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Bills race their way past Ravens and into AFC Championship Game

Cornerback Taron Johnson’s 101-yard interception return for a touchdown breaks the game open for Buffalo.
 
As Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) signals what's about to happen, cornerback Taron Johnson, left, runs away from Ravens QB Lamar Jackson (8) after returning his interception 101 yards for a touchdown during the second half of their AFC division-round game on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021, in Orchard Park, N.Y.
As Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) signals what's about to happen, cornerback Taron Johnson, left, runs away from Ravens QB Lamar Jackson (8) after returning his interception 101 yards for a touchdown during the second half of their AFC division-round game on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021, in Orchard Park, N.Y. [ ADRIAN KRAUS | AP ]
Published Jan. 17, 2021

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Taron Johnson could’ve kept running into next week on a 101-yard interception that carried the Buffalo Bills to their first AFC Championship Game appearance in 26 years.

The cornerback’s pick-six of Lamar Jackson’s pass with 41 seconds remaining in the third quarter secured a 17-3 win over the Baltimore Ravens in a division-round playoff game Saturday night.

The interception return matched the longest in NFL history and punctuated a stellar defensive outing in which Buffalo (15-3) limited the NFL’s top running offense to 150 yards on 32 carries.

Jackson was sacked four times and did not return after being evaluated for a concussion following the final play of the third quarter, and two plays after Johnson scored.

Facing second and 10 at the Baltimore 25, center Patrick Mekari snapped the ball over Jackson’s head. The quarterback turned and chased the bouncing ball down inside the 5, turned and quickly threw it away as linebacker Tremaine Edmunds had him by the legs and defensive end Trent Murphy fell down on top of him.

Jackson’s injury left Tyler Huntley to finish the game after being promoted off the practice squad.

Buffalo’s defense took the pressure off of a Josh Allen-led offense that was limited to 223 yards offense, and made up for rookie kicker Tyler Bass missing two of three field goals — a 43-yarder that was wide right in the second quarter and a 44-yarder that sailed wide left with 5:30 remaining.

The game was decided in the third quarter, when the Bills went up 10-3 on Allen’s 3-yard touchdown pass to Stefon Diggs to cap an 11-play, 66-yard opening drive.

Jackson responded by marching the Ravens 66 yards on 15 plays before throwing the interception while facing third and goal from the 9. Johnson jumped in front of the pass intended for tight end Mark Andrews and took off up the right sideline, following a lead block from fellow cornerback Tre’Davious White.

Johnson wasn’t touched until a mob of Bills players jumped on his back and brought him down in the end zone.

The Bills advanced to the AFC Championship Game for the first time since 1994 on their way to making — and losing — their four consecutive Super Bowl appearance. Buffalo also extended a season in which it has broken numerous droughts by claiming its first East Division title in 25 years and, with last week’s victory over Indianapolis, winning its first postseason game since the same year.

The Bills will play the winner of the AFC’s other division-round game between Cleveland and Kansas City on Sunday.

Buffalo has won eight straight, matching its best streak since 1990. The 13 regular-season victories matched a franchise record set in both 1990 and ’91 in a season they set numerous single-season records on offense, including scoring 501 points.

The fifth-seeded Ravens (12-6) had their season come to an end after leading the league in yards rushing for a second consecutive year.

Baltimore clinched its third playoff berth in three years by winning its final five regular-season games. The winning streak came after a 1-4 skid capped by a 19-14 loss at Pittsburgh on Dec. 2 in a game rescheduled three times due to COVID-19 issues.

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By JOHN WAWROW