ORCHARD PARK, NY (WKBW) — For the first time since the 1993-94 season, the Buffalo Bills are headed to the AFC Championship game. The no. 2 Bills topped the no. 5 Ravens 17-3 Saturday night to move one step closer toward playing for a Super Bowl title.
Game recap
After the Ravens finished their first two drives with a missed field goal and a punt, the Bills were able to finally take advantage with less than five minutes left in the 1st quarter. Starting at the Ravens 38-yard line, the Bills entered the red zone thanks to a roughing the passer penalty and finished the drive with a 28-yard field goal from Tyler Bass to get on the board first and take a 3-0 lead after one quarter of play.
Each team continued to struggle to get anything going in the 2nd quarter with Tyler Bass missing his first field goal of the game, and Justin Tucker missing his second. Tucker would eventually connect with just seconds left on the clock to make it a 3-3 game heading into the locker room. It was the first time the Bills didn't lead at the half since Week 7 when they trailed the NY Jets 10-6.
On their first drive of the second half, the Bills finally found the end zone. Josh Allen found his favorite target, Stefon Diggs, for the short touchdown pass [his 10th TD reception this season] to take a 10-3 lead.
Just what we needed. 😏
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) January 17, 2021
📺 #BALvsBUF: https://t.co/VqXMJDH1vI pic.twitter.com/7mFM8iWyeT
Just as the Ravens were trying to tie things up, the Bills defense came up in a monster way. Jackson, looking to the end zone, was intercepted by Taron Johnson who took it 101 yards back the other way for the pick-six to give the Bills a 17-3 lead.
TARON JOHNSON PICK SIX‼️
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) January 17, 2021
📺 #BALvsBUF: https://t.co/VqXMJDH1vI pic.twitter.com/WjuPWerVod
On Baltimore's next drive, QB Lamar Jackson was tackled in the end zone [intentional grounding call] and ended up leaving the game. The Ravens listed him "in concussion protocol" and didn't return to the game.
After Bass missed his second field goal of the night Tyler Huntley, filling in for the injured Jackson, got deep in Bills territory. But on 4th and goal, the Bills defense came up with a big stop, keeping them off the board.
By the numbers
Allen finished the day going 23-for-37 for 206 yards and a touchdown. Stefon Diggs led the Bills receiving game with eight catches for 106 yards and a touchdown while John Brown caught eight passes for 62 yards.
The Bills run game was extremely quiet compared to the Ravens [150 yards], finishing with just 35 yards on the ground on 16 carries. They didn't call a run play until late in the 2nd quarter with just a few minutes left on the clock.
Defensively, the Bills racked up 66 total tackles [six tackles for loss], eight QB hits, four sacks, and a pick-six.
Up next
The Bills will learn who their AFC Championship Game opponent will be Sunday evening after the Kansas City and Cleveland game.
