NFL playoffs: Payments edge Ravens in nail-biter to arrange AFC title tilt with Chiefs | NFL

Josh Allen rushed for 2 touchdowns, Buffalo’s protection pressured three turnovers and the Payments superior to the AFC championship recreation with a 27-25 win over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday evening.

The Payments held on when a wide-open Mark Andrews dropped a two-point conversion cross from Lamar Jackson, permitting the ball to bounce off his chest with 1:33 left. Jackson had related with a sliding Isaiah Doubtless for a 24-yard landing on the earlier play to present the Ravens an opportunity to tie.

The Payments superior to the AFC championship recreation subsequent Sunday towards the convention’s prime 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, who’ve been eradicated by Kansas Metropolis in three of the previous 4 postseasons. The Payments closed their season an ideal 10-0 at house. That included a 30-21 win over the beforehand unbeaten Chiefs in Week 11.

Allen scored on runs of 1 and 4 yards whereas Ray Davis additionally scored on a one-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 two-yard line. That drive was arrange by the Ravens’ third turnover, when linebacker Terrel Bernard stripped the ball from Andrews on the Buffalo 44.

“How about that Buffalo Payments protection?” stated Allen, the Payments’ potential MVP quarterback. “All yr, this crew has heard we’ve received no expertise, we’re too small, we will’t cease the run, we’re not adequate to compete. We’ve simply put our head down and labored arduous. I’m so happy with our protection. I’m so happy with our offense and particular groups. What a whole win.”

The Ravens had one of many NFL’s most efficient 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 improve as he fell to 3-5 within the postseason. He had two first-half turnovers on this loss, throwing an interception and shedding a fumble, though opinions would have been totally different if Andrews had clung on to the two-point conversion.

“No one cares extra, and fights greater than Mark,” the Ravens’ head coach, John Harbaugh, stated of Andrews. “We wouldn’t be right here with out Mark Andrews … It’s like the rest. Future is a call that you just make, and the way you deal with what is available in life. And Mark will deal with it implausible.”

Baltimore fell to 5-8 within the divisional spherical, together with 1-4 of their final 5 appearances.

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 to see them advance.