win turnover battle
