(Photo: Fox Sports)

AFC Divisional Playoff

(3) Baltimore Ravens at (2) Buffalo Bills

Ravens: They’ve been humming as of late and the last time they lost a game was to the Philadelphia Eagles on December 1st. Since then, I’ve seen them move back into first place, dominate their competition and win the AFC North division title after being in second place looking up to the Pittsburgh Steelers. I remember after that loss to the Eagles, I was asked on the radio should this franchise move on from John Garbage and I immediately found myself shaking my head after I was asked that. John is still one of the best Head Coaches in the league, and he has adapted well with the way the game has changed over the years which is something many older coaches struggle to do, but he’s one of the few who have done well. Next, I answered a question with a question and said who would you find that’s better than he is? Always factor that into consideration when you’re thinking a Head Coach needs to be replaced. Against the Pittsburgh Steelers last weekend, they started quickly and never let up, but most importantly, they played Baltimore Ravens football which is smash mouth and down hill. What do I always say about Derrick Henry? When he is carrying the football between 21–26 times, that is your recipe for success, and you have a strong chance to win the football game. In his first playoff game with the Ravens, Derrick ran for 186 yards on 26 carries against a Steelers defense that’s been strong at stopping the running game all season long. All that was needed from Lamar Jackson was to control things and when this team plays how they did on Saturday night, not many can beat them. A defense that I called soft earlier in the year has really improved over the last month of the season, and they’re playing their best when it matters most. This Sunday night, they will make their way to Orchard Park to face the two seed in the AFC Playoffs.

Bills: When Bo Nix threw the early touchdown pass on Sunday, I was never worried because the winners of the AFC East have been down in a few games this year and found ways to climb back into the game. After the first quarter, it was all the home team, and they cruised to another win in the Wild Card round scoring 31 unanswered points. To me, it wasn’t the fact they won the game, it was the manner in how they won the football game as Josh Allen did his part as expected completing 20 of his 26 pass attempts with 272 yards passing and two touchdowns, but my biggest takeaway with how they fed James Cook the football and continued to run the football until Denver did something to stop it. The Buffalo Bills ran the football for 210 yards in their win on Sunday and that makes me so happy because it implies that balance is still key and when you run the football, good things will happen and as a very wise man mentions to me whenever we speak, the Bills must let James “Cook” and that’s exactly what they did. This was the best performance I’ve seen from this football team all year long, and I say that due to them attacking Denver with balance on offense and playing punishing defense. This is the healthiest the defense has been all year long, and it couldn’t be happening at a better time for them. I like the makeup of this team and this year, I’ve seen Josh mature so much as a Quarterback. Instead of always looking to bomb the ball down the field, he’s learning to take what a defense gives him and has mastered that perspective of the game. To wrap up the divisional round of the playoffs, the Bills will welcome Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens to town on Sunday night.

Ravens X-Factor: Kyle Hamilton– They are a much different, yet better defense when he is on the field. That’s the difference he makes for them. With the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, I called him the most athletic Safety in the country due to everything he was able to do on the football field. Kyle is one of those players you need to zoom in and circle on to know where he is at all times because he can play back in coverage, or play in the box and hover at the line of scrimmage. The Ravens also send him on blitzes, and he can get home to the Quarterback. He can destroy your game plan if he isn’t accounted for.

Bills X-Factor: Matt Milano– He maybe the most important piece to this Buffalo defense. When these two teams met earlier in the year, Matt was sidelined recovering from an injury, but this time around, he will be ready and on the field for his defense. When you watch Matt, the IQ immediately jumps out at you, and he is exactly where he needs to be to make the best possible play whether it’s stopping the run or picking up a Tight End over the middle in the flat. Watch the Bills on Sunday night when they play man coverage, he will have the assignment of accounting for Lamar.

Final Thoughts: I know this is the preview you all have been waiting for. It’s finally here and the NFL was smart to make this game the final game of the weekend and the old saying “saving the best for last” applies to this one as we have the two best Quarterbacks in the league this year getting ready to do battle with a trip to the AFC title game on the line! These two teams met on a Sunday night in September and I still remember the Ravens’ first play with the football. It was a Derrick Henry touchdown for 87 yards, and he scored without getting touched. After that, the Ravens wore the Bills down and kicked them in the teeth throughout the game and handed them their first loss of the season. Also in that game, Matt Milano, Terrel Bernard and Taron Johnson were all sidelined for the regular season showdown, but will be available for this game here. The more physical football team will win this game and Buffalo must assert that physicality early on, and they showed they can do that last weekend against the Broncos. One of the best ways to limit Lamar Jackson is to keep him on the sidelines and continue to let James “Cook”. Ball control will be a factor in this game. The game plan is simple for the Ravens here. First is to get Derrick Henry going as often as possible and this is exactly why he signed with Baltimore, for a game of this magnitude and the next thing is to keep Josh Allen from extending plays with his feet. Keep him mirrored and everything will fall into place. This will be a movie on Sunday night, and I’ve never been as excited to preview a playoff game as much as I have with this one. This will be close and don’t be surprised if this is a game that comes down to who has the football last. The Bills will be motivated after they were beat down by the Ravens in week four, and they get their revenge. The Bills will advance to their first AFC title game since the 2020 season.

Prediction: Bills 31, Ravens 27