Ravens vs. Bills: MVP Frontrunners Clash in AFC Divisional Round Battle
Following a Wild Card Weekend with several lopsided scores that left fans hoping for more entertaining and back-and-forth matchups, the NFL Playoffs have served up arguably the most anticipated matchup of the Divisional Round. On Sunday night at 6:30 p.m. EST at Highmark Stadium, the third-seeded Baltimore Ravens and the second-seeded Buffalo Bills will square off for a chance to advance to the AFC Championship Game, and possibly host the game if the Houston Texans upset the top-seeded Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday afternoon. This must-watch matchup in Buffalo, NY, will also feature a battle between the league’s two leading MVP candidates, Bills quarterback Josh Allen and Ravens two-time MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson, as both of these dynamic, game-changing quarterbacks will look to send the other home this weekend. With that said, there are notable factors in this game that will determine who comes out on top and keeps their season alive for another week.
Heading into this weekend’s matchup, it will be the second time that the Ravens and Bills square off, their first encounter coming back in Week Four. In that game, the Ravens dominated from the start, led by running back Derrick Henry, who rushed for an impressive 199 yards, resulting in a convincing 35-10 victory at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. However, both teams look significantly different entering Sunday's game. Notably, the Bills were without three key defensive starters, including 2022 Pro Bowl linebacker Matt Milano, in that first matchup, and have since played well in almost all facets of the game, finishing the season with a 13-4 record. They are coming off a blowout victory over the up-and-coming Denver Broncos, led by quarterback Bo Nix, in the Wild Card Round. Just as impressively, the Ravens have transformed as well, starting the season 0-2 but seeing a remarkable turnaround in their defense. Once ranked last in almost all major categories when the two teams first met, Baltimore’s defense has done a complete 180 since Week 11 and now leads in most statistical categories. The Ravens are also coming off an impressive performance last week against their division rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers, where they dominated the ground game, finishing with 299 rushing yards as a team.
Delving into this long-awaited duel, several key matchups could determine the winner on Sunday night. For starters, the battle between the two premier running backs, James Cook and Derrick Henry will play a significant role in determining which team can control time of possession, as the Ravens hold the NFL’s number-one ranked run defense. Along with the running attack, the team that can sustain longer offensive drives and keep the opposing quarterback on the sideline, while also creating turnovers to steal a possession or two, could gain the upper hand. Most notably, the potential absence of the Ravens' number-one receiver, Zay Flowers, who finished the regular season with over 1,000 receiving yards and is still dealing with a knee injury suffered in Week 18, could be crucial to Baltimore’s success. On Monday, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh described Flowers’ status as a “we’ll see” situation for this week. If Flowers is unable to play, the Bills may focus on limiting the Ravens' potent rushing attack, forcing Baltimore to beat them through the air in a "lesser of two evils” scenario. This highly anticipated matchup is expected to be entertaining throughout, with crucial late-game situations likely determining which team will advance to potentially face the Chiefs and which will see their season end in disappointment.
