In a game with so much at stake, the Ravens made the critical mistakes.
Baltimore suffered a heartbreaking 27-25 loss to the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Divisional Round. Their fourth-quarter rally ended in agonizing fashion, when Mark Andrews dropped a two-point conversion pass from Lamar Jackson that would have tied the game with 1:33 left to play.
The Ravens committed three costly turnovers and Baltimore's season came to a cold conclusion in snowy Buffalo. The Ravens fell a game short of returning to the conference championship game, where a rematch against the Kansas City Chiefs would have been waiting.
Instead, it's the Bills who will face the Chiefs, while the Ravens will spend another offseason wondering what might have been.
Here are my thoughts on a playoff loss that will sting the Ravens like frostbite:
Turnovers aren't usually the Ravens' undoing, which makes this loss even harder to swallow.
Jackson, who threw just four interceptions all season, committed two turnovers (an interception and fumble) for the first time since Week 10 of the 2023 season.
Andrews lost a fumble for the first time since 2019, which was a surprising development even before his drop on the attempted two-point conversion.
It was cold and the football was slippery, but the Ravens usually avoid the kind of mistakes that cost them this game.
"If we protect the ball, we're not having this conversation," Jackson said. "I'm the leader, I've got to protect the ball."
Jackson's fumble in the second quarter led to a Bills touchdown. Andrews' fourth-quarter fumble was a key momentum swing with the Ravens on the move and trailing by five points with a chance to take the lead. Andrews had the ball punched out and recovered by Buffalo linebacker Terrell Bernard with 8:41 left to play, which led to an 11-play Buffalo drive for a field goal.
Playing their second straight game without leading wide receiver Zay Flowers (knee), the Ravens kept fighting and scored their final touchdown to set up the potential game-tying play. But in the end, it wasn't enough.
"We have not been a team that turns the ball over," Head Coach John Harbaugh said. "We did turn it over in this game."
The Ravens will rally around Andrews.
To a man, the Ravens stood up for Andrews, one of the team's most respected players who returned from a serious ankle injury in 2023 to have another stellar season. The way Sunday's game played out will hurt Andrews, but his teammates will help him deal with it.
"One play doesn't define anybody, he's the all-time touchdown leader in Ravens history," All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton said. "For anybody to say anything about him, you've got to look in the mirror and really evaluate your thought process, what he's done for this franchise, what he will do for this franchise in the future. He's been a consistent beacon of success the whole time he's been here."
The wait for to win a Super Bowl continues in the Jackson era.
Much of the pregame hype centered around quarterbacks Jackson and Josh Allen. Jackson battled until the end, and his eight-play 88-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter would have been part of Ravens lore if Andrews had made the two-point conversion catch and Baltimore had advanced.
Instead, it was part of another frustrating playoff loss for Jackson, who may win his third MVP trophy but would rather have the Lombardi Trophy. He and Allen shook hands after the game, with Jackson wishing he had a game to play next weekend.
Individually, it was Jackson's best season, but it's not one he will treasure because he's still striving for a championship.
"I don't even think we punted tonight – three turnovers got us off the field," Jackson said. "I'm just as hurt as Mark. All of us played a factor in that game. It's a team effort. I've got to get over this. We were right there. I'm tired of being right there."
This loss will test the Ravens' resiliency, but there's no questioning their effort.
Baltimore has made the playoffs five times since Jackson and Andrews were drafted in 2018, but they have not reached the Super Bowl during that period. This was the Ravens' second playoff loss to Allen and the Buffalo Bills, and despite winning their second straight AFC North title, this group of Ravens is still searching for its path to a championship.
The Ravens showed tremendous resolve in the second half after trailing by 11 points at halftime. The defense made adjustments, Jackson and many others made plays, and the Ravens almost pulled off what would've been a marvelous comeback.
Baltimore seemed to be peaking at the right time this season and had won five straight games heading into this matchup. But the end came suddenly, and each year it hurts.
"I'm proud of this team," Harbaugh said. "I told these guys to hold their heads high. We didn't win this game. Disappointing. We didn't do the things we needed to do to win this game." I have nothing but admiration for them in every single way.
"It's tough to win playoff games. It's tough to get to the playoffs. Whoever wins the Super Bowl, man they earned it."
Extra Points:
- Rashod Bateman opened the scoring with a 16-yard touchdown catch to give Baltimore a 7-0 lead. Before this game, the Ravens were 9-0 when Bateman scored a TD.
- Taking advantage of turnovers was nothing new for Buffalo. The Bills have not lost the turnover battle in any game this season.
- Derrick Henry (16 carries, 84 yards) saw his streak of four straight games with at least 138 yards come to an end. The Ravens had trouble getting their rushing attack going in the first half but found their footing in the second.
- The Bills rushed for 147 yards and averaged 4.1 yards per carry, led by James Cook (17 carries, 67 yards).
- The Ravens had three turnovers in just one other game this season, an 18-16 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
