This is what you need to know:.
- For the first time in 27 years, the Bills will play in the C.F.A. game.
16. January 2021, 11:40 p.m. (Eastern time)
16. January 2021, 11:40 p.m. (Eastern time)
- Tyler Huntley just missed a touchdown.
16. January 2021, 23:01 ET
16. January 2021, 23:01 ET
- Lamar Jackson comes out after a missed tackle.
16. January 2021, 22:46 ET
16. January 2021, 22:46 ET
- Lamar Jackson pitched six to give the Bills a 17-3 lead.
16. January 2021, 10:34 a.m. ET
16. January 2021, 10:34 a.m. ET
- The Bills went back to work preparing a touchdown for Stefon Diggs.
16. January 2021, 10:22 p.m. (Eastern time)
16. January 2021, 10:22 p.m. (Eastern time)
- Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen threw for over 100 yards but did not touch.
16. January 2021, 9:58 p.m. (Eastern time)
16. January 2021, 9:58 p.m. (Eastern time)
- There were penalties from both teams, but the Bills led 3-0.
16. January 2021, 9:21 p.m. (Eastern time)
16. January 2021, 9:21 p.m. (Eastern time)
16. January 2021, 11:40 p.m. (Eastern time)
16. January 2021, 11:40 p.m. (Eastern time)
Ken Belson.
Taiwan Jones (left) and Dion Dawkins of the Buffalo Bills celebrate their victory over the Baltimore Ravens…. John Munson/Associated Press.
The Buffalo Bills return to the C.F.A. championship for the first time since the 1993 season, when they made their fourth of four Super Bowl appearances.
The Bills defeated the Baltimore Ravens 17-3 on a cold and windy night in Orchard Park, N.Y., and will now face the Kansas City Chiefs and the winner of Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns.
The Bills (13-3) scored 501 points in the regular season and had the second-best offense in the N.F.L., but the difference was in the defense. The Bills stifled the Ravens’ passing rush, holding quarterback Lamar Jackson 14 of 24 passes for 162 yards without a touchdown before he was knocked out by a tackle in the end zone on a failed fourth-quarter attempt.
That didn’t change until the end of the third quarter, when Jackson threw a pass to Mark Andrews that was intercepted by Bills’ corner, Taron Johnson, who ran 101 yards for a pick-six. On the next drive, Jackson is thrown to the ground and hits his head on the turf in the end zone. The coaches escorted him to the locker room, where he was diagnosed with a concussion.
His replacement, rookie quarterback Tyler Huntley, tried to rally the Ravens in the fourth quarter and nearly hit receiver Marquise Brown with a 30-yard bomb that could have reduced the deficit.
The offense against the Bills was not pretty. Josh Allen was 23 for 37 for 206 yards and a touchdown, a 3-yard game scored by receiver Stephon Diggs. There were great performances. Diggs, the N.F.L.’s leader in yardage receiving since 1535, has hosted eight receptions for 106 yards. The attackers ran the ball 16 times for 32 yards.
You don’t get style points for qualifying for the playoffs, says Allen of the team’s performance after the game.
The game also featured four missed goals, two of which were scored by Ravens’ regular striker Justin Tucker. Overall, the Ravens had 120 more yards of offense and held the ball 11 minutes longer than the Ravens.
But Bills fans, who haven’t sniffed a Super Bowl in nearly 30 years and endured a 25-year playoff drought, will take it. In the second week, some 6,000 fans were able to watch a Bills home game and have their voices heard. If the Browns beat the Chiefs as the No. 6 seed, the Bills have another playoff run.
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16. January 2021, 23:01 ET
16. January 2021, 23:01 ET
Ken Belson.
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley couldn’t lead his team to a comeback.Credit…Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images
With Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson suffering a concussion and the Bills leading 17-3, Baltimore’s fate is in the hands of Jackson’s protégé, rookie quarterback Tyler Huntley.
He almost got caught in the payroll litter. On fourth-and-8 from the Baltimore 29-yard line, Huntley saw the Marquis Brown receiver sprint down the right line, a few steps ahead of the nearest Bills defender at midfield. But Huntley, who threw just five passes in the regular season, threw Brown and the Ravens gave the ball away at 6:42.
