Ebony Bird
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Baltimore Ravens vs. Buffalo Bills in AFC Divisional: 5 bold predictions

By Richard Bradshaw

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - JANUARY 10: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens against the Tennessee Titans in the Wild Card Round of the NFL Playoffs at Nissan Stadium on January 10, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - JANUARY 10: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens against the Tennessee Titans in the Wild Card Round of the NFL Playoffs at Nissan Stadium on January 10, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – JANUARY 10: Marcus Peters #24 of the Baltimore Ravens runs with the ball after intercepting a pass against the Tennessee Titans in the Wild Card Round of the NFL Playoffs at Nissan Stadium on January 10, 2021, in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – JANUARY 10: Marcus Peters #24 of the Baltimore Ravens runs with the ball after intercepting a pass against the Tennessee Titans in the Wild Card Round of the NFL Playoffs at Nissan Stadium on January 10, 2021, in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

Yannick Ngakoue gets home for two sacks:

The story of Yannick Ngakoue’s short time with the Baltimore Ravens has been so close, but not close enough. Ngakoue put up just three sacks in nine games for the Ravens, but if you actually watched him play you’d know how tenacious he’s been in racking up pressures. It has been upsetting to see Ngakoue’s lack of sack numbers, but he’s been worth every penny Baltimore gave up to get him.

Ngakoue was his usual self a week ago vs. the Tennessee Titans, applying the pressure but not closing out the deal. Secretly, Ngakoue was one of the Ravens’ better defenders in Nashville and was setting the edge well against Derrick Henry and co. The script is flipped now, however, as the Buffalo Bills will be throwing the ball a lot more than they run it. This gives Ngakoue more opportunities for sacks.

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The Bills offensive line is a very solid unit from left to right, so don’t expect Baltimore to nab five-or-more sacks on Saturday. With that in mind, look for the team’s best pass rusher, Ngakoue, to get home for his first playoff sack since 2017. Ngakoue is an absolute blur and he’ll be in Josh Allen‘s face all day. Unlike the rest of the season, I’m predicting he gets home twice.

Marcus Peters notches another game-ending interception:

Josh Allen doesn’t turn the ball over at an alarming rate anymore with a solid ten interceptions on the season compared to 39 passing touchdowns, including his two last week against the Indianapolis Colts. When you have a guy who can sling it as well as Allen can you should be confident in your ability to win any game.

On the flip side of the coin, Marcus Peters is a ball magnet. Peters has five interceptions this year, including his game-sealing pick a week ago. While there is some maddening inconsistency to Peters’s game when you need a turnover Peters is the man to get it for you. He proved that a week ago and he’s proved it several times throughout his career. I’m betting he’s willing to step up and be that guy once again.

If the Ravens can dictate the pace of this game they might be able to force Allen to throw into tight windows. Allen is more than capable of doing so, but if ever there was a man to make him pay it would be Peters. With the game on the line, I think Allen comes up flat and Peters comes up big.

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