QB Jackson wary of snow in Ravens-Bills showdown
NEW YORK: Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson heard mention of snow in the forecast for tomorrow in Buffalo and he immediately became fearful of a playing surface that may cause tough sledding for his speedy feet.
Jackson might have to cope with such conditions when the fifth-seeded Ravens battle the second-seeded Buffalo Bills in an AFC divisional match-up tomorrow in Orchard Park, New York.
Early forecasts call for a 40 percent chance of snow and up to an inch of accumulation.
“That definitely would be my first time playing football in the snow — Saturday, if it does [snow],” said Jackson, a native of Pompano Beach, Florida. “Hopefully, it doesn’t.” Jackson is more interested in using his wheels on non-slippery terrain when he attempts to lead the Ravens past Josh Allen and the Bills.
Buffalo edged the Indianapolis Colts 27-24 last weekend in the wildcard round while the Ravens ousted the Tennessee Titans 20-13.
The play-off victory was the first for the Bills since Hall of Famers Jim Kelly and Thurman Thomas engineered a 37-22 win over the Miami Dolphins in a wildcard match-up on Dec 30, 1995.
Allen made it clear that the Bills didn’t arrive just to win one game and head into the off-season satisfied.
“It doesn’t matter what we did — it’s back to 0-0,” Allen said.
“They’re 0-0 and they’re coming into our house. We got another home game, and we have to prepare and get ready to go.”
The overwhelming belief is that this encounter will be decided by the quarterbacks.
Allen, in his third season, had the breakthrough campaign many anticipated, setting franchise records with 4,544 yards and 37 touchdown passes. He added 421 yards and eight scores on the ground.
He was on his game against the Colts, completing 26 of 35 passes for 324 yards and two touchdowns. Allen also ran for 54 yards and one score on 11 carries.
Jackson, also part of the 2018 draft class, was the NFL’s Most Valuable Player in 2019.
This season, he passed for 2,757 yards and 26 touchdowns and rushed for 1,005 yards and seven scores. He is the first quarterback in NFL history to top 1,000 rushing yards in consecutive seasons.
Jackson connected on 17 of 24 passes for 179 yards and one interception against the Titans. He did his real damage with his legs, rushing for 136 yards and one touchdown on 16 carries.
The touchdown came on a 48-yard scamper after Jackson dropped back to pass.
“Those are the type of plays that keep defensive coordinators up at night,” Bills defence coordinator Leslie Frazier said.
“When you see that, when guys are in position and they aren’t able to make that play because that player is so special on the other side.
“Lamar has done that in his short NFL career to the point where he’s been an MVP already. He’s capable of making you look bad at times. You just gotta be able to keep working and hopefully be able to corral him at some point.”