MVP votes had already been cast, so Allen and Jackson knew Sunday’s game would have no bearing on the winner. It was about their heritage.
These are the two best quarterbacks in the NFL since both were drafted in 2018, but like Jackson, Allen has also yet to reach the Super Bowl.
This will be Buffalo’s fourth game in five years against Kansas City, and the Chiefs have won all three previous matchups, including the 2021 AFC Championship Game.
Now Allen has another chance to beat the Chiefs and their two-time MVP Patrick Mahomes after continuing his great form this season.
The 28-year-old had two rushing touchdowns to put Buffalo up 21-10 at halftime, while Baltimore’s three turnovers proved costly.
Jackson struck first, finding Rashod Bateman for a 16-yard touchdown, before the Bills immediately responded and Ray Davis hit it from a yard out.
The Ravens quarterback picked up an interception and a fumble on two consecutive Baltimore drives, and Bills linebacker Von Miller recovered the latter and set up a scoring opportunity for Allen.
After a Baltimore field goal erased the lead, Allen ran into the end zone again from short range to give Buffalo the lead at halftime.
The Ravens featured the best rushing attack in the league and started a hot streak in the third quarter with a field goal and a touchdown by Derrick Henry.
They failed to convert a two-point attempt to tie the game before a Bills field goal made it 24-19. Then, with eight minutes left, Terrel Bernard knocked the ball out of Andrews’ hands and recovered the fumble, giving Buffalo a chance to make another field goal.
Baltimore had 3:29 to save the season, and Jackson cut the deficit with a 24-yard field goal to Isaiah Likely.
Needing a two-point conversion to tie the game, he appeared to hit Andrews, but the ball slipped out of the tight end’s grasp at the goal line and the Ravens’ season was over.
