5 Baltimore Ravens at 2 Buffalo Bills
Saturday, January 16
8:15, NBC
Bills Stadium, Orchard Park, NY
Knee-Jerk Instant Analysis: Baltimore is playing its best football of the season at the exact right time.
Lamar Jackson was brilliant against Tennessee, the defense stuffed Derrick Henry, and this was the confident, tough team that rolled through the end of the regular season with five straight wins.
The Colts were always going to be a tough matchup for the Bills – they control the clock and have the great lines and veteran QB – but Josh Allen and the Bill offense didn’t blink. They didn’t have the ball all that much, but when they did, they were explosive.
Here’s Buffalo’s problem – third downs. It lives off of them offensively – leading the league in third down conversions – but Baltimore is second in the NFL in third down stops and Lamar and that attack are fourth in the league at keeping the chains moving.
The Ravens have the defense that’s humming, and they have Lamar Jackson, JK Dobbins, and a running game that should rip through a Buffalo run defense that gives up way too many yards per carry.
Knee-Jerk No Research Prediction: Baltimore 34, Buffalo 30
Early Line No Look Guess: Buffalo -5
Actual BetMGM Line: Buffalo -3, o/u: 50
NFL Playoff Divisional Round First Thought Predictions
– Los Angeles at Green Bay
– Cleveland at Kansas City
– Tampa Bay at New Orleans