Josh Allen's Halftime Speech to Bills Revealed by Sean McDermott After Win vs. Ravens
Jan 20, 2025
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 19: Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills celebrates after a victory in the AFC Divisional Playoff against the Baltimore Ravens at Highmark Stadium on January 19, 2025 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images)
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen pointed to the team's doubters as a source of motivation inside the locker room during halftime of Sunday's 27-25 win over the Baltimore Ravens.
The MMQB's Albert Breer spoke with Bills head coach Sean McDermott, who relayed what happened during the break.
"Before we went back out there, [Allen] just said, 'Hey, all we hear all week is we're not good enough, we're not big enough, strong enough,'" McDermott told Breer.
This was a steady theme throughout the week apparently.
Tim Graham of The Athletic reported members of the Bills defense "watched a reel of the naysayers and doubters and haters, talking trash about Buffalo and declaring Baltimore would win."
"We had a video," defensive tackle Jordan Phillips said. "Our highlight video this week was all the media people, talking s--t. 'They can't do this. They can't do that.' Our coaches suck. We're too small."
Phillips added that Buffalo's defense took it as a challenge that the Bills had forced 32 turnovers and was matched up against a Baltimore offense that had the third-fewest giveaways (11).
"That was our motto all week: Let's see who's better,' Phillips said.
The Bills, who were a slight betting underdog, proved to be the better team on the night but not by much.
Baltimore nearly erased an 11-point halftime deficit and was one Mark Andrew drop away from forcing overtime. The veteran tight end couldn't haul in a short pass from Lamar Jackson on a two-point conversion attempt.
The Bills were pretty close to proving their haters right.
Josh Allen Calls Lamar Jackson '1 of the Greatest to Ever Step on the Football Field'
Jan 20, 2025
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 19: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens and Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills embrace after the AFC Divisional Playoff game at Highmark Stadium on January 19, 2025 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
Following the Buffalo Bills' 27-25 victory over the Baltimore Ravens to advance to the AFC Championship game, Josh Allen had the highest of praise for rival quarterback Lamar Jackson.
"I've just got so much respect for him, the way he plays the game, he's a true competitor a true football player," Allen said after the game. "One of the greatest to ever step on the football field. So, nothing but love."
"One of the greatest to ever step on the football field."
Allen posted 127 passing yards in the victory, completing 73 percent of his passes, along with two rushing touchdowns and no turnovers. Jackson threw for 254 yards with two touchdowns, completing 18-of-25 passes, while also adding one interception and one fumble for loss.
The two were battling MVP hype all season long, with Lamar holding the best quarterback rating at 77.3 and Allen right behind him, also at 77.3.
Despite Jackson's MVP-caliber play this season, his team's turnovers were costly in the loss. Following the game, Jackson was visibly frustrated, as the Ravens committed three turnovers compared to the Bills' zero.
"Gotta hold on to the f--king ball. I'm sorry for my language," Jackson told reporters. "This s--t is annoying. I'm tired of this s--t."
Finishing the season 12-5, with a wild card playoff game under their belt, the Ravens will head into the offseason with strong incentives and clear areas for improvement. With a solid foundation and key players like Jackson, they'll look to address weaknesses and make necessary adjustments to build on their success for the next season.
Video: Josh Allen Calls Out Bills' Critics After NFL Playoff Win vs. Ravens
Jan 20, 2025
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 19: Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills throws a pass against the Baltimore Ravens in the third quarter during the AFC Divisional Playoff at Highmark Stadium on January 19, 2025 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
Josh Allen brought up criticism that the Buffalo Bills faced throughout the 2024 season following the team's 27-25 divisional-round playoff win over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday night.
"All year this team has heard, 'We got no talent. We're too small. We can't stop the run. We're not good enough to compete,'" Allen said in an interview after the game. "We've just put our head down and worked hard. I'm so proud of our defense. I'm so proud of our offense and special teams. What a complete win."
"All year this team has heard, 'We got no talent. We're too small. We can't stop the run. We're not good enough to compete.'
The Bills sat at 3-2 through five weeks, but they went on to win 10 of their final 12 regular-season games to secure an AFC East title and clinch a playoff spot for the sixth consecutive season.
Buffalo took down the Denver Broncos in the wild card round before defeating Baltimore on Sunday.
The Ravens nearly tied the game late in the fourth quarter, scoring a touchdown with just over one minute left in regulation after trailing by eight points. A two-point conversion attempt fell incomplete after a pass from Lamar Jackson was dropped by Mark Andrews.
