đź‘Ť1. Josh and Lamar not Josh vs Lamar
Stop me if you've heard this before- the Buffalo Bills and the Baltimore Ravens face off in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. The last time this happened was in the 2020 AFC Divisional Round and both teams look different today than they did even in Week 4 of the 2024 season when they last faced off.
"I feel like we've grown quite a bit since that game," QB Josh Allen said. "Going back and watching it obviously wasn't our best effort. Felt like we didn't play our best football. But they got a really good team too. They're playing this week for a reason… They got a lot of studs over there, led by Lamar, obviously, and it's a tough team to play regardless."
This is one of the most anticipate matchups of the postseason so far because of the two MVP favorites going toe-to-toe in an attempt to get their team over the hump to play against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship game and compete for a Super Bowl.
"It's like Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson have become the rivalry that it is in the highly anticipated fight this upcoming weekend, because all of us are thinking, which one of these guys is going to finally get over the hump, and I'm eager to watch it," ESPN's Pat McAfee said. "What a perfect stage for the NFL to have."
The two MVP favorites are facing off in the first playoff matchup in NFL history between quarterbacks who each had 40+ touchdowns and fewer than 10 giveaways in the regular season and were the only two to do so.
Allen and Jackson are 2-2 all-time against each other, including playoffs. The two also have gone back-and-forth for most career rushing yards in the playoffs.
NFL Network's Peter Schrager called on the audience watching this game to appreciate this game for what it is, saying that it should be "Josh and Lamar week" instead of "Josh versus Lamar" and Ryan Fitzpatrick said that all eyes are going to be on this game on Sunday night.
"I go to these two men coming in at their all-time best riding high… Let's build this up for what it is, a great divisional round matchup, one of the all-time best quarterback matchups we've ever seen in divisional round and let's enjoy it," Schrager said.
On Friday morning's Get Up on ESPN, analyst and former NFL Safety Ryan Clark said that this game is a career-defining game for both quarterbacks.
"It's not about who's the MVP," Clark said. "It's about who shows up best for their team in that moment."
👨‍🍳2. Run, guys, run!
The quarterbacks are obviously a major piece of the game, but the running backs are key pieces to this chess game as well.
On SportsCenter, Hall of Fame safety Ed Reed described Henry as the queen piece on a chess board.
"You got to utilize that piece to its highest potential," Reed said.
That could also be said for the Bills' James Cook and the Bills offensive line.
Cook has been a key piece for the Bills all season long, leading the team in rushing touchdowns.
NFL.com's Jeffri Chadiha said that while Josh Allen is obviously the biggest reason the Bills will have success, the X-factor for the Bills is Cook and his ability to run the football and that will be tested on Sunday.
"As much as the Bills' championship hopes rest on the shoulders of quarterback Josh Allen, Cook has carved out his own role as a critical player in this team's pursuit of that elusive Lombardi Trophy," Chadiha wrote. "This is a scary element that Buffalo can lean into in the coming weeks. It speaks to the trust this team has in its run game and Cook, who ran for 1,009 yards and scored 18 total touchdowns this season… The Bills must be the more physical team to win this time around, needing to ease the pressure on their own defense."
🥶3. Cold temperature, no problem
One more key difference between the last time that these two teams played - the Bills are at home, a place that they have not lost in nine regular season and postseason games.
Temperature at kickoff is projected to be 16 degrees with a feel like temperature of 11 degrees and will not change much throughout the game. There may also be some flurries.
The Bills are no stranger to playing in cold weather. Sean McDermott's record when playing in games when the temperature drops below 32 degrees is 14-2, which is the best record in the NFL since 1991.
"Home advantage in the playoffs is massive," RT Spencer Brown said. "Playing here in our stadium, I think it's one of the hardest environments to play in, especially the playoffs. Think it's about to be eight degrees, hopefully 40 mile an hour winds and three feet of snow is kind of what I want. But, Bills Mafia will show out. There's no doubt about that."
Despite all of the cold weather, Bills Mafia is expected to show up and show out for this game and the players are excited about the environment that will created and Allen hopes "Mr. Brightside" will be playing at the end of the game.
"Hopefully very loud when they're on offense and second and third down, and making it hard for them, just the energy, the juice, the vibes," Allen said. "Our goal is to get to the fourth quarter and have Mr. Brightside playing. I know the fans love that but that gives us such a little shot of energy that we're gonna need going into this game."
🔑4. Key guys come back
Health is the name of the game at this point in the playoffs and the Bills are seemingly getting healthy at the right time.
When they last saw Baltimore, the Bills were without starters and key players across the defense including LB Terrel Bernard, LB Matt Milano and CB Taron Johnson due to injury, S Taylor Rapp left in the second quarter due to a concussion.
"You can never replace your key guys and I think all those are key guys and just having them back make is going to make a huge difference for us, I truly believe that," DT DaQuan Jones said. "Having those guys back will be huge for us."
Scroll to see the best photos from Friday's practice as the Buffalo Bills prepare to face the Baltimore Ravens.
