Olean Times Herald

‘Over the season, the Ravens are second in the NFL in fewest points surrendered (19 per game), have 23 takeaways (11 interceptions, 12 fumble recoveries), 40 sacks, 121 quarterback hits, 75 tackles for loss, three defensive touchdowns and two safeties.’

‘The opening line favored Buffalo over Baltimore by three points, but it’s now 2½ and will likely fall to two by game time as this matchup is fascinating, pitting two of the NFL’s hottest teams.’

‘Indeed, it could be argued that if Saturday afternoon’s game against the Colts had not been played at Bills Stadium, Buffalo’s season might already be over.’

‘Buffalo won the most important statistic – final score – but Indianapolis prevailed in first downs (27-22), total yards (472-397), rushing yards (163-96) and time of possession (34:17-25:43). The Bills had a slight edge in passing yards as quarterback Josh Allen threw for 324 to the Colts’ Philip Rivers’ 309.’

‘Hanging over Buffalo is the fact that it has lost its last six postseason games.’

‘As for tomorrow’s game, Reich admitted, “I’d rather be the No. 1 seed, but I do feel good about our team. The pressure is not on us. We should be loose. We should be aggressive. We should be freed up to play our best game of the year against a really good football team. In reality, no one’s going to give us a chance (Buffalo is favored by 6½ points). It’s that us-against- the-world mentality, and that’s all you need. I don’t care what seed we are. We’re the No. 7 seed, big deal. We’ve got to seize the opportunity. This is the first year for a seventh seed (due to the Covid-19-expanded playoffs). Well, let us be the first No. 7 seed to win a world championship.”’

‘It started with my September prediction that Buffalo, though it figured to be a better team than 2019’s 10-6 wild-card playoff squad, seemed destined to finish 9-7 due to a decidedly more difficult schedule.’

‘Buffalo’s 56 points scored are the most since it beat Miami, 58-24, at War Memorial Stadium in 1966. The victory also marked the first time the Bills have gone unbeaten in the division (6-0) in franchise history and their 13-win season is only the third time they have reached that total as the 1990 and ‘91 squads also went 13-3.’

‘The Dolphins (10-5) would own a playoff berth if the season ended today, but they’re one of five teams with the same record vying for four spots. Thus, with a loss, Miami must hope for a defeat by Indianapolis (home versus Jacksonville, 1-14), Cleveland (home against Pittsburgh, 12-3), Baltimore at Cincinnati (4-10-1) or Tennessee at Houston (4-11).’

‘Meanwhile, the Bills and Steelers, both division champs (East and North, respectively), are guaranteed home games to start the postseason, but it’s the next round where the No. 2 seed is critical. The team in that spot, if it wins the opener, is at home again for the divisional round. Should Pittsburgh occupy that position, if both those teams prevail in the first round, the Bills would find themselves playing at Heinz Field.’

‘In the short term, as nice as Buffalo sweeping the Pats for the first time in nearly 20 years might have been, the immediate impact was bigger. It kept the Bills (12-3) as the No. 2 AFC seed over Pittsburgh (also 12-3) thanks to their head-to-head win over the Steelers two weeks ago.’

‘The point is, this game isn’t meaningless to Belichick — whose team hasn’t scored a touchdown in the past two games — or the vast number of marginal players populating his roster. A lot of them are playing for their jobs as their coach contemplates major changes in 2021 and that makes for major inspiration.’

‘But other than the two Brady-asterisk games, the Bills haven’t won in Massachusetts since ‘99 at Foxboro Stadium, three years before its successor, Gillette, opened. And in those 17 games, the Patriots have outscored Buffalo by an average of 29-16.’

‘Clearly, Buffalo’s ‘D’ has picked it up down the stretch, but it’s the performance of third-year quarterback Josh Allen which is most responsible for the team’s first division crown in a quarter century.’

‘“I’m just so happy for the fans,” he said. “It’s such a cool place to be a part of because of the work ethic and character of the people in Buffalo … Western New York. I love seeing Bills flags wave out in people’s yards. I’m hoping there’s a lot more people buying those flags to give them as Christmas gifts … I’m humbled just to be one part of it.”’