Orchard Park, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Buffalo Bills will host the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Divisional Round this Sunday at Highmark Stadium. The winner will play the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game next weekend at Arrowhead Stadium.
For that to be the Bills, here are my three keys to the game, plus notes and stats:
1.) Don’t let the Ravens control the game on the ground
It’s basically a "pick your poison" situation for the Bills. They can really focus on stopping Derrick Henry, leaving Lamar Jackson more chances to make plays, or they can focus on Jackson, maybe being susceptible to Henry.
There’s no easy or right answer here, but if they let the Ravens - with either or both of these players - control the game on the ground, that will keep the Bills off-balance on defense, not allowing them to attack upfield.
That would also allow Baltimore to control the clock and keep Josh Allen and the Bills offense off the field.
2.) Keep cooking on offense
The more under-talked about matchup in this game is the Bills offense against the Ravens defense. Buffalo averaged 30.9 points per-game, the second most in the league to only the Detroit Lions, while the Ravens averaged 30.5, the third-most on offense.
Last week against the Denver Broncos, the Bills really dominated the game with their offense, both on the ground and through the air. They did it with plenty of different personnel, formations, and players touching the ball, including James Cook's 123 yards rushing.
If they can do that again and avoid being one-dimensional, it will go a long way to a victory.
3) Make kicks!
Both of these kickers, Justin Tucker for the Ravens and Tyler Bass for the Bills, have missed 10 kicks this season. This game could very well come down to one kick by either side, whether an extra point or a field goal.
Every time Bass in on the field to get points, he needs to cash in!
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