"This is what everyone's been waiting for, right," is what head coach Sean McDermott said after Sunday's win against the Denver Broncos in anticipation for their game against the Baltimore Ravens.
The Bills and the Ravens have been on a collision course since they faced off in Week 4 of the 2024 season and both teams have quarterbacks that are squarely in the running to be NFL's MVP. Here's what the experts are saying as the Bills enter the Divisional round of the playoffs.
Buscaglia said after Sunday's win that the Bills dominated along their offensive line, which has been a point of emphasis for the Bills all year. The line has been the engine for everything for the Bills this season and will continue to be an integral part of their season moving forward.
"The Bills offensive line, as it's been all year, was the engine of their offense, and should they finally push into the Super Bowl this year, it will likely be one of the most significant reasons that it happens."- Buscaglia
According to Chadiha, while the Bills' championship aspirations are on the shoulders of QB Josh Allen, RB James Cook has carved out a critical role for the Bills offense and his physicality will be a key part against the Ravens.
"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… His ability to gain yardage behind a dominant offensive line allowed Buffalo to wear down a disruptive Broncos defense and set up Allen to succeed with play-action passing later in the contest… This is a scary element that Buffalo can lean into in the coming weeks."
ESPN's Seth Walder said that the reason that the Bills will win is because of Josh Allen's ability to deliver with his legs and his ability to extend plays along with his arm, along with playing behind one of the best offensive lines in the NFL.
"Forgive the obvious answer here, but it's just the reality. It's fourth-and-short? Allen can deliver with his legs and barrel through a defense for a conversion. Third-and-long? He can unleash an absurd pass like his outrageous touchdown throw to Ty Johnson in the wild-card round (which actually came on fourth-and-1, but you get the idea). And he does all that while being the best in the NFL at limiting mistakes. He had the lowest sack rate (2.6%) and ranked second in turnover rate (1.2%) through the regular season."
"And the fact that he plays behind an offensive line that ranked third in pass block win rate in the regular season -- and allowed only two sacks against a great Denver defense -- certainly helps. As does the support Allen receives from his running backs. No team generated more EPA on running back targets than Buffalo." - Walder
Breer's key take away of this matchup is that it will be electric because both teams look rested and look like they are peaking at this point in the season.
"Both teams look rested and like they're peaking. And we're going to start in Buffalo where, on Sunday, the Bills looked again like a punches-in-bunches kind of juggernaut—where a close game can get out of hand quickly."- Breer
The Bills LT appeared on The Herd with Colin Cowherd and said that this is the best that this team has felt in his time as being a Buffalo Bill. He added that Josh Allen being upbeat is a positive for this team.
"Yes, this is the best that that I've felt. This is the best that the team has felt. This is the best that I've seen Josh. This is the best that I've seen McDermott. This is the best that I've seen. My coordinator. And with having a quarterback with his head calm and his head on, you know, just calm, cool and collected all day, every day, that takes a big toll on the team. He comes in to work every day positive… This is the best Buffalo Bills team I have ever been a part of in my eight seasons that I've been here."- Dawkins
Schrager called on the audience to appreciate the matchup that will take place on Sunday night, saying that instead of pitting the two quarterbacks against each other, that everyone should be excited for this game.
"I go to these two men coming in at their all-time best riding high, and I'm just gonna make a plea right now for the viewers, let's not try to tear the other one down this week. 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. They're coming in and they're both playing awesome football. Both teams look unstoppable right now. And instead of making it Josh versus Lamar this week, maybe we just try on for size, making it Josh and Lamar because gosh I cannot wait for this game 6:30 Sunday afternoon."- Schrager
Orlovsky spoke about the impact that LB Matt Milano has had on the defense since his return to action and how he will make an impact against the Ravens.
"If you go back to that first game, one of the massive takeaways was, oh my gosh, they just took advantage of Buffalo's eyes and they had them completely running side to side, and it just vacated space and it was kind of, you know, in a in a mocking way, so easy for Baltimore. So, to have the discipline of that group back is going to be huge. To have the speed of that group back is going to be huge. I also think just having the ability, and I'm not saying that it's going to be a pin to shut out, but 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."- Orlovsky
Cowherd ranked the Bills No. 1 in his divisional round 'Herd Hierarchy' sighting the talent that this Bills team has, once again saying that this is the best version of Buffalo.
"There's never been a team in pro football that had 30 passing touchdowns and over 30 rushing touchdowns. Not only do they win at home all, but one home game was a blowout, seven wins by 20 points. I think this offense is incredible… This team right now is so good offensively, left tackle, quarterback, weapons, run game, I have 'em number one by an inch. I think this is the year, I think this is the best version of Buffalo."- Cowherd
Fitzpatrick, who will be the Legend of the Game for this game, said that all eyes will be on this game on Sunday night. He said that this game could come down to fourth downs and the Bills limiting the Ravens explosive plays.
"All eyes are going to be on that one Sunday night… This is going to come down to third and fourth down. How these quarterbacks perform third and fourth down - because you know now, we're going to get those opportunities. [They'll say] gosh should they kick the field goal or go for it on 4th-and-2, 4th-and-3? You saw Washington (on Sunday) go for it fourth downs. This is the type of game it's going to be. ... Fourth down is the new thing and when you have Josh Allen in shotgun or Lamar in shotgun they have the ability to throw it or tuck it and run. That's what this game is going to come down to and I can't wait."- Fitzpatrick
McAfee expressed his excitement for this game saying that this game is about which quarterback can finally make it over the hump and that he and the entire world are ready to watch this game.
"It's like two perfect quarterbacks drafted to perfect places that have gotten behind them in such a way that have led both of their teams to a position of, 'hey, let's go win the big one…' It's like Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson have become the rivalry that it is in the highly anticipated fight this upcoming weekend, because we're both, like all of us are thinking, which one of these guys is going to be, which one of these guys is going to finally get over the hump, and I'm eager to watch it… What a perfect stage for the NFL to have. next weekend."- McAfee
The former NFL head coach believes that the team that wins this game will be favorites in the AFC Championship game and that they will have to be ready to go to face the winner of the Chiefs, Texans game.
"I could see whichever team wins this Baltimore Buffalo match up being the favorite next week in the AFC championship game. Baltimore and Buffalo are going to be - whichever team survives is going to be ready to go into Kansas City."- Belichick
