Two Bills Drive

‘The defense was going to be built on two things: Stopping the run and taking the ball away. The first objective has been hit and miss at times during the 2024 season. But when it comes to objective No. 2, there is no doubt the Bills have consistently met their goal.’

‘Deep breath. The Bills escaped with a 27-25 AFC divisional-round win despite not scoring a second-half touchdown.’

‘Overall, it wasn’t an explosive day for the offense. Only seven of the Bills’ 59 plays went for 10 yards or more. The Bills finished with 273 yards compared to the Ravens’ 416. Buffalo has played just three games this season where it finished with fewer total yards. But what mattered were points. Well, and the turnover margin.’

‘He didn’t stick around to answer questions about the pass that he dropped on a two-point conversion attempt, which would have tied their AFC divisional playoff game against the Bills with 1:44 left to play. His reaction to his earlier fourth-quarter fumble, which helped the Bills pad their lead, remained a mystery. It will stay that way, at least until the Ravens’ end-of-season media availability.’

‘You have to hand it to Bills defensive coordinator Bobby Babich and head coach Sean McDermott. They made changes from their Week 4 blowout loss in Baltimore. They were not going to let Derrick Henry steamroll them again or let Lamar Jackson’s scrambling kill them.’

‘Bills linebacker Terrel Bernard made a huge play with 8:41 left when he forced Andrews to fumble after a 16-yard gain and recovered the fumble at the Bills’ 46. It was Andrews’ first lost fumble since 2019. The Bills ran down the clock to 3:29 and made it 27-19 on Bass’ 21-yard field goal. Coach Sean McDermott sent in Bass instead of going for it on fourth-and-goal from the 2.’

‘“We felt like last game our game plan was just sit back and play our defense,” Hamlin said of the Bills’ 31-10 loss to the Ravens in Week 4. “This time we came in with the plan to attack. We were going to die shooting our guns. And we did.”’

‘The Bills had fallen short in this round of the playoffs the past three seasons – including the last two at home. Sean McDermott cleared a major hurdle. No, it was not perfect. The offensive game plan felt overly conservative at times, and coordinator Joe Brady would have come under scrutiny had the Bills not found a way.’