Wait over: Bills back in AFC title game
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — In what was supposed to be a showdown between the Bills’ Josh Allen and Ravens’ Lamar Jackson, Taron Johnson literally stole the show.
If not for the wall separating the field from the stands in the back of the east end zone, the Bills cornerback might still be running after returning an interception 101 yards for a touchdown that propelled the Bills to their first AFC championship game appearance in 27 years.
Johnson’s pick six of Jackson’s pass with 41 seconds remaining in the third quarter helped secure a 17-3 win over the Ravens in a divisional-round playoff game Saturday night.
“We’re excited. It’s not done yet, we’re not done yet,” Johnson exclaimed. “It’s just a blessing. Our defense stepped up to the challenge.”
Johnson’s return matched the longest in NFL history and punctuated a stellar defensive outing in which the Bills (15-3) limited the NFL’s top running offense to 150 yards on 32 carries.
Jackson, last season’s NFL MVP, was sacked three times and didn’t return after sustaining a concussion following the final play of the third quarter, and two plays after Johnson scored. He finished 14 of 24 for 162 yards passing, while being limited to 42 yards rushing on nine carries.
Allen, an MVP candidate this year, finished 23 of 37 for 206 yards and a touchdown.
In a season in which the Bills relied mostly on their dynamic Allen-led offense to outscore opponents, the third-year quarterback was gratified to see the Bills defense make a difference in a game the pass-happy attack was kept mostly in check.
“I can’t say enough words for what that game was for our defense,” Allen said. “Taron
Johnson’s is a play that people are going to remember for a long time here in Buffalo, potentially a franchise-altering play.”
The Bills advanced to the AFC championship game for the first time since 1994 on their way to making — and losing — their four consecutive Super Bowl appearance. The Bills also extended a season in which they have broken numerous droughts by claiming their first AFC East division title in 25 years and, with last week’s victory over the Colts, winning their first postseason game since the same year.
The Bills, have won eight straight to match their best streak since 1990 and will play the defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs on Sunday in Kansas City.
The fifth-seeded Ravens (12-6) had their season come to an end after leading the NFL in yards rushing for a second consecutive year.
The Ravens clinched their third playoff berth in three years by winning their final five regular-season games. The winning streak came after a 1-4 skid capped by a 19-14 road loss to the Steelers on Dec. 2 in a game rescheduled three times due to COVID-19 issues.
“It’s a sad moment, but this team has been through a lot,” tight end Mark Andrew said. “It’s tough right now, but teammates and coaches and camaraderie, it was a group of special guys that worked hard, came to work every day and didn’t take anything for granted. We’re going to hold our heads high and come back and work.”