Buffalo Bills vs Baltimore Ravens prediction, NFL Playoff AFC Divisional game preview.
Buffalo Bills vs Baltimore Ravens Broadcast
Date: Saturday, January 16
Game Time: 8:15 ET
Venue: Bills Stadium, Orchard Park, NY
Network: NBC
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Buffalo Bills (14-3) vs Baltimore Ravens (12-5) Game Preview
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Why The Baltimore Ravens Will Win
Lamar Jackson continues to be magnificent.
There’s this notion that he wasn’t the same MVP Lamar Jackson over the first part of the season, but that’s sort of wrong. He was throwing a bit more and running a whole lot less, but now it’s just a bit more noticeable – especially when he’s tearing off brilliant 48-yard touchdown runs like he did in the 20-13 Wild Card win over Tennessee.
Jackson on the move is one of the most devastating weapons in football, and after running for fewer than ten times five of the first six games, he’s carrying it ten times or more in nine of the last ten games.
The mistakes aren’t happening – the Ravens haven’t turned it over more than once in their last six games – and to go along with the boost in Jackson’s production, the defensive side has taken things to another level.
It bottled up Derrick Henry for just 40 yards lsat week, didn’t allow too many third down conversions, and it all worked. Get the D off the field, get Jackson moving, and control the game.
Baltimore held the ball for almost 34 minutes last week – almost seven more minutes. Indianapolis held the ball for over 34 minutes last week in the loss to Buffalo, but failed a bit too often when it had its chances in the 27-24 loss.
Control the clock and score every time in the red zone, and it should work, but …
– Why Buffalo Bills Will Win
– What’s Going To Happen, Who’ll Win
NEXT: Why The Buffalo Bills Will Win
Why The Buffalo Bills Will Win
Buffalo, New York might just go Buffalo, New York.
It’s not like Baltimore is Cancun, but there’s a difference between living and working in the mid-40s and playing a football game in 30ish and snow.
Lamar Jackson has never played in the snow.
That’s not to say Baltimore can’t play in bad weather – it’s supposed to snow on Saturday in Orchard Park and be around 30, at best, during the game – and on the flip side, the conditions should be perfect for what it does. However, this is where the home field advantage side of things is supposed to kick in for the Bills.
They didn’t play all that well against an Indianapolis team that had the perfect mix of positives to pull off the win in the Wild Card round, they never had control of the game, but they were still able to take advantage of just about every opportunity when pressed.
It was a stress test for Josh Allen and a Bill team that hadn’t needed to deal with a whole lot of drama since mid-October, they passed. It’s not just about Allen, though.
The focus will be on the matchup of the phenomenal quarterbacks, but Buffalo has a defense, too. Tennessee’s defense has been rocky all year – to be nice – and Baltimore managed 401 yards. Buffalo allowed over 450 yards in each of the last two games and won, but that’s an anomaly.
If Jackson isn’t hitting pinpoint passes to covered receivers like Philip Rivers was doing early on last week, the O isn’t going to be consistent.
– What’s Going To Happen, Who’ll Win
NEXT: What’s Going To Happen, Who’s Going To Win The AFC Divisional Playoff
What’s Going To Happen, Who’s Going To Win The AFC Divisional Playoff
Baltimore has been brilliant on third downs on both sides of the ball. Like Indianapolis, it has the makeup and the ability to grind down the clock and keep Josh Allen and the high-powered Bill offense on the sidelines. However …
Buffalo leads the NFL in third down conversions. It’ll hit enough of them.
This won’t exactly be a carbon copy of the Bills’ win over the Colts – Lamar Jackson is just a wee bit more explosive than Philip Rivers – but it’ll be close.
It’ll seem like the Ravens are dominating the game early on, but Buffalo will hold firm allowing field goals instead of touchdowns. The Bills aren’t going to be held to 209 yards like Tennessee was.
The Ravens won’t generate enough of a pass rush on Josh Allen, he’ll do a great job of spreading the ball around, and Buffalo will flip the script a bit and control the clock in the fourth quarter as it hangs on in a tough, grinding game.
– CFN Experts Picks: NFL Playoffs Divisional
Buffalo Bills vs Baltimore Ravens Prediction, Line
Buffalo 23, Baltimore 20
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Buffalo -2.5, o/u: 50
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3
Must See Rating: 5
5: Tiger
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