Ryan O'Halloran: Exhale, Buffalo Bills fans: another major step taken in win over Ravens

His team had just survived a Baltimore Ravens comeback attempt, so the emotions and adrenaline had to still be coursing through Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermotts veins when he entered the postgame press conference room late Sunday night.

As McDermott plopped down in a chair, he delivered an audible sigh.

Nobody should blame him.

Admit it: As you turned off the television or drove home from Highmark Stadium, you had the same feelings.

Deep breath.

The Bills escaped with a 27-25 AFC divisional-round win despite not scoring a second-half touchdown.

Exhale.

The Bills wont go into the offseason with the stench of blowing an 11-point lead on their home field and a fourth consecutive second-round exit.

Sigh.

The Bills were headed for overtime until Ravens tight end Mark Andrews completed his forgettable game by dropping Lamar Jacksons two-point pass with 1:33 remaining.

Still wondering why McDermott needed to catch his breath? Bills coach Sean McDermott likes what he sees during the second quarter of the AFC divisional playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday in Orchard Park.

The Bills' defense forced three takeaways against the Baltimore Ravens, providing just enough of a margin for error with an offense that struggled in the second half to find the end zone, leading to a 27-25 victory.

Just about every playoff game is part joyride, part root canal, full of thrilling highs and frustrating lows.

And this 2-hour, 54-minute fistfight was just another example.

The Bills were in control ...

until they werent.

The Ravens appeared to have the momentum ...

until they didnt.

Just a sense of relief, a sense of excitement and a sense of celebration, tight end Dawson Knox told me after the Bills advanced to their first AFC championship game since the 2020 season.

But we know the work isnt done.

The work isnt done, and thats why the Bills locker room was a hopping place to be.

They get to keep playing.

They get to keep working and preparing together.

They get to keep on keeping on.

Everything remains attainable and possible.

The Bills have eliminated the Ravens and Jackson, who could be on his way to winning a third NFL MVP.

What an accomplishment for this group in what was supposed to be a reset/transition year.

They are now one win away from reaching the Super Bowl for the first time in 31 years, and those darn Kansas City Chiefs are again in their way.

Not bad for some underdogs with no first-team All Pro players, right? Knox said.

Not bad, indeed.

Bills quarterback Josh Allen greets Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson after their game Sunday at Highmark Stadium.

The Buffalo Bills' defense got aggressive Sunday night, and it helped create a turnover that put them in control of their AFC divisional round playoff victory over the Baltimore Ravens.

The Ravens dominated the Pro Bowl (nine players) and first-team All Pro selections (three).

The Bills had two Pro Bowlers (quarterback Josh Allen and left tackle Dion Dawkins) and one second-team All-Pro (Allen).

But as we discovered months ago, the Bills sum is greater than these individual parts.

Three players created takeaways.

Eight players caught at least one pass.

Four players had at least four rushing attempts.

The strength of a team is when everybody from man No.

1 to man No.

53 (and beyond) feels important, feels like his work is appreciated and valued.

This group does, and they rally around Allen, the organizations reassuring compass.

I asked Allen about that locker room.

Excitement? Relief? Other things? Its a lot of everything, he said.

Were excited.

(There is) a lot of pride in there.

And with that, Allen dove into one of the weeks simmering subplots.

The Bills were a home playoff underdog for the first time since Jan.

1, 1967; the Ravens closed as a 1-point favorite.

We dont listen to the outside noise, Allen said.

But then he basically said the Bills did.

Everyone was saying this and that about us: didnt have enough talent; werent good enough to be in these positions, Allen said.

Our guys continued to work hard and were internally driven.

Bills cornerback Taron Johnson tackles Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson during the third quarter of Sunday's playoff game at Highmark Stadium.

A recap of the Bills-Baltimore AFC divisional round playoff game.

So was the Bills underdog status a talking point? It wasnt really talked about, but it was the back of everybodys minds, too, Knox said.

Said center Connor McGovern: We know who we are as a team.

If people dont realize, then weve made them look deeper into that now.

A deep look isnt required to figure out why the Bills beat Baltimore.

The Bills were plus-3 in turnover differential.

They made mistakes, obviously, but they didnt make crippling errors like the Ravens did with giveaways, dropped passes and penalties.

The Bills rolled into halftime up 21-10.

Score a touchdown to start the third quarter, and we could have all started making our travel arrangements to Kansas City.

But then the offense got bogged down and the Ravens run game got cranked up.

Somebody needed to make a play.

Kicker Tyler Bass made a 51-yard field goal.

Linebacker Terrel Bernard forced Andrews to fumble.

Allen converted a third-and-1 that helped bleed the clock.

Bass made a 21-yard field goal.

And cornerback Rasul Douglas recovered the onside kick.

That was all in the fourth quarter.

Every playoff win is a relief because of the competition (the Ravens are really good), the stakes (a loss, and the soul-searching is immediate) and the reward (the Bills are one of four NFL teams remaining).

Were happy and proud that we did enough to win, left guard David Edwards said.

But we know this isnt the end.

We have to keep going.

This is another check mark on the road to New Orleans.

One check mark to go.

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