Bills have not made much of this opportunity. Their shot was stopped at the Baltimore 26-yard line and kicker Tyler Bass missed his second shot. The meters didn’t go off until 1:06.
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16. January 2021, 22:46 ET
16. January 2021, 22:46 ET
Ken Belson.
Lamar Jackson hit his head on the turf as he fell backward trying to avoid the sack. linked to Adrian Kraus/Associated Press credit.
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, the reigning league MVP, walked out of the game and returned to the locker room with a possible concussion.
QB Lamar Jackson is in a concussion state.
– Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) January 17, 2021
On the second attempt and at the 10 by 25 yard line, the Jackson Ravens lined up at the shotgun. After picking up the odd ball at the eight-yard line, Jackson returned to the Ravens’ end zone.
When Jackson threw the ball out of bounds, Bills linebacker Tremaine Edmunds picked it up. Jackson hit his head on the turf and lay on his back for several minutes while the coaches walked on the field.
Jackson was charged with intentional touching of the floor and went to the locker room where he was examined.
He was replaced by rookie quarterback Tyler Huntley, who escaped at the 2-yard line for a 19-yard gain before the Ravens kicked the ball.
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16. January 2021, 10:34 a.m. ET
16. January 2021, 10:34 a.m. ET
Ken Belson.
Taron Johnson intercepted a pass and sent it in for a Buffalo touchdown. Credit related Adrian Kraus/Associate Press
After a mixed first half, Buffalo and the Baltimore Ravens seemed ready to trade shots in the second half.
Trailing 10-3 at the end of the third quarter, the Ravens nearly tied the score on a third-and-3 play from the Bills’ 9-yard line. Quarterback Lamar Jackson was intercepted by cornerback Taron Johnson in the middle of the end zone to give the Bills a 17-3 lead with less than a minute left in the quarter.
Johnson dodged several tacklers and sprinted down the field for a 101-yard interception return.
Johnson was close to the line, then went back into coverage and jumped in front of a pass from Jackson that was aimed at Ravens’ backguard Mark Andrews.
Johnson’s return of a 101-yard kick set a playoff record.
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16. January 2021, 10:22 p.m. (Eastern time)
16. January 2021, 10:22 p.m. (Eastern time)
Ken Belson.
Stefon Diggs scored the first touchdown of the game for Buffalo.Credit…Adrian Kraus/Associated Press.
The Buffalo Bills finally found the end zone and now lead the Baltimore Ravens 10-3 early in the third quarter.
After throwing just three times in the first half, the Bills had a more mixed attack on the first shot of the second half. Defender Devin Singletary showed two solid points – a 9-yard run on the first play and a 12-yard run on Baltimore’s first-and-10 for 30 yards – to keep the Ravens off balance and allow quarterback Josh Allen to outpace the defense. Allen faked the pass and hit Dawson Knox first at the end of the line. He then hit his favorite receiver, Stephon Diggs, for a 3-yard touchdown to end the drive.
In the second and third for the Ravens, Allen lined up three receivers on the left side with only two Ravens defenders nearby. Diggs stepped back, caught Allen’s pass and ran into the end zone for the first touchdown of the game.
Overall, the Bills ran the ball four times in their 11-man offense.
Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs (3 yard TD)
Route type : WR screen
The Ravens have only taken 2 DBs to 3 WR Bills worldwide. Allen is the only QB to have multiple TD passes on the WR screen this season (including the playoffs).#BALvsBUF | Works for @awscloud pic.twitter.com/Hgh3EcUojI
– 16. Next Generation Stats (@NextGenStats) January 2021
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16. January 2021, 9:58 p.m. (Eastern time)
16. January 2021, 9:58 p.m. (Eastern time)
Ken Belson.
Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen threw the first touchdown pass of the game to Stefon Diggs, his top receiver. credit John Munson/Associated Press.
The Buffalo Ravens’ and Baltimore Ravens’ offenses were the best in the first half of the divisional game, although neither team reached the end zone. The score at halftime is 3-3.
