Orchard Park, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Buffalo Bills advance to the AFC Championship Game thanks to a 27-25 win over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday in the AFC Divisional Round at Highmark Stadium.
Here are my Arrows Up and Down from the game, starting with Up after a huge win:
ARROW UP:
Terrel Bernard's forced fumble
Leading 24-19 in the fourth quarter, Bernard made the play of the game when he stripped Ravens tight end Mark Andrews of the football, and recovered it himself.
That stopped Baltimore at the Buffalo 44-yard line, and set the Bills up for the eventual field goal to make it an eight-point game.
Turnovers
The Bills defense forced three Ravens turnovers, including an interception and two fumbles.
Cole Bishop and Damar Hamlin
Bishop had to come in for starter Taylor Rapp and play most of the game after Rapp injured his hip. The moment wasn't too big, and communication was good.
The rookie safety finished with three total tackles.
Hamlin led the Bills with eight tackles, including a sack, and a forced fumble of Lamar Jackson that Von Miller returned 39 yards to help set up a Buffalo touchdown.
QB - Josh Allen
Allen didn't have a spectacular day statistically, but was in complete control and efficient, completing 72.7% of his passes, going 16-of-22 for 127 yards. He also ran for 20 yards and two touchdowns.
WR - Khalil Shakir
Shakir was really the only receiver who did anything of note for the Bills, catching six of his seven targets for 67 yards.
Pass protection
Allen was sacked just once on the evening, and the Ravens were credited with just four quarterback hits.
Defense on Derrick Henry in first half
The Bills really focused on Henry to start the game, and were able to hold him to just 21 yards on eight carries, an average of only 2.8 yards per-run, in the first half.
K - Tyler Bass
Bass was a perfect 3-for-3 on extra points, and also connected on both his field goal attempts, including a 51-yarder. Those points were the difference in the game.
Red zone offense
The Bills were 3-for-4 scoring touchdowns once inside the Ravens' 20-yard line.
Penalties
The Bills were called for just one accepted penalty for 10 yards.
ARROW DOWN:
Plenty of Ravens offense
The Ravens gained a total of 416 yards of offense. They averaged a whopping 7.3 yards per-play.
No punts forced
The Bills didn't force the Ravens to punt a single time in the game.
Third down defense
A huge reason Baltimore didn't punt was because they converted 7-of-10 third down chances. That's far too many.
Lack of receiving outside of Shakir
After Shakir's 67 yards, the next-best receiving totals on the Bills were 15, 12, and 11 yards. Only running back James Cook caught more than two passes, as he had three receptions.
Derrick Henry in second half
Despite the great job the Bills defense did on Henry in the first half, he ran eight times for 67 yards in the second half, and average of 8.37 yards per-carry.
Two punts to start second half
Leading 21-10 at halftime and receiving the ball, the Bills had a chance to bury the Ravens, but they punted on their first two possessions, gaining only 19 yards on nine plays.
Pass rush
Some of it was by design to keep him in the pocket, but the bills didn't generate much of a pass rush at all against the Ravens. Their only two sacks came on botched plays, and they only had five quarterback hits.
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