ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Oh, you better believe the Buffalo Bills’ defense watched a hype video to prepare for Sunday night.
Not all will admit it, however.
“What were they all saying?” Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver asked a group of reporters in the frigid air outside their Highmark Stadium locker room. “I know you know. So what were they all saying?”
Oliver was playing dumb, so we humored his playfulness. We repeated all the reasons the Baltimore Ravens were the betting favorites to win and advance to the AFC Championship Game. Analysts all week noted the Bills’ 25-point loss in Week 4, their size discrepancies against Ravens tailback Derrick Henry, the difficulties in corralling all-galaxy quarterback Lamar Jackson.
But c’mon, Ed. You’ve been aware of all this because …
“I didn’t hear nothing!” Oliver interjected with an impish grin. “I’m trying to get it right now. So they said we weren’t big enough, weren’t physical enough?”
So I told him defensive linemate Jordan Phillips already revealed the Bills’ defense, as a unit, watched a reel of the naysayers and doubters and haters, talking trash about Buffalo and declaring Baltimore would win.
“Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah. Y’all don’t know that,” Oliver said, waving his hand. “That’s confidential.”
GO DEEPER
Allen, Bills edge Ravens 27-25 to reach AFC title game vs. Chiefs: Takeaways
Scandalous as it may sound, professional athletes actually do hear what’s being said about them. As much as they want you to believe they exist in a bubble and avoid all distractions and prevent such intrusive words from reaching their ears, there’s no point in pretending.
Buffalo responded with a 27-25 victory to close out their home season undefeated and return to the AFC title game for the first time in four years.
In a showdown headlined by the top two MVP favorites, Buffalo’s defense answered with the loudest plays at critical moments yet departed Highmark Stadium for the final time this season relieved Baltimore tight end Mark Andrews probably had the worst fourth quarter of his life.
“We had a video,” Phillips said. “Our highlight video this week was all the media people, talking s—. ‘They can’t do this. They can’t do that.’ Our coaches suck. We’re too small.
“Well, now what?”
And there was another thing that gnawed at the defense’s collective craw. The Ravens protected the football better that any team all season. The Bills were the best at taking it away. The challenge was obvious.
“That was our motto all week: Let’s see who’s better,” Phillips said.
The Ravens outgained the Bills 416-273, converted 70 percent of their third downs and should have tied the game with 93 seconds left, but Andrews dropped a two-point conversion pass right in his stomach. It was the only play that could’ve caused a Ravens fan more indigestion than their three turnovers without a takeaway.
The Bills are the first team in NFL history to win a postseason game by two points or fewer with a plus-three turnover ratio and no giveaways. (The 1994 Miami Dolphins and 2000 Indianapolis Colts managed to lose despite that combination.)
“That’s what all of these games are going to come down to,” Bills linebacker Terrel Bernard said. “If you’re still playing, you’re a great team. We know we’re going to make some plays; they’re going to make some plays. We expect it to come down to the wire every time.”
Now at 21 straight games, the Bills tied the 1952-53 Los Angeles Rams for the NFL record of consecutive games with an even or positive turnover margin.
Baltimore’s first two giveaways were vintage, playoff-dud Jackson. On back-t0-back possessions, he air-mailed an interception to deep safety Taylor Rapp in the first quarter and committed a reckless sequence that set the Bills up for a touchdown in the second quarter.
.@HamlinIsland with the strip…@VonMiller with the recovery!!!!!!!!!!
📺: @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/oIryFGmcx5
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) January 20, 2025
Jackson juggled a high snap and tried to scramble. Blitzing safety Damar Hamlin grabbed an ankle, and Jackson simply spun around and dropped the ball. Von Miller collected the fumble and chugged 39 yards to the Ravens’ 24-yard line. Four plays later, Allen shoved his way into the end zone from a yard out to give the Bills a 14-7 lead 8:49 before halftime.
“Tonight, turnovers, we can’t have that s—,” Jackson said. “That’s why we lost the game because, as you can see, we were moving the ball on the field. Just hold on to the f——- ball. Sorry for my language, but this s— annoying. I’m tired of this s—.”
The most pivotal takeaway occurred with 8:41 remaining in the game. The Ravens were down five points and marching. Tight end Mark Andrews was wide open, caught the ball and already had gained 16 yards. Bills linebacker Terrel Bernard Peanut-punched the ball away and fell on the fumble. Buffalo converted that turnover into a field goal and an eight-point lead with 3:29 to go.
“Biggest play of the game, bro. Not even close,” Bills cornerback Rasul Douglas said.
TB IN THE CLUTCH!!!
📺: @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/Q4yPvYIyCx
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) January 20, 2025
Buffalo defensive back Cam Lewis also forced a fumble, but Baltimore recovered and eventually scored the final touchdown.
Bernard was among three important defenders who didn’t play Week 4 in Baltimore, where the Bills lost by 25 points. Another was linebacker Matt Milano, who delivered three quarterback hits and deflected a two-point conversion pass in the third quarter. Bills nickelback Taron Johnson was the other one. He had three tackles and a pass breakup before leaving late in the game with a shoulder injury.
The motivation meter likely was already pegged in the red for those three, but the hype video might’ve broken the gauge.
“You try your best to ignore outside noise,” said Bernard, “but in games like this, moments like this, sometimes you can’t avoid it. We did see a video of outside people talking about what we can and can’t do.
“To make it this far in your career and to be a professional athlete, at some point you’ve been doubted. Everybody’s felt that. Everybody has had to deal with that. Somebody gives you motivation, you should take it.”
At a glance, Jackson and Henry posted respectable stat lines. They weren’t going to get erased from Baltimore’s offense. Jackson was 18 of 25 for 254 yards and two touchdowns and ran six times for 39 yards. Henry had 16 carries for 84 yards and a touchdown, although he dropped a pass while wide open up the left sideline on the opening drive.
Oliver laughed when asked whether he faced any wham blocks from 300-pound fullback Patrick Ricard or any traps from the Ravens’ offensive linemen. Oliver earlier in the week claimed he was preparing for them, but divulged Sunday night that was just a media okey doke.
“You know, I didn’t see one wham or one trap, so it must’ve worked,” Oliver said. “I was trying to throw a little wrench in their game, saying that I was aware of that, hoping to make them steer away from it. I’m not going to say if it did or it didn’t, but I was keyed into it and damn sure ready for it.”
Hmmm. So Oliver won’t admit to hearing what’s being said about the Bills but fully expected the Ravens to notice his quotes.
Josh Allen’s numbers were pedestrian albeit efficient, completing 16 of 22 passes for 127 yards and no touchdowns, but he ran for two scores — and didn’t commit any turnovers yet again. James Cook led Buffalo with 17 carries for 67 yards and had three catches for 15 yards, while rookie Ray Davis rushed for the other touchdown from a yard out to tie the game in the first quarter. Khalil Shakir was the leading receiver with six catches for 67 yards.
Asked to summarize the Bills’ defensive performance, what with all the explosive plays yet still needing some luck to close out the victory, Phillips was concise.
“Everyone said we can’t beat ’em,” Phillips said. “We found a way to win. So that’s the sum of it, right?”
(Top photo: Tina MacIntyre-Yee / USA Today)