Despite wind gusts that caused them to miss three goals, the Bills relied almost exclusively on assists. Quarterback Josh Allen, who has completed more than 4,500 passes this season, completed 13 of 22 passes for 120 yards. Allen found Stefon Diggs with four passes for 59 yards and John Brown with six rushes for 54 yards.
The Ravens ran the ball just three times in the first half, with Allen on his knees at the end of the half. The Ravens probably knocked out Titan league leader Derrick Henry last week.
According to Pro Football Reference, the record number of fastest attempts in the playoffs is eight.
From @ESPNStatsInfo : Pass (attempts + sacks) 23 of 26 in the 1st half. Half played, 88.5%.
According to Elias, the highest success rate ever recorded in a playoff game is 85.7 percent for the Dolphins in Super Bowl XIX (54 of 63 games).
– Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) January 17, 2021
The Ravens, who have the best offense in the league, have a more balanced offense. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, who became the first quarterback to gain more than 1,000 yards in a row this season, ran the ball seven times for 18 yards. As a team, they ran the ball 18 times. Jackson makes eight of his 15 pass attempts for 118 yards.
The Ravens’ ability to run the ball helped them dominate possession. They held the ball for about 20 minutes, twice as long as the Bills.
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16. January 2021, 9:21 p.m. (Eastern time)
16. January 2021, 9:21 p.m. (Eastern time)
Ken Belson.
Justin Tucker, the Crows’ striker, missed two goals in the first half, hitting the post each time.Credits…Brian M. Bennett/Getty Images
The Ravens’ goal scorer, Justin Tucker, one of the most accurate in NFL history, has a habit of missing goals on the field at the worst possible time. For the second time tonight, Tucker struck vertically to give the Bills a 3-0 lead midway through the second quarter.
Tucker’s first attempt, at 41 yards, was into the wind and turned right. His second shot, with the wind at his back, came from 46 yards and bounced back.
Tyler Bass, a newcomer, helped draft the bills. Bass scored from 28 yards for Buffalo’s only goal. But he missed his next attempt, a 43 meter, also against the wind.
The temperature was about 15 mph and the wind was gusty.
Neither team sniffed the end zone. The Bills got closer to their goal when quarterback Josh Allen beat receiver Stefon Diggs on a deep run on first-and-10 from the Buffalo 37-yard line. Diggs beat the coverage and would have a clear path to the end zone if the pass had reached its intended target.
Meanwhile, Lamar Jackson was doing some Lamar Jackson-type stuff.
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16. January 2021, 20:42 ET
16. January 2021, 20:42 ET
Ken Belson.
Justin Tucker of the Baltimore Ravens is one of the most consistent kickers in the NFL with an 89.7 percent success rate on field goals this season.
The playoffs seem to be a different story. After the Ravens plowed the field on the first shot, Tucker missed a 41-yard field goal when his left/right kick hit the field and bounced down the field.
Tucker also missed a 52-yard kick last weekend in Nashville against the Titans. Tucker scored 48 straight goals in the fourth quarter or overtime. However, Tucker came back for a 51-yard shot that secured the win for the Ravens.
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16. January 2021, 8:17 pm ET
16. January 2021, 8:17 pm ET
Ken Belson.
Lamar Jackson of the Ravens is the most valuable player in the N.F.L….Rich Barnes/USA Today Sports, via Reuters.
The rivalry between the Baltimore and Buffalo Ravens is perhaps the most balanced in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs.
The Bills (13-3) finished above .500 for the first time in franchise history and were the second-best offense in the league. The Ravens (11-5) scored the second-highest number of points in the NFL.
Quarterback Josh Allen threw for over 4,500 yards and has one of the best receivers in the N.F.L. on Stefon Diggs. They face the sixth-best passer in the league, led by cornerback Marlon Humphrey.
The Bills defense will face the league’s top runner, led by quarterback Lamar Jackson and backs J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards. The Ravens ran for over 3,000 yards in their second season and beat the Tennessee Titans by 236 yards last weekend. The Bills had the 20th best defense against the run.
The third case will be decisive.
