NFL play-off results: Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles through to Conference Championships
MVP votes have already been cast so Allen and Jackson knew Sunday’s game would have no bearing on the winner. This was about their legacy.
They have been two of the NFL’s best quarterbacks since both being drafted in 2018 but like Jackson, Allen is also yet to reach a Super Bowl.
This will be the fourth time in five years that Buffalo will face Kansas City – and the Chiefs won all three of their previous match-ups, including an AFC Championship game in 2021.
Now Allen has another shot at toppling the Chiefs and their two-time MVP Patrick Mahomes, after continuing his fine form this season.
The 28-year-old had two rushing touchdowns to help Buffalo into a 21-10 at half-time, while Baltimore’s three turnovers proved costly.
Jackson had struck first, finding Rashod Bateman for a 16-yard touchdown before the Bills hit straight back with Ray Davis punching it in from a yard.
The Ravens quarterback coughed up an interception and a fumble on Baltimore’s next two drives, with Bills linebacker Von Miller recovering the latter to set up the chance for Allen’s first score.
After a Baltimore field goal cut the lead, Allen again barged into the end zone on short yardage to put Buffalo in charge at the interval.
The Ravens have had the league’s best rushing offence and they got their run game going in the third quarter, claiming a field goal and a Derrick Henry touchdown.
They failed to convert a two-point attempt to draw level, before a Bills field goal made it 24-19. Then, with eight minutes remaining, Terrel Bernard punched the ball from Andrews’ hands and recovered the fumble to give Buffalo the chance to add another field goal.
Baltimore had 3:29 to salvage their season and Jackson cut the deficit by firing a 24-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Likely.
Needing the two-point conversion to level the game, he seemed to have connected with Andrews but the ball squirmed from the tight end’s grasp on the goalline and the Ravens’ season was over.