Allen didn't have a big day through the air, as snow intermittently fell throughout the game. He finished 16-of-22 for 127 yards without a touchdown or an interception. The 28-year-old scored twice on the ground, rushing for 20 yards on 10 attempts.
During the regular season, Allen put together an efficient year while earning his third straight Pro Bowl nod. He completed 63.6 percent of his throws for 3,731 yards and 28 touchdowns while recording a career-low six interceptions.
Allen will now look to stay sharp in the AFC Championship Game, as the Bills will travel to battle the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs are a familiar face, as three of Buffalo's previous four playoff defeats occurred against Kansas City.
Allen made sure to cherish the win over the Ravens first, calling out critics after the victory.
Josh Allen, Bills Beat Lamar, Ravens as NFL Fans Eye Chiefs Matchup in AFC Title Game
Jan 20, 2025
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 19: Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills celebrates a touchdown with teammates against the Baltimore Ravens in the second quarter during the AFC Divisional Playoff at Highmark Stadium on January 19, 2025 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)
Josh Allen is undoubtedly in his MVP era after the Buffalo Bills' 27-25 divisional playoff victory over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.
With home-field advantage, Allen completed 16-of-22 passes for 127 yards and two rushing touchdowns, leading his team to the AFC Championship Game, where they will face the Kansas City Chiefs.
Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes -- the only QBs to meet more frequently in the postseason are Tom Brady and Peyton Manning pic.twitter.com/3tNKNhZGQz
The Ravens, led by Lamar Jackson, endured a heartbreaking end to their season. Jackson completed 18-of-25 passes for 254 yards, two touchdowns, one interception and lost one fumble.
Fans were once again captivated by Allen's incredible performance, taking to social media to praise the MVP hopeful while also expressing excitement for the upcoming game against the Chiefs:
MVP chants are going in Highmark. The award is based off the regular season, which is great for Lamar Jackson considering Josh Allen is looking way more like an MVP in this game.
What a monster wing for the #Bills The Ravens did their part helping out, but Buffalo made a number of big plays throughout this game. None bigger than Terrel Bernard at the end of the game.
Both teams came out firing, each finding the end zone on their opening possessions.
Baltimore struck first as Rashod Bateman hauled in a 16-yard touchdown pass from Jackson, giving the Ravens a 7-0 lead. Buffalo answered with a methodical, nearly six-minute drive capped off by a rushing touchdown from Ray Davis.
A costly mistake from Jackson on the next drive—an interception by Taylor Rapp—could have swung momentum heavily in Buffalo's favor, but the Ravens managed to weather the storm.
Allen took control in the second quarter, scoring two rushing touchdowns to push the Bills to a 21-10 lead at halftime.
A scoreless third quarter from the Bills was exactly what the Ravens defense needed to produce, as they managed to put up a 9-0 quarter thanks to a field goal from Justin Tucker and a five-yard rush from Derrick Henry.
Bills kicker Tyler Bass nailed a 51-yard field goal to start the fourth quarter and added another with just less than 3:30 remaining, giving the Bills a one-score lead following a fumble by Ravens tight end Mark Andrews that was stripped by Terrel Bernard.
A last-ditch effort by the Ravens came in the form of an Isaiah Likely touchdown pass from Jackson, bringing the game within two. However, a failed two-point attempt sealed the deal, as the Bills regained possession and were able to let the clock expire.
Rapoport: Josh Allen May Get New Contract; James Cook 'a Big Part of' Bills' Future
Jan 19, 2025
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 12: Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills hands off the ball to teammate James Cook #4 in the third quarter against the Denver Broncos during the AFC Wild Card Playoffs at Highmark Stadium on January 12, 2025 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen may get a new contract, and running back James Cook is considered "a big part of the Bills' future" as he enters the final year of his rookie deal.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport provided the scoop on NFL GameDay.
"Certainly has set himself up for a nice payday, is extension eligible this year. My understanding is he's a big part of the Bills' future," Rapoport first noted about Cook.
"The issue, though, is that after a transition year for the Bills, taking on all that dead money, they are ready to pay some young stars.
"But Josh Allen may get a new contract, get an adjustment there. Terrel Bernard, Connor McGovern, Christian Benford, Greg Rousseau, there's a long line of really talented young Bills players waiting for paydays."
Rapoport dropped the report as the Bills are getting set to host the Baltimore Ravens in an AFC Divisional Round matchup on Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET.
