BALTIMORE – Mother Nature did its best to keep both offenses humble, but as a pair of MVP candidates do, Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson manufactured an exciting affair.
In the wet and dreary contest Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium, Allen and the Bills came out on top. Tyler Bass knocked through a 21-yard field goal as time expired and the Bills walked off winners 23-20.
Minutes before Bass’ kick sailed through the uprights to send the visiting members of “Bills Mafia” into jubilation, Ravens fans serenaded Jackson with “MVP!” chants as he had the Ravens on the doorstep. But he threw a fourth-down interception to Jordan Poyer, the safety’s second of the game, and Allen marched his team down the field for the victory.
J.K. Dobbins scored twice for the Ravens, and Buffalo running back Devin Singletary had 96 total yards.
Josh Allen bests Lamar Jackson in MVP battle
Statistically, it wasn’t pretty for either of the star quarterbacks. Allen rushed 11 times for 70 yards and Jackson carried 11 times for 73 yards. But Allen had the clutch touchdown run in the fourth quarter and finished 19-for-36 through the air with 213 yards, a touchdown and an interception after an unproductive first quarter (3-for-9).
Jackson was more efficient with his arm (20-for-29) but threw for 144 yards against a touchdown and two interceptions.
And most importantly, Allen walked away with the win.
Baltimore chokes again
Baltimore took a commanding 20-3 lead into halftime only for the offense to stagnate in the second half – an emerging weakness through four games. On the other side, Allen found a rhythm even with the loss of receiver Isaiah McKenzie, who scored a touchdown but left with a concussion and did not return.
Both of Jackson’s interceptions came in the second half and the Ravens failed to score after Justin Tucker’s 51-yard field goal with 3:39 left in the first half. Baltimore didn’t find the end zone after the first quarter.
It was reminiscent of the Ravens’ collapse two weeks ago against the Miami Dolphins, which they led 35-14 at the start of the fourth quarter. However, that was more of an indictment on the defense, which allowed 35 second-half points in a 42-38 loss.
John Harbaugh’s decisions
With 1:35 left in the third quarter, Baltimore coach John Harbaugh decided to challenge a third-down spot that the officials ruled as 4th-and-inches. Jackson attempted to scramble for the first down and reached the ball out as he stepped out of bounds, but not over the line of gain.
The original call was upheld, and the Ravens ultimately picked up the first down, but lost a timeout as a result of the failed challenge. Harbaugh indicated he’d leave the offense on the field regardless of the challenge’s outcome, making the decision even more questionable.
With the score 20-20, Harbaugh also decided to go for it on 4th-and-goal at the Buffalo 2 with 4:15 left in the game instead of kicking a field goal. Jackson threw an interception (to Poyer) on the play.
