by A dropped catch on a snow-covered field in Buffalo was all that separated the Bills and the Baltimore Ravens, and a 27-25 victory sent the hosts into the AFC Championship Game.
Trailing by two points with just over 90 seconds left, Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson appeared to have tied the game by scoring on a two-pointer with Mark Andrews.
However, Andrews was unable to keep the ball in the end zone, and from there Buffalo ran out the clock to set up a mouth-watering AFC title duel with the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.
Earlier, Baltimore got off to a perfect start when Jackson found Rashod Bateman in the end zone on the game’s first drive.
Buffalo responded with running back Ray Davis, taking the lead early in the second quarter on a one-yard touchdown rush from quarterback Josh Allen.
Allen’s second rushing touchdown came just before halftime, giving the Bills a 21-10 lead at halftime.
Baltimore was able to cut the deficit to two with a field goal and a touchdown in the third quarter, but a failed two-point conversion kept Buffalo in the lead until the fourth quarter.
The Bills pushed their lead back to eight points with two field goals, but a 24-yard touchdown reception to Isaiah Likely briefly kept the Ravens’ hopes alive before Andrews dropped the catch.
Jackson had two touchdowns and an interception on the night, while Allen threw for 127 yards for his two rushing touchdowns.
Meanwhile, Saquon Barkley scored two touchdowns as the Philadelphia Eagles secured their spot in the NFC Championship Game with a 28-22 win over the Los Angeles Rams.
After an explosive first quarter that featured three touchdowns, a tough battle at snowy Lincoln Financial Field was dominated by field goals before Philadelphia capitalized on errors from the Rams.
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was sacked seven times in the game, including once for a safety, putting the Rams within a point of their opponents, but two fourth-quarter fumbles by Los Angeles allowed kicker Jake Elliott to score twice to score before Barkley scored a brilliant 78-yard touchdown.
Philadelphia held off a late comeback after Matthew Stafford threw his second touchdown with just under three minutes to play, and the Eagles face the Washington Commanders in the NFC Championship playoff.
In a pulsating opening period, the Eagles took advantage as Hurts evaded the Rams’ defense and sprinted for a rushing touchdown, but Elliott’s field goal was no good.
The Rams responded as Stafford hit Tyler Higbee and Joshua Karty’s extra point gave them the lead before Barkley burst through a gap and scored a 62-yard touchdown, with Elliot adding the extra point.
Los Angeles equalized with two Karty field goals on either side of halftime, and although Elliott’s kick put the Eagles back in the lead, the visitors threatened again when Hurts was sacked in the end zone by Neville Gallimore and Keir Thomas for a safety.
Philadelphia then got the ball back early in the fourth quarter when Kyren Williams fumbled, and the resulting drive ended with Elliott kicking through the uprights.
Another fumble followed Stafford’s sack, meaning the Eagles once again took advantage with Elliot making his third field goal of the game and Barkley extending their lead by rushing 78 yards down the field.
The Rams threatened a late comeback when Stafford connected with Colby Parkinson in the end zone and a promising drive ended in the final seconds when Jalen Carter got his second sack of the game before Stafford threw an incomplete pass.
