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The Most Valuable Player award may not be handed out this weekend, but for all intents and purposes, the yearlong debate of who is the MVP will be settled on the field Sunday night.
The divisional round wraps up with the most widely anticipated game of the weekend: the Baltimore Ravens vs. the Buffalo Bills.
Lamar Jackson vs. Josh Allen, with a spot in the AFC Championship on the line. The two definitive frontrunners for MVP, Allen and Jackson have both had stellar seasons. The stats support Jackson’s candidacy, but the regular season record and overall lack of help favor Allen. Whoever you ask, the answer is either one of these two quarterbacks, with some fans split 50-50.
These teams faced off in Week 4 this season, meeting in Baltimore rather than Orchard Park, N.Y., the site of Sunday’s matchup. The result favored Baltimore, but both of these teams are quite different from a few months ago, muddling the importance of the early-season contest. Let’s look back at what happened on Sunday, Sep. 29 when the 3-0 Bills met the 1-2 Ravens.
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Bills vs. Ravens first game 2024
First quarter
Buffalo started with possession, controlling the ball and moving to midfield. Baltimore’s defense held strong though and forced a punt which landed at the Baltimore 13-yard line.
Then, King Henry happened. Derrick Henry, the Ravens’ biggest offseason acquisition burst off an 87-yard touchdown run on Baltimore’s first play from scrimmage. M&T Bank Stadium erupted and the world was reminded that there has never been a running back quite like Henry.
DERRICK HENRY TO THE HOUSE ON THE 1ST PLAY 🤯
87 YARDS TD.
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/PG2LE1xyQs
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 30, 2024
On the next drive, Allen found tight end Dalton Kincaid a few times to pick up first downs before eventually settling for a 50-yard Tyler Bass field goal making the score, 7-3 in favor of Baltimore.
Baltimore methodically moved down the field, finding running back Justice Hill for two big pass plays. The Ravens were set up 2nd-and-Goal to start the second quarter.
Second quarter
On the first play of the second quarter, Jackson passed it to Henry on a play-action rollout for the back’s second touchdown of the game. Baltimore extended its lead to 14-3.
Instead of responding with a scoring drive of their own, Buffalo was stifled by Baltimore’s defense, going three-and-out and punting back to the Ravens.
Starting at their own 19, Baltimore went on a 10-play, 81-yard scoring drive. Hill ran for 11 yards, caught a 15-yard pass, and another 19-yard pass for a touchdown. The Ravens had their foot on the throat of Allen and the Bills.
Jackson lofts it to Hill for the 3rd @Ravens TD of the night!
📺: #BUFvsBAL on NBC/Peacock
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/tI1duxgMt6— NFL (@NFL) September 30, 2024
Down 21-3, Buffalo needed something. The Ravens’ defense hounded Allen, forcing a three-play, -5-yard drive, giving possession back to Baltimore.
The Ravens looked poised to go down the field and score again, with a huge pass to receiver Rashod Bateman pushing them into Bills territory. However, Jackson got loose with the ball and fumbled on a scramble, momentarily stopping the bleeding for Buffalo.
The Bills were not able to capitalize on the turnover, only moving the ball 13 yards on six plays before punting at the end of the half. Baltimore entered halftime up 21-3.
Third quarter
Buffalo forced a three-and-out on Baltimore’s first possession of the second half. On the third play of the Bills’ drive, Allen scrambled right and, inches from the sideline, heaved a 52-yard bomb to Khalil Shakir to set up the Bills at the three-yard line. Bills running back Ty Johnson cashed in a touchdown run the next play to make the score 21-10.
HOLY MOLY Josh Allen 🔥
📺: #BUFvsBAL on NBC/Peacock
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/Gr7sW3UkO0— NFL (@NFL) September 30, 2024
The Bills got another stop, forcing a punt from the Baltimore 28-yard line. Punter Jordan Stout flipped the field, setting Buffalo up at its own 19-yard line. Allen and the Bills moved the ball all the way to the Baltimore 44, and it seemed as if Buffalo had all the momentum.
Wide receiver Curtis Samuel lined up in shotgun on second and seven with Allen split out left. Samuel took the snap and ran left flipping it to Allen as he came back toward the center of the field. Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey had burst off the right edge and linebacker Kyle Van Noy stormed the left. The trick play was busted immediately. Instead of throwing it away, Allen rolled back left and, trying to make something happen, was stripped by Van Noy.
.@KVN_03 knocks the ball out of Josh Allen’s hand and the @Ravens recover!
📺: #BUFvsBAL on NBC/Peacock
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/1Q0xIZbyzs— NFL (@NFL) September 30, 2024
The ball was recovered by the Ravens and the rest of the game was theirs. Henry ripped off a 25-yard run and Jackson threw to Hill who picked up 17 on 3rd-and-7 before the MVP favorite rushed it in from nine yards out. Baltimore 28, Buffalo 10.
Allen did not give up. He completed a 25-yard pass to Kincaid and a 21-yard dime to rookie receiver Keon Coleman. The Bills had pushed the ball all the way to the Baltimore 14-yard line before Ravens pass rusher Odafe Oweh sacked Allen for 16 yards on 3rd-and-4.
Fourth quarter
Buffalo elected to attempt a 48-yard field goal to try to cut the lead to 15, but Bass missed wide left keeping the Bills down three scores.
The next drive, Jackson had a 19-yard run before Henry had a 38-yard carry. On the next play, from the one-yard line, Henry tried to punch it in for his third touchdown of the game but the ball came loose. Ravens fullback Patrick Ricard fell on it and Baltimore added another score to go up 25.
The rest of the game was just a formality as the teams exchanged punts. Final score: Baltimore 35, Buffalo 10.
Bills vs. Ravens first matchup 2024 stats
Jackson only threw the ball 18 times, completing 13 passes for 156 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for 54 yards and a touchdown. His backfield partner Henry rushed 24 times for 199 yards and a score and caught another touchdown. Hill had a breakout game with six receptions for 78 yards and a touchdown.
Allen was 16-of-29 through the air for 180 yards along with 21 yards on the ground. He took three sacks for 27 total yards and the Bills finished with only 236 total yards.
What’s different about Ravens vs. Bills playoff matchup?
Baltimore’s No. 1 receiver in the regular season, Zay Flowers (knee), is “questionable” to play Sunday, having missed last week’s game and not practicing all week. Flowers only had one reception in the Week 4 meeting.
Bills former All-Pro linebacker Matt Milano was out for the first three months of the season but is back and has returned to form. He will be pivotal to slowing the Ravens’ rushing game. Terrel Bernard, Buffalo’s defensive play-caller and leading tackler in 2023, was out with a pec injury in the previous matchup but will play Sunday.
In addition to their linebacker reinforcements, slot cornerback Taron Johnson, who missed Week 4 with a forearm fracture. Johnson often acts as a de facto linebacker, as Buffalo plays a lot of nickel sets on defense. Johnson left last week’s wild-card matchup with the Denver Broncos but ultimately returned and is expected to play against Baltimore.
The Bills also lost starting safety Taylor Rapp to a concussion 16 plays into the Week 4 matchup. He has since worn a Guardian Cap while playing to prevent additional concussions. He should be good to go for Sunday’s game.
For Baltimore, veteran tight end Mark Andrews has returned to form. After having zero catches in the first meeting between these two teams, expect him to be much more involved. Andrews had a touchdown reception in each of Baltimore’s last six regular season games.
With Allen and Jackson both playing some of the best football of their careers, Sunday’s matchup should be much more even than the first game between these two squads.
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