Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens have met just one time in the NFL Playoffs. It was also in the Divisional Round just four seasons ago at Highmark Stadium.
Josh Allen was quarterbacking the Bills, and Lamar Jackson was the Ravens' signal caller. Sean McDermott was on one sideline coaching the Bills, and coaching the visitors on the other side of the field was John Harbaugh.
But there will be one big difference for this Divisional Round matchup in Orchard Park: The stadium will be packed with Bills fans.
That previous postseason encounter came on Jan. 16, 2021, where just 6,722 fans were allowed to be in attendance to see the Bills beat the Ravens, 17-3, due to COVID-19 putting a limit on how many people could be at the game.
That playoff game four years ago featured an iconic Bills moment when nickel cornerback Taron Johnson picked off Jackson in the end zone, and returned the ball 101 yards for a pick-six.
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Now let’s fast forward to the present.
This has the makings of an instant classic. The two top candidates for the NFL's Most Valuable Player honor, Allen and Jackson, will battle it out in a prime-time matchup at Highmark Stadium.
Two of the best offenses in the NFL will be on display with the Bills ranking second in points per-game in the regular season, followed by Baltimore in third.
A Bills team that is 15-3 this season and a perfect 9-0 on their turf, against a Ravens team that has won its last five games and is an eye-popping 10-3 against teams a winning record.
Both teams have been legitimate Super Bowl contenders for the last five years, but have had the bad luck to be in a Super Bowl window at the same time as Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC.
When you talk about the Ravens, of course, you have to start with Jackson, who was taken in the 2018 NFL Draft, 25 picks after the Bills chose Allen.
Jackson made NFL history this season by becoming the first quarterback to throw for more than 4,000 yards and run for more than 900. He was also the first to have 40 or more touchdown passes and five or fewer interceptions. Jackson led the league in quarterback rating, yards per-attempt, passing touchdown percentage, touchdown-to-interception ratio and quarterback rushing yards.
The two-time MVP had 5,087 total yards and 45 touchdowns.
But McDermott and his defensive coaches have been pretty effective keeping Jackson in check in four previous meetings, including that other playoff game. Jackson had just 808 total yards, seven touchdowns and five turnovers.
This will be just the third road playoff game of Jackson’s career. In addition to the loss to the Bills, he led a Wild Card victory over the Tennessee Titans the week prior in 2020.
This edition of the Ravens offense is different, because of the offseason addition of running back Derrick Henry.
The move from Tennessee rejuvenated the 6-foot-3, 247-pound back, as he totaled 1,921 yards rushing to go with 16 touchdowns. That works out to a very impressive 5.9 yards per-carry and 113 yards a game.
In a Week 4 matchup against the Bills, Henry broke off an 87-yard touchdown run on the first play of Baltimore's first offensive series. He went on to finish the day with 199 yards on 24 carries.
While boasting a strong offensive line, the Ravens led the league in rushing this season. Their 3,189 yards on the ground is the second-highest single-season total in the history of the NFL.
The big story in their passing game is the injury to their top receiver Zay Flowers. A Pro Bowl selection, Flowers led the Ravens with 74 catches and 1,059 yards, but missed their Wild Card victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers with a sprained knee.
Even if Flowers can’t play, Jackson still has top targets in the passing game.
Wide receiver Rashod Bateman had a breakout season with career-highs in yards and touchdowns.
Then there’s Mark Andrews, whose 11 touchdowns led all tight ends in the NFL. Andrews and fellow tight end Isaiah Likely combined for 97 receptions, 1,150 yards and 17 touchdowns. Baltimore used a two tight end set on 31% of their snaps, which was the sixth-highest rate in the league.
Their offense finished in the top-five in the NFL in nine different statistical categories. Needless to say, a Bills defense, coming off a strong performance in their Wild Card triumph over the Denver Broncos, will have its work cut out for them.
Defensively, the Ravens were ninth in points allowed, 10th in total yards per-game, first against the run, and 31st against the pass.
That pass defense ranking is skewed by the first half of their 2024 schedule, though. The Ravens pass defense was much better over the last two months. They had 54 sacks, which was second behind Denver, and were 18th on third down.
Over the last seven games of the regular season, Baltimore allowed the fewest total yards and net passing yards, which is why that ranking of 31st should be ignored.
Baltimore's leading tackler this season was middle linebacker Roquan Smith.
Linebacker Kyle Van Noy, who used to kill the Bills when he played with the New England Patriots, has a team-high 12.5 sacks.
The secondary is led by Marlon Humphrey, who recorded six interceptions and 15 passes defensed this year.
Nate Wiggins had a very strong rookie campaign, and chipped in with 13 passes defensed. He did not allow a single touchdown.
The weak spot, as far as cornerback is concerned, is Brandon Stephens. According to Pro Football Focus, Stephens allowed 65 catches, which was fifth-most by any corner.
If he struggles, the Ravens could turn to former Bills cornerback Tre’Davious White, who played in seven games and had three passes defensed as their fourth corner.
The best player in the Ravens' secondary is Kyle Hamilton, one of the best safeties in the NFL. Hamiton was second on the team in tackles, but he filled the stat sheet. He had two sacks, four tackles for loss, nine passes defensed, one interception, a pair of forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
The big story on special teams for Baltimore this season was the struggles of likely future Hall of Fame kicker Justin Tucker.
While Tucker was fine on extra points, going 60-for-62, he was uncharacteristically shaky with field goals. Tucker’s field goal percentage of 73% is a career-low, and his 22 makes were also the fewest of his career. Tucker was a perfect 11-of-11 on kicks under 40 yards, was 5-of-8 from 40-49 yards, and just 6-of-11 on kicks of 50-or-more yards, which had been a strength of his.
Having said that, Tucker hasn’t missed a kick since Week 13. He did not have any field goal attempts in last weekend’s win over the Steelers.