In the playoff clash between the Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills on Sunday, the outcome didn’t affect the ongoing NFL MVP race since all votes had already been cast.

The main takeaway from this elimination game, which showcased Lamar Jackson going head-to-head with Josh Allen, is that Allen is moving forward in pursuit of a Super Bowl title, while Jackson faced yet another playoff letdown.

The Bills took advantage of three turnovers by the Ravens – including two committed by Jackson. The game concluded with a narrow 27-25 win after Andrews failed to catch what could have been a game-tying two-point conversion in the last two minutes, earning Buffalo a spot in the AFC championship game.

Buffalo is set to play against the Kansas City Chiefs next Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium. The Bills managed to defeat the Chiefs earlier in the season with a 30-21 victory at Highmark Stadium in Week 11, but historically, Kansas City has triumphed over Buffalo in all three playoff encounters since Patrick Mahomes became the starting quarterback.

Jackson orchestrated an impressive eight-play, 88-yard touchdown drive, finishing with a 24-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Likely with 1:33 remaining. However, during the crucial two-point conversion attempt, Jackson found an open Andrews, who unfortunately dropped the pass, squandering Baltimore’s chance to extend the game into overtime.

“Mark has more heart, cares more, and fights harder than anyone,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh stated, defending his Pro Bowl tight end. “We wouldn’t have made it this far without him.”

Following a pair of touchdown drives by both teams to kick off the game, Jackson threw an interception to safety Taylor Rapp during the Ravens’ second drive. Although the Bills couldn’t capitalize immediately and went three-and-out, Jackson fumbled the ball on the following drive. The Bills’ Von Miller returned the fumble 39 yards, enabling Allen to rush into the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown, giving the Bills a 14-7 edge midway through the second quarter.

In the fourth quarter, linebacker Terrel Bernard stripped Andrews of the ball after a reception and recovered the fumble. The Bills then controlled the clock with an 11-play, 52-yard drive, but only managed to score a field goal by Tyler Bass after Allen got stopped at the Baltimore 2-yard line.

“Just hold onto the (expletive) ball,” Jackson expressed his frustration following the game regarding his turnovers. “I apologize for the language. This (expletive) is frustrating. I’m done with this (expletive).”

Buffalo has progressed past the divisional round for the first time since the 2020 season.

Despite the anticipation surrounding the matchup, both Allen and Jackson struggled to find their rhythm on a frigid night. Allen ran for two touchdowns but only threw for 127 yards, while Jackson managed to accumulate 254 yards through the air, mainly during the final drive.