Connor McGovern (66), Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Zach Davidson (84). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Ryan Van Demark (74). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Spencer Brown (79). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Spencer Brown (79). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Spencer Brown (79). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Javon Solomon (56), Greg Rousseau (50). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Micah Hyde (23). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Dalton Kincaid (86). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Amari Cooper (18). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Spencer Brown (79), Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Curtis Samuel (1). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Mack Hollins (13). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Sean McDermott. Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Mitchell Trubisky (11). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Zach Davidson (84). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Ty Johnson (26). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Dion Dawkins (73). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Javon Solomon (56), Greg Rousseau (50). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Spencer Brown (79). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Sam Martin (8). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Jordan Phillips (97). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Ryan Van Demark (74). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Amari Cooper (18). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Spencer Brown (79). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Zach Davidson (84). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Tyreek Maddox-Williams (49). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Spencer Brown (79). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
DeWayne Carter (90). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Sean McDermott. Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Spencer Brown (79). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
David Edwards (76). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Mack Hollins (13). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Alec Anderson (70). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
O'Cyrus Torrence (64). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Micah Hyde (23). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Dion Dawkins (73), Alec Anderson (70). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Alec Anderson (70). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Taron Johnson (7). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Zach Davidson (84), Tylan Grable (68), Ryan Van Demark (74), Alec Anderson (70), Sedrick Van Pran-Granger (62). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Dion Dawkins (73). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
O'Cyrus Torrence (64). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Damar Hamlin (3). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Dion Dawkins (73). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Dion Dawkins (73). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Ryan Van Demark (74). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Dion Dawkins (73). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Ryan Van Demark (74). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Dion Dawkins (73). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Ed Oliver (91). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Dawson Knox (88). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
. Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
A.J. Epenesa (57), Rasul Douglas (31), DaQuan Jones (92), Jordan Phillips (97), Dawuane Smoot (94). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Terrel Bernard (43). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Rasul Douglas (31). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Dawson Knox (88). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
James Cook (4). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Keon Coleman (0). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Spencer Brown (79). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Sean McDermott. Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
James Cook (4). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Terrel Bernard (43), Matt Milano (58). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Dalton Kincaid (86). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
KJ Hamler (19). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Taron Johnson (7). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Matt Milano (58). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Mack Hollins (13). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Mack Hollins (13). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
O'Cyrus Torrence (64), Spencer Brown (79), Connor McGovern (66), Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Dion Dawkins (73). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Mack Hollins (13). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Spencer Brown (79). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Connor McGovern (66), Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
James Cook (4). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Dawson Knox (88). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Keon Coleman (0), Josh Allen (17), Reggie Gilliam (41), Dawson Knox (88). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Dalton Kincaid (86). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Dawson Knox (88). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Taylor Rapp (9). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Cole Bishop (24), Taron Johnson (7), Taylor Rapp (9). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Daequan Hardy (25). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Curtis Samuel (1). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Sean McDermott. Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Daequan Hardy (25). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Ray Davis (22). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Dalton Kincaid (86). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Christian Benford (47). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Amari Cooper (18). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
James Cook (4). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
James Cook (4). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Taylor Rapp (9). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Curtis Samuel (1). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Keon Coleman (0). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Amari Cooper (18). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Amari Cooper (18). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Keon Coleman (0). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Brandon Beane. Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Amari Cooper (18). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Ray Davis (22). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Brandon Beane. Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Dalton Kincaid (86). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Mike White (14). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Divisional Round Friday practice, January 17, 2025 at Highmark Stadium.
This time around, the Bills have all of their key defensive players back and they are ready to take on the challenge of the Ravens.
In his weekly appearance on One Bills Live, ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky said that Milano could be a key factor in helping this Bills defense in tackling Lamar Jackson and trying to contain the two-time MVP.
"If you go back to that first game, one of the massive takeaways was, they just took advantage of Buffalo's eyes," Orlovsky said. "To have the discipline of that group back is going to be huge… just have the ability for Milano to be in some situations, spying, on Lamar is going to be a huge deal in some of those past game situations… I think Milano would be a prime candidate to be that person, more often than not."
🔋5. Matching energy
Winning the line of scrimmagehas been a point of emphasis from the Bills offensive and defensive lines and head coach Sean McDermott all week. Tackling was one other point that McDermott added as being important every week, but especially this week.
"I mean it's Ravens football, man, you know what they're known for the physicality and how they run the football and especially having Derrick and Lamar back there," Jones said. "So just making sure we're all in the right mindset, the right frame of mind to go out there and play a real physical game."
The Bills dominated the line of scrimmage on offense in their win against the Broncos, rushing to the tune of 210 yards and will need to dominate once again against a group that was second in the NFL in sacks.
Helping the Bills is that their offensive line has played together for 877 snaps, the most by any single offensive line combination in the NFL this season.
LT Dion Dawkins said on Thursday that the Ravens defense presents a lot of challenges because of the different schemes that they run and the different moving parts that they have, but the unit will be ready to match their unit.
"We have to match and hit them straight on and just be prepared of the moving parts, because that's what their defense does well," Dawkins said. "They get you on their toes, and they'll get you thinking that it's coming here, but it's really coming here, instead of, you know, sticking to what we do best. It could trick you if you aren't studying, but we do a good job of studying."
