They both stumbled into the divisional round like awkward teenagers trying to blend in on their first day of high school. Everything about the Ravens’ and Bills’ offensive game plans felt forced, frantic and entirely removed from the foundational aspects of what got them there.
Baltimore was rattled, backing its way into second-and-28s; reverting to the silent snap count in a stadium filled with just 6,700 people. The Ravens’ All-World kicker was thwacking ball after ball off the uprights. Their center was catapulting snaps over Lamar Jackson’s head. Jackson was missing open receivers.
Buffalo didn’t attempt a designed running play until deep in the second quarter, forcing Josh Allen to run a play-action offense that didn’t give Baltimore’s amoebic defense a moment’s pause.