After the devastating loss to the Titians last year in the playoffs, the Baltimore Ravens opened the NFL Super Wild Card Weekend seeking revenge to get the win on the road against the team that eliminated them just a year ago. Going into the game, the Ravens had a bad taste in their mouth after losing 28-12 to the Titans in the 2019 playoffs. 

This year Lamar Jackson and the Ravens had other plans. After much criticism from the NFL world, Jackson needed to prove that he could win a playoff game. After trailing 10-3 late in the second quarter, the Ravens caught spark when Lamar Jackson scored a 48-yard touchdown run that tied the game at 10-10 just before going into halftime. 

In the second half, the strong Ravens defense would be enough to hold Derrick Henry to just 40 yards all game on the ground. Also, the Ravens defense held the Titans offense to the fewest points that they scored all season long. 

The Baltimore Ravens rallied back from a 10-point deficit where they came out victorious 20-13 when the clock struck triple zero in the fourth quarter, giving the Tennessee Titans their first home playoff loss in twelve years. 

In the post-game interview, Derrick Henry stated, “This definitely is going to sting probably in my mind for the rest of the year until we suit back up”.  

However, it was ultimately the Baltimore Ravens defense that played the biggest factor in this key playoff win. They slowed down an offense that was fourth-best in the NFL, averaging 30.7 points a game. The Ravens finished the game with a 401-209 edge in total offense yardage.

With Jackson rushing for 136 yards and throwing for 179 yards, he became just the sixth quarterback ever to have a 100-yard rushing game in the postseason. With the Ravens being 0-2 in Lamar Jackson’s previous playoffs starts in his career,  Jackson is making a statement that he has the potential to show up and perform in the playoffs. 

With no repeat of league MVP, Jackson and the Ravens have seemed to find a way to make a statement in the playoffs. The fifth-seeded Baltimore Ravens advance to the conference semifinal to face the 14-3 Buffalo Bills. 

Going into this game, the Bills are projected to beat the Ravens by a three-point win. With a talented Ravens defense and the Bills explosive offense, it is going to come down to which team can be stopped in the red zone. 

Anticipating that Lamar will have his second straight game rushing over 100 yards, the Bills defense has not allowed a quarterback to gain more than 61 yards rushing over the past two seasons, containing Kyler Murray, Cam Newton and even Lamar Jackson to 40 rushing yards. 

During a press conference earlier this week, Ravens defensive coordinator, Don Martindale, was asked how the Ravens will slow down Josh Allen and the Bills. 

Martindale said, “To paint a picture for you all, it’s young Ben Roethlisberger, because of his size and hoe he extends plays, with like Dan Marino arm is what I told the secondary coaches and the defensive staff”. 

The Ravens defense will very much respect Josh Allen and the Bills going into this game. But that won't stop them from sending the heavy pressure at the Bills quarterback. With the stakes being high and both teams coming off a tough first-round wins, the battle in the trenches will determine the winner of this Saturday night match in Orchard Park.