Allen signed a six-year, $258 million extension with the Bills in Aug. 2021, and that deal takes him through the 2028 season.
That deal now pales in comparison to his peers around the league, though. Per Over the Cap, Allen's total contract value is sixth in the NFL. His average per year is even lower, at 14th.
As other quarterbacks have come due for new contracts, they've reset the market and toppled Allen's payday.
However, Allen is one of the top (if not the best) signal-callers in football right now. He's in a two-man race for the NFL MVP award with Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson after accounting for 40 total touchdowns (28 passing, 12 rushing) and 4,262 yards (3,731 passing, 531 rushing) en route to guiding the Bills to 13 wins and the AFC's No. 2 seed. An adjusted contract makes sense.
An extension for Cook does as well given how integral he's been to Buffalo's powerful offense, which finished with the second-most points per game in the NFL. Cook finished with 1,267 scrimmage yards and 18 touchdowns. He earned his second straight 1,000-yard rushing season and has now gained 4.9 yards per carry in his three years in the league.
So the Allen-Cook backfield duo could be seeing raises this offseason. For now, though, they're trying to lead the Bills past the Ravens and into a playoff rematch with the Kansas Chiefs, who await the Buffalo-Baltimore winner in the AFC Championship Game.
Seventy-five percent of the NFL has hit the offseason, leaving us with one hell of an elite eight that includes at least a handful of prime contenders along…
Josh Allen Explains Viral Video of Bench Conversation with Ref During Broncos-Bills
Jan 12, 2025
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 12: Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills warms up prior to playing the Denver Broncos during the AFC Wild Card Playoffs at Highmark Stadium on January 12, 2025 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)
It's not very often NFL fans see an official on one of the team's sidelines talking to a star quarterback in the middle of a game, but that is exactly what happened during the third quarter of Sunday's postseason battle between the Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos.
The CBS broadcast captured Bill Vinovich talking with Josh Allen on Buffalo's bench after the quarterback was upset there wasn't a defensive holding called in the end zone on a drive that stalled in a field goal.
As Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network relayed, Allen explained after the game that Vinovich was just attempting to calm him down:
Josh Allen on this scene said he was yelling a lot that a penalty should’ve been called & ref came over to tell him to calm it down. https://t.co/AO5LUNk0QL
Fortunately for Allen and the Bills, the missed call didn't impact the outcome.
Buffalo fell behind 7-0 in the opening minutes but rolled to a 31-7 victory by scoring the next 31 points. Allen was unstoppable in the second half and finished 20-of-26 passing for 272 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions.
It wasn't a one man show, though, as James Cook set the tone in the first half and finished the game with 120 yards and one touchdown on the ground.
Next up is a Divisional round clash against Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens in a matchup between two of the top MVP candidates.
Every call might mean more in that game since it is expected to be close, although Allen may think twice about complaining too loudly after one of the officials had to talk with him Sunday.
Bills HC: Lamar Jackson vs. Josh Allen is 'What Everybody's Been Waiting For'
Jan 12, 2025
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - SEPTEMBER 29: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens and Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills meet following an NFL football game at M&T Bank Stadium on September 29, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
The Buffalo Bills trounced the Denver Broncos in the wild-card round on Sunday, setting up an exciting matchup between two MVP candidates in Josh Allen and Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Ahead of the divisional round game, Bills coach Sean McDermott called the matchup between Allen and Jackson something that "everybody's been waiting for," per GoLongTD.com's Tyler Dunne.
Allen had high praise for Jackson when asked about the contest.
"They got after us earlier this year, so we've got a lot of film to watch," he said. "It's a great team, it's a great quarterback, obviously, with Lamar, what he's able to do. He's one of the most dynamic, if not the most dynamic quarterback in the league. He's so fun to watch, but I'll be watching their defense this week. That's our focus."
Despite the Bills and Ravens being perennial contenders since Allen and Jackson entered the league in 2018, the two star quarterbacks have only faced off in the playoffs one time. Buffalo beat Baltimore in 2020 in the divisional round before losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship.
Since that meeting, Allen and Jackson have only improved their respective games.
Allen threw for 3,731 yards, 28 touchdowns and just six interceptions this year while adding 531 rushing yards and 12 scores on the ground to help the Bills finish 13-4. Jackson has had a career season with 4,172 passing yards, 41 touchdowns and four interceptions to go with his 915 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the ground.
On Saturday, Jackson led the Ravens past the Pittsburgh Steelers behind 175 passing yards, two touchdowns and 81 rushing yards. Allen had 272 passing yards and a pair of touchdowns in the Bills' 31-7 win over Denver on Sunday.