Both teams finished in third place during the regular season with strong performances. The Ravens finished second in the league with 49.1 percent third, while the Ravens finished fourth with 48.5 percent.
But the Ravens had a much better defense on third down. The teams only converted 34% of their chances, placing them second in the championship. The Bills’ defense is ranked 16th.
Another variable: The weather in Orchard Park, New York. Initially, temperatures were just above freezing, there was a light wind and no snow was forecast.
The winner will play either the defending champions, Kansas City Chiefs or Cleveland Browns, in the AFC Championship game next Sunday. The Bills have not played the conference title game since the 1993 season. Then they reached their fourth Super Bowl in a row (and lost). The Ravens haven’t gone this far since the 2012 season, when they won Super Bowl XLVII.
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Aaron Rodgers completed a 296-yard pass and two touchdowns and ran for another touchdown. Credit related Mike Roemer/Associate Press…
Watch our live coverage of Brown vs. Chiefs and Buckainers vs. Saints.
Green Bay’s offensive line didn’t get much attention Saturday in preparation for the Packers’ playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams in Los Angeles. Attention was understood in a different way: Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers is one of the top contenders for the N.F.L. Best Player Award, and with the Rams he was tied with Aaron Donald, the league’s best defensive tackle.
But shaken by a rib injury, Donald was often on the sidelines Saturday and made just one tackle in the game. While Rodgers produced another patient and skillful postseason performance that included two touchdowns, it was Green Bay’s rushing attack – influenced by the authoritative pressure of their offensive line – that led to a solid 32-18 victory.
They were the stars of today’s game, Rodgers said of his offensive linemen. They dominated.
The Packers, who ran for 188 yards for a total of 484 yards, qualify for next weekend’s N.F.C. championship game at Green Bay’s Lambeau Field against the winner of Sunday’s game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the New Orleans Saints. This will be Rodgers’ fifth N.F.C. game, but his first at home in Green Bay.
On Saturday, the Packers welcomed the crowd to their first home game of the season. Nearly 8,500 fans, including the families of the team’s employees, flocked to Lambeau Field. Rogers said he hoped for an even bigger crowd next weekend.
It was good to see them, Rogers said of the Packers’ faithful. He was looking forward to returning to Green Bay for his first N.F.C. championship game since 2008, Rodgers said: It means a lot. The audience overwhelmed me with emotion today.
Green Bay fullback Aaron Jones totaled 99 yards on 14 carries, including a 60-yard run from behind in the Packers’ first play of the second half. When Jones ended the Packers’ possession with a one-yard run, the Rams’ brief rally in the second quarter was interrupted.
Aaron Jones finished with 99 yards and a touchdown, including a long 60-yard run early in the second half that set up his score. Credit… Dan Powers/USA Today Sports, via Reuters.
The Packers took a 19-10 lead in the first half on two balls from Mason Crosby, a one-yard touchdown pass from Rodgers and a one-yard touchdown pass from Rodgers, who made 23 of 36 passes for 296 yards to receiver Davante Adams, who received nine passes for 66 yards.
Los Angeles managed to qualify for the Packers in the third quarter. Rams quarterback Jared Goff, who completed 21 of 27 passes for 174 yards and a touchdown, had looked out of shape earlier. Maybe it was because he didn’t have one of his best landing targets, Cooper Kupp, missing the game due to a knee injury. But early in the second half, Goff completed six consecutive passes for 51 yards.
The Rams then returned to the rushing attack, and on the first exchange from the Packers’ 7-yard line, Cam Akers immediately rushed back into the end zone. The Packers’ lead was cut to seven points.
But Jones and Rogers were not deterred.
After Rodgers broke through the middle of the Rams’ defensive line on a run play for the most possession, he hit a second attempt at the line of scrimmage to complete a deep pass to receiver Allen Lazard. Rodgers started the game with a foul play in the backfield and then kicked Lazard, who passed two defenders and caught a perfectly placed ball in the open field for a 58-yard touchdown.
This gave the Packers a 32-18 lead with less than seven minutes left in the game. The Rams failed to get past the Green Bay 47-yard line in the final minutes of the game.
