The Bills beat the Broncos 31-7 at home in Orchard Park on Sunday to advance to the divisional round of the NFL playoffs for a rematch with the Baltimore Ravens.
buffalo lost a head-to-head matchup in Baltimore 35-10 in NFL Week 4 this season, which was the third-worst loss of quarterback Josh Allen's career.
He will look to change both outcomes this time when it matters most.
Allen was asked about next week's Bills game against the Ravens during a postgame interview on the field CBS Sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson
“They followed us at the beginning of the year, so we have a lot of film to watch.” he said. “It's a great team that has a great quarterback and Lamar is doing what he can. He's one of the most, if not the most, dynamic quarterback in the league, he's so fun to watch, but I'll be watching their defense this week. That’s our focus.”
While a win during the regular season would have increased Buffalo's chances of securing the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs and a first-round bye, the divisional round matchup will ultimately determine the two teams' postseason fates.
Buffalo is No. 2 and Baltimore is No. 3, meaning the Bills will host the Ravens in Orchard Park and have a chance to “defend their dirt.” The team has posted a perfect 9-0 record in the 2024 season, including a first-round wild card win.
There are also many storylines leading into the competition.
Allen and Jackson's teams will face a duel of the two highest points-per-game clubs in the NFL after the Detroit Lions (who defeated Buffalo in NFL Week 15) and the Bills (30.9) and Ravens (30. 5) Averaged 30 points per game during the regular season
Both quarterbacks were selected in the first round of the 2018 draft, with Allen going 7th overall to Buffalo and Jackson going 32nd overall in the final pick of the first round to Baltimore.
Both clubs exchanged ideas to select their respective signal-caller.
Both Allen and Jackson are leading candidates for MVP this season. Jackson's won the award twice. Notable over Allen last season as he had fewer turnovers and his team had a better record despite Allen having better overall quarterback stats.
The Ravens brought in RB Derrick Henry in free agency, bolstering their offense, while the Bills rebuilt their roster and payroll, with media analysts crediting them with a rebuilding season and many predicting the Dolphins or Jets would win the division.
Instead, Allen delivered an MVP-level performance and the Bills had one of their best seasons with him as center and Sean McDermott as head coach. They won the AFC East for the fifth consecutive year, securing second place and home-field advantage through at least the first two rounds.
Henry and Bills RB James Cook each had 16 rushing TDs during the regular season, the most in the league, with Henry being selected to the Pro Bowl along with eight other Ravens (the most selections in the NFL). Buffalo only had two, Allen and offensive lineman Dion Dawkins, with Cook a clear snub.
The Ravens also had five first-team All-Pro selections, while the Bills had none.
“Everyone's been waiting for this, right?” coach Sean McDermott said in his postgame press conference after Sunday's win. “So it's going to be a nice week and everyone will be looking forward to it and they're a great football team. I mean, they handled us pretty well from the first half and are definitely playing well.”
Jackson and Allen's teams have played each other only once in the playoffs, with both players appearing under center in the 202 divisional round when Buffalo beat Baltimore 17-3. This time too, Buffalo is starting the race as the slight favorite.
With a win against the Broncos and Ravens next up, the Bills are relishing the moment.
“First I enjoy the win, but I love playing good football,” Tackle said said Dion Dawkins. “We have a lot of competitors on our team, and when the superheroes come to town or we come to them, the intensity increases. And I love it. I love it when the intensity is high, but we'll see in a week. They are a good team and we are looking forward to it.”
Buffalo has lost in the divisional round each of the last two seasons and is looking to overcome that hurdle to return to the AFC Championship Game for the first time since 2022 and have a chance to advance to the Super Bowl.