As good as Buffalo was this season, it was no match for Baltimore in September when the Ravens won 35-10. Allen and the Bills will look to learn from their mistakes in the matchup and produce a different outcome this time around.
While Allen and Jackson have both had tremendous success over the course of their careers, both are still chasing their first Super Bowl. One of the MVP favorites will get a step closer to winning a championship next week in the divisional round.
Bills' Playoff Win vs. Broncos Has NFL Fans Excited for Josh Allen vs. Lamar, Ravens
Jan 12, 2025
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 12: Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills warms up prior to playing the Denver Broncos during the AFC Wild Card Playoffs at Highmark Stadium on January 12, 2025 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)
Josh Allen vs. Lamar Jackson. Two of the biggest protagonists of the 2024 season now stand in each other's way with Super Bowl aspirations on the line, and the coming showdown should be pure cinema.
The Buffalo Bills quarterback ensured his team would get another shot at the Baltimore Ravens this season, throwing for 272 yards and two scores while rushing for 46 yards in Sunday's 31-7 win over the Denver Broncos.
That sets up a Divisional Round matchup between Allen and Jackson, the two favorites for this year's MVP award. It will be just the second time the two men have faced off in the playoffs, with Buffalo beating Baltimore in the Divisional Round back in 2020 by a 17-3 margin. This season, the Ravens beat the Bills 35-10 in Week 4, adding another spicy storyline to an already sizzling matchup.
So yes, NFL fans are prepping the popcorn:
Josh Allen took Lamar’s record of 602 YDS from last night’s game 😅
Lamar Jackson vs Josh Allen matchup is must-see TV. I for sure think Lamar's supporting cast is better but you can never count out Josh Superman Allen.
The hype for next week is real. The much-anticipated matchup will come to fruition because Allen was awesome on Sunday, which has been par for the course this season.
What better way to explain the unicorn that is Josh Allen: he’s tied for the most rushing TDs in @BuffaloBills franchise history as a QB, and he just passed Jin Kelly for the most post season passing TDs in Bills history. pic.twitter.com/9EbIak76lD
It remains to be seen if Allen will win MVP after throwing for 3,731 yards, 28 touchdowns and six interceptions during the regular season, completing 63.6 percent of his passes while also rushing for 531 yards and 12 touchdowns. The fact that Jackson was voted first-team All-Pro at quarterback, not Allen, is an indication of how the MVP voting—which already concluded—will likely play out.
But if Allen and the Bills beat the Ravens next week and keep their Super Bowl hopes alive, it's hard to imagine the MVP will be of much concern in Buffalo. The ultimate goal is a title, and getting through Jackson and the Ravens would fuel the Allen stans for the foreseeable future.
That storyline aside, it should be a fun matchup on its own merits, with two of the more explosive offenses—and two defenses that have been prone to getting gashed against good teams—facing off. The expectation is that the winner will face Patrick Mahomes and the inevitable Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game.
The stage is set for quite the final act to the NFL season, in other words. Audiences, in particular, have been eagerly anticipating the Allen vs. Jackson showdown scene.
NFL Wild Card Weekend ended with a slate of four more exciting games.
The AFC East-champion Buffalo Bills opened the day by defeating the Denver Broncos and were followed by a pair of NFC matchups featuring the Philadelphia Eagles outlasting the Green Bay Packers in the matinee and the Washington Commanders upsetting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the nightcap.
The Wild Card Round concluded with the Los Angeles Rams dominating the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night.
Let's take a look at the updated playoff bracket following the results.
No. 4 Houston Texans def. No. 5 Los Angeles Chargers, 32-12
AFC Divisional Round
No. 1 Kansas City Chief vs. No. 4 Houston Texans, Jan. 18, 4:30 p.m. ET
No. 2 Buffalo Bills vs. No. 3 Baltimore Ravens, Jan. 19, 6:30 p.m. ET
AFC Championship Game
TBD vs. TBD, Jan. 26
NFC Wild Card Round
No. 1 Detroit Lions (bye)
No. 2 Philadelphia Eagles def. No. 7 Green Bay Packers, 22-10
No. 6 Washington Commanders def. No. 3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 23-20
No. 4 Los Angeles Rams def. No. 5 Minnesota Vikings, 27-9
NFC Divisional Round
No. 1 Detroit Lions vs. No. 6 Washington Commanders, Jan. 18, 8:00 p.m. ET
No. 2 Philadelphia Eagles vs. No. 4 Los Angeles Rams, Jan. 19, 3:00 p.m. ET
NFC Championship Game
TBD vs. TBD, Jan. 26
Super Bowl LIX
AFC Champion vs. NFC Champion, Feb. 9
Bills 31, Broncos 7
The Bills rode Josh Allen to their fifth straight wild-card round victory, as the presumptive frontrunner for the 2024 NFL MVP award put on a scintillating performance while becoming the franchise's all-time leader in passing touchdowns.
