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The Buffalo Bills were fantastic in defense last season. They were second in the NFL in points allowed and third in yards allowed. Most of this unit returned for 2020.
The results were not the same. The Bills fell in the middle of the field on defense, but that didn’t really matter because Josh Allen and the offense were so good.
When the Bills offense got stuck in a windstorm for a divisional playoff game on Saturday night, the defense arose.
The Buffalo defense did a great job against Lamar Jackson and delivered a game-changing game, a 101-yard interception return for a touchdown by Taron Johnson, in a 17-3 win. Time made things difficult for both offenses, and it was the Bills defense that got the upper hand. They destroyed a Ravens offense that was searing for the final month of the regular season.
The Bills have had a great season and will play in the AFC championship game for the first time since defeating Joe Montana and the Kansas City Chiefs at the end of the 1993 season. The defense play Saturday tonight should give Bills Mafia hope that next Sunday won’t be their last game of the season.
Bills Defense has a great night out
Buffalo was not going to change his offensive plan, just because of a little wind. They trust Allen too much to play it down, whatever the conditions.
The Bills’ offensive game plan was surprising in its end. They didn’t call a running game until 3:05 left in the first half, and they called 19 assists and a run those first 30 minutes. The Bills are better at passing the ball, the Ravens are very good against running, but it was still remarkable watching a team in a playoff game without even trying to run. Especially in strong winds. The game was tied 3-3 at halftime.
But the bills stuck to the plan. It paid off in the third quarter with a good drive and a short touchdown pass to Stefon Diggs. The Ravens responded with a long drive of their own, but the Bills then played along.
Jackson returned to pass the third and the goal and didn’t see Taron Johnson cheating in his zone as he stared into Jackson’s eyes. Johnson was just there to take Jackson off and took him back 101 yards for a touchdown, tying George Teague for the record for longest interception return in NFL playoff history.
Instead of the Ravens leveling the game or at least attempting a short basket to reduce Buffalo’s lead to 10-6, the Bills led 17-3. The Buffalo offense couldn’t do much on Saturday night, but the defense made sure it didn’t matter.
Lamar Jackson suffers from a concussion
On the record after the interception, the Ravens’ chances of victory are gone. There was a bad shotgun slam, Jackson chased after him and as he threw it down he was punched hard and his head bounced off the grass. Jackson was diagnosed with a concussion, and without Jackson the Ravens were not going to come back.
Jackson had a rough night before this hit. The Bills did a great job of being disciplined about their rush and not letting Jackson break. When Jackson tried to run, they made sure to hit him hard. Jackson never let go for long runs and couldn’t handle many drives with his legs on shorter runs either. Jackson didn’t pitch him badly given the conditions, but his one big mistake dashed the Ravens’ hopes.
The Bills could host the AFC Championship game next weekend if the Cleveland Browns upset the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. If the Chiefs win, the Bills will face Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City with a Super Bowl spot on the line. The Bills haven’t made a Super Bowl since Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas, Andre Reed and those big Buffalo teams from the 1990s lost their fourth Super Bowl in a row.
If it’s the bosses in the next round, that’s a tough job. But the Bills should feel even more confident after what they saw of their defense on Saturday night, regardless of who they play next.
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