Lamar Jackson finally did it. The reigning NFL MVP got the first playoff win of the Baltimore Ravens star quarterback's young career on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.
Sure, Jackson's 2020 season isn't as good as his 2019 MVP campaign, but Jackson has really turned it around the past few weeks.
The Ravens now will pack their bags and head to Buffalo to take on a Bills team that is the best Buffalo has seen in the past couple of decades.
Both the Bills and Ravens are coming off Wild Card weekend one-score victories, and a Josh AllenāLamar Jackson matchup is going to be spectacular.
Here are a few predictions on how the Ravens can defeat the Bills on Saturday evening.
1. Run, Lamar, Run
It's no secret that Jackson can run the ball. That's been the case since high school, and he won the Heisman Trophy at Louisville largely in part to his ability to run the football.
Jackson has been perhaps the most dangerous running quarterback the league has seen since Micheal Vickāand for good reason. The Ravens signal-caller rushed for over 1,000 yards in his second straight season and had three games with more than 100 rushing yards this season.
Jackson's fresh off a 16-carry, 136-yard performance in the Wild Card round against the Titans. He scorched the Titans defense for a 48-yard touchdown scamper at the end of the second quarter and sealed the game with a couple of huge runs at the end of the fourth quarter.
There is a six-percent chance of snow in Buffalo for Saturday night, so that's certainly a factor. Nonetheless, Jackson's rushing ability and prowess will be a huge part of the game if the Ravens want to move on to the next round and inch that much closer to a Super Bowl berth.
Let Jackson run, and the Ravens will be in good shape.
Prediction: Lamar Jacksonā21 carries, 158 yards, two scores.
2. Hollywood Time
The Ravens passing game has been average at best in 2020. Tight end Mark Andrews has been their primary passing weapon, and the signing of Dez Bryant didn't turn out too well for Baltimore.
While Jackson can run the ball well against just about every team in the league, the passing game needs to be there for the Ravens to have a shot.
Marquise āHollywoodā Brown has certainly had a disappointing 2020 campaign. The ex-Sooner only had one 100-yard receiving game this season before last weekend, and that was Week 1 against Cleveland.
When the Ravens took Brown in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft, they had high hopes that his speed and big-play ability would be the perfect complement for Jackson.
Brown's two-year career has been underwhelming, and he has failed to top 800 yards and 60 catches in either season. In fact, Brown has only gone for more than 75 yards six times in the 2020 season.
Brown is coming off his best statistical game of the year against the Titans with seven catches for 109 yards. Lamar Jackson and the running game can't do it all, and Brown needs to be a key contributor if the Ravens want to win this game.
Prediction: Hollywood Brownāseven catches, 121 yards and a score.
3. Marcus Peters Stays Hot
Marcus Peters has been fantastic this season for the Ravens and had the game-sealing interception last week against the Titans.
Peters has a daunting matchup ahead of him with Stefon Diggs coming in as one of the best wideouts in the game in 2020. Diggs has seven games with 100 or more yards and posted career-highs in catches (127) and yards (1,535). The ex-Viking led the NFL in receptions, and his rapport with Josh Allen has been fantastic in his first season in Buffalo.
Peters has a questionable tag coming into the matchup with the Bills, but all signs point to the stud corner suiting up. While Peters probably won't shadow Diggs for the entire game, it's seemingly obvious that Peters will stay by his side any chance he can.
While Allen can do a lot of damage with his legs, his chemistry with Diggs is a huge reason for Buffalo's success in 2020. If Peters and the Ravens defense can limit Diggs, they can win this game and move on to the AFC title game.
Prediction: Stefon Diggsāseven catches, 85 yards and a score.
4. Ravens Contain Josh Allen
Allen is right in the thick of the MVP race this year and for good reason. The ex-Wyoming Cowboy has been phenomenal in his third year as a pro.
Allen's posted career-highs in yards (4,544), completions (396) and touchdowns (37). The Bills signal-caller also has eight touchdowns on the ground, and his ability to extend the play makes him tough to defend for any team.
Allen was great in the Wild Card matchup against the Colts, finishing with 324 yards and two passing touchdowns to go with a rushing score. The Buffalo offense lives and dies through Allen, even more so after rookie running back Zack Moss was placed on IR after the game against the Colts.
Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll has taken numerous interviews for head coach across the league, but his focus is now solely on taking Buffalo to the AFC title game. If Allen plays like the player he has all year, this Ravens defense will have a tough time.
The key for the Ravens is this: contain. Patrick Queen has been fantastic for the Ravens' defense, and they will certainly have their hands full against the Bills.
If the Ravens can limit Allen and make him uncomfortable, Coach Harbaugh's team can keep playing for at least one more week.
Prediction: Josh Allenā250 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions.
The Outcome
Josh Allen versus Lamar Jackson, Stefon Diggs going up against Marcus Peters, a few thousand Bills faithful in the stands, and this is shaping up to be the best game of the Divisional Round slate.
Can Lamar Jackson will his team to another victory, or will Allen and Stefon Diggs head to the AFC title game?
Saturday evening will be electric, and Bills fans are just itching for Allen to jump on a flaming table.
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