Allen threw for 272 yards, two scores and no interceptions on 20-of-26 passing to spearhead the victory. He also added 46 rushing yards on eight carries.
In addition to Allen's strong outing, Bills running back James Cook racked up 120 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries. Buffalo totaled 200 yards on the ground and dominated the time of possession.
Despite Allen's perennial brilliance, the Bills have not advanced past the Division Round of the playoffs since 2020. Buffalo will be facing another tough test this year when it meets the Baltimore Ravens, so Allen will need to be at his absolute best if he hopes to keep up with reigning two-time MVP Lamar Jackson.
Eagles 22, Packers 10
It wasn't easy, but the Eagles emerged victorious over the Packers in a chippy battle at Lincoln Financial Field. The two teams combined for 15 penalties, eight by Green Bay, but Philadelphia managed to overcome the sloppy performance to reach the Divisional Round for the second time in the last three years.
The Eagles took advantage of an early mistake from the Packers as Keisean Nixon fumbled the opening kickoff, leading to an 11-yard touchdown pass from Jalen Hurts to Jahan Dotson.
Jalen Hurts finds Jahan Dotson for the opening score in Philly 🔥
Dotson’s first TD as an Eagle and it’s in the postseason 🦅
After the early lead, Philadelphia's No. 1-ranked defense showed up in a big way and pitched a shutout in the first half. The Eagles picked off two passes from Packers quarterback Jordan Love in the second quarter and had another interception in the fourth quarter to seal the game.
JORDAN LOVE THROWS HIS 2ND INT OF THE FIRST HALF 😬
Hurts added a 24-yard touchdown pass to Dallas Goedert in the third quarter to provide some breathing room. Green Bay made it a one-possession game with a one-yard touchdown run by Josh Jacobs early in the fourth quarter, but Philadelphia pulled away with a pair of field goals by Jake Elliott and a strong finish by the defense.
Hurts finished with 131 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions as well as 36 rushing yards. Star running back Saquon Barkley rushed for 119 yards on 25 carries in his playoff debut for the Eagles.
Commanders 23, Buccaneers 20
In arguably the most exciting game of the wild card weekend, the Commanders doinked their way into the Divisional Round with a game-winning field goal by Zane Gonzalez to take down the Buccaneers. It's Washington's first playoff victory since 2005.
The Commanders are the first road team to earn a win this weekend, and they did so with a rookie quarterback leading the way.
Jayden Daniels went toe-to-toe with Bucs veteran signal-caller Baker Mayfield and rose to the occasion, throwing for 268 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions while adding a team-high 36 rushing yards in the win. His touchdown pass to star receiver Terry McLaurin after veteran linebacker Bobby Wagner recovered a fumble by Mayfield early in the fourth quarter gave Washington a 20-17 lead.
After the Bucs tied the game with a field goal, Daniels marched the Commanders down the field for the game-winner. While Gonzalez's kick wasn't pretty, the ball went through the uprights for Washington.
The Commanders' win earns them a date with the No. 1 seed in the NFC, the Detroit Lions. It can already be expected that Daniels will be ready to deliver on the big stage once again, so fans should surely be excited about next week's matchup.
Rams 27, Vikings 9
Despite having their home game moved to a neutral site at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, due to ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles, the Rams overcame a tumultuous week with a dominant win over the Vikings.
The Rams tied an NFL playoff record by sacking Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold nine times. On back-to-back Minnesota possessions in the second quarter, Los Angeles recorded an interception and then forced a fumble by Darnold that rookie edge rusher Jared Verse returned for a 57-yard touchdown.
With the defense making a statement, the Rams offense had an easy day. Veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford threw for 209 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions on 19-of-27 passing. Los Angeles totaled just 90 yards on the ground.
Despite dealing with a difficult situation off the field, the Rams appear motivated to take down whoever is in front of them. With their defense performing at such a high level, they will have a legitimate chance to upset the Eagles in the Divisional Round next week.
