How a Single Punch Changed the Momentum in the Bills vs Ravens AFC Divisional Round

What was Mark Andrews thinking during this critical moment in the game?

For believers in momentum, everything was on the Baltimore Ravens’ sideline in the fourth quarter of the AFC Divisional Round Game against the Buffalo Bills.

Then, with one punch, the momentum drastically shifted.

The Bills entered the locker room at halftime with a 21-10 lead, largely due to several miscues by the Ravens. However, in the second half, Baltimore fought back, driven by their defense and a powerful rushing attack. Derrick Henry charged into the end zone for a five-yard touchdown run, narrowing Buffalo’s lead to 21-19. While the Bills extended their lead to 24-19 on their next drive, the Ravens were still very much in striking distance.

On their subsequent drive, Baltimore faced a challenging 2nd-and-11 situation. Quarterback Lamar Jackson remained poised in the pocket and found tight end Mark Andrews wide open in the middle of the field. Andrews caught the pass at the Buffalo 43-yard line but immediately sought to gain more yards.

That’s when the decisive punch that altered the AFC Championship Game struck.

As Andrews attempted to make a move to the east, Buffalo defender Terrel Bernard executed a perfectly timed “Peanut Punch,” knocking the football loose from Andrews’ right arm:

This image illustrates just how much space Andrews had before the fumble:

Bernard quickly pounced on the loose football, returning possession to the Buffalo offense and swinging the momentum wildly in their favor. Buffalo then drove deep into Baltimore territory, consuming more than five minutes off the clock before capping the drive with a short field goal from Tyler Bass, extending their lead to 27-19.

This series of events took all momentum back from Baltimore, placing the Bills on the brink of the AFC Championship Game.