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Green Bay Packers receiver Allen Lazard puts the game out of reach for the Los Angeles Rams with a 58-yard touchdown.Credit…Stacy Revere/Getty Images
After Aaron Rodgers broke through the Rams’ defensive line with a running play for most of the game, he switched to a deep pass to receiver Allen Lazard on second-and-six from scrimmage. Rodgers started the game with a foul play in the backfield and then connected with Lazard, who remained untouched as he separated two defenders and caught a perfect pass from Rodgers in the open field for a 58-yard touchdown. With seven minutes left, the Packers lead 32-18, which will be the final score.
Cam Akers scored a touchdown for the Los Angeles Rams after taking a direct shot from downtown. Credit…Stacey Revere/Getty Images
After the Packers forced their first kick midway through the third quarter, the Rams overpowered the Los Angeles offense, giving them the momentum they needed to get back into the game.
Knowing he was now in a shootout, Rams coach Sean McVay entered the field as Jared Goff made six consecutive passes for 51 yards. The Rams got back on the offensive for a few plays, and on the first and goal from the Packers’ 7-yard line, defender Cam Akers lined up as quarterback. Akers took a direct hit and charged into the end zone.
McVeigh was resourceful. On the two-point conversion attempt, Goff flattened receiver Van Jefferson in open sea, who passed to Akers, who made it, cutting the Packers’ lead to 25-18. The fourth trimester is here.
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Aaron Jones of the Packers thwarted a big race before finding himself in the end zone on a shorter race. linked to Mike Roemer/Associated Press credit.
The temporary absence of Rams quarterback Aaron Donald, considered the best quarterback in the NFL, remains key to the Packers’ dominance. Donald did not start the second half with the first team in the Rams defense, and from the first play Green Bay passed the ball to defender Aaron Jones, who made an impressive 60-yard run in the middle of the Rams defense.
After an incomplete pass to Aaron Rodgers, the Packers used ground attack for four straight games, and Jones finished the drive with a one-yard touchdown to give Green Bay a 25-10 lead. The subsequent two-point conversion attempt failed.
Donald injured his ribs in last weekend’s playoff game in Seattle and has been off the field for half of the Rams’ defensive failures so far. Its presence as a running stopper was seen as a key weapon against a potent Packers offense that moved up and down the field. The Packers scored 160 running yards, including 85 yards from Jones on 10 carries.
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Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers had a season worthy of an M.V.P…..Morrie Gash/Associated Press.
The Green Bay Packers, who led 19-10 after the first half of Saturday’s playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams, are on a familiar path to success so far. The Packers outscored their opponents 318-173 in the first two quarters of the season, resulting in 13 wins in 16 regular season games.
Green Bay was 17 points clear in the final quarter, but the early lead gave them a cushion for most weeks. With 39 seconds left, after the Rams closed to within six points, the Packers were able to increase their lead again. Aaron Rodgers led Green Bay down the field, but managed to avoid an interception on two consecutive plays as he looked for receivers in the end zone. Instead, the Packers got a 39-yard goal from Mason Crosby on the final play of the second quarter.
Incredible drive by Aaron Rodgers with 29 seconds left in the game, but the Rams can’t make two picks in a row! That’s three points.
– Mark Schlereth (@markchlereth) January 16, 2021
Jared Goff celebrates his first touchdown, a pass to Van Jefferson. linked to credit Mark J. Rebilas/USA Today Sports, via Reuters.
While Rams quarterback Jared Goff didn’t seem to fit in with his wide receivers on Saturday – perhaps due to Cooper Koop’s absence with a knee injury – he led Los Angeles on an aggressive and skilled offense late in the second quarter. It was a quick strike that put the Rams, then 16-3, out of the running and proved that Goff’s surgically repaired right thumb (he injured it on Dec. 27 against the Seattle Seahawks) is healthy enough to help the Rams keep pace with Green Bay, which is flying high.
After Cam Akers yelled five times, Goff picked up 21 yards on a catch by Josh Reynolds. Goff then threw a precise 4-yard touchdown pass that was caught by rookie Van Jefferson, who is Coop’s backup. At the break, Mr. Goff completed nine of 10 passes for 91 yards.
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