AFC Divisional Round Preview Ravens vs Bills

 

AFC Divisional Round Preview Ravens vs Bills 

     The next playoff game will be between the Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills in upstate western New York in some very cold conditions at 8:15 pm est.  It seems that the temperature will be below freezing but they avoid the snow. Which is a very big deal for the Ravens for their style of play. The Ravens are first in rushing with Lamar Jackson, JK Dobbins, and Gus Edwards. It’s very hard to run the ball when you really can’t get traction on the field. Also when it snows it’s really hard to throw the football the Ravens are ranked thirty-two in passing. The snow may be the Bills best defense. Last week the second seeded Bills were close to being upset by the seventh seeded Colts. The Bills defense was having a lot of trouble stopping the Colts offense. The Bills are a very average defense, almost 14-16th in every category. Very average defense could lose you the game and could help your offense win you the game. The Ravens got their revenge against the Titians last week which will definitely make them ridding hot into this matchup. They have won six of their last seven games. The Raven’s 2019 MVP Lamar Jackson showed last week he’s got the guts for the playoffs. He threw for 179 yards and rushed for 136 yards. The Ravens with no weather included will do just fine against the Bills defense. The Bills defense may get lucky with some precipitation which will make it harder to run for the Ravens. It will also help them cause turnovers. Or maybe even make mistakes on penalties. The Ravens are the 28th ranked team in giving up yards for free. They can’t do that against the Bills. Especially with Josh Allen he is an MVP candidate can’t give him second opportunities. Allen will deal with pressure from the Ravens like he did against the Colts. Allen doesn’t break in front of pressure. Last week Allen did exactly that not break with 324 yards, two touchdowns, and on 26/35 passing. Allen will have a tall task with that Raven’s defense. That defense is for real and they are pumped. As you could see when Marcus Peters caught that interception against Ryan Tannehill at the end of the Wildcard game. Once he picked it no hesitation on that defense to run to the logo and do their own dance. They are playing with intensity you need in the postseason. The Ravens defense held Derrick Henry who rushed for 2,000 yards in the regular season under fifty yards in a playoff game. The Bills will need Devin Singletary to have a better game than they did last week. You can lean on Allen but he is still young it’s hard to win playoff games as it is. Now with how the weather is looking it’ll be hard to throw the ball. The running game will be essential but will not be the thing that ends it all if it doesn’t get going. Allen can create plays on his own but some extra help would be great. The Ravens will have to watch Stefon Diggs, he had another big game last week with 128 yards with one touchdown on six catches. Don’t really think anyone can lock up Diggs in 2020-2021. Nonetheless he still will need to be watched. This matchup is my favorite one of the Divisional round. After a lot pondering on who will win. The Ravens are hot at the right time and in my opinion the Bills avoided losing because of the Colts not because of the Bills. Of course the Bills won the game but the Colts made the mistakes. The Ravens are the hot team and the Bills are hot as well. It’s tough but I’ll go with the Ravens on the road in a wild one. Jackson has a lot less pressure to win between his defense and other running options. Allen needs to do it himself like he did last week. It will be wild close game final score 31-28 Ravens. 

By Matthew Doherty