NFL fans usually use the phrase “frozen tundra” to describe the conditions at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. But on Sunday night, it could have been used to describe the field at Highmark Stadium for the playoff game between the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens. Temperatures in Orchard Park, New York, fell to around 16 degrees as light snow fell onto the field, making the ball slippery and tougher to catch as well as making the tackles hurt just a little bit more.
The Bills held the lead in the fourth quarter with two Tyler Bass field goals and won the game, 27-25. It was the Ravens who felt the brunt of the conditions late in the game. Lamar Jackson found tight end Mark Andrews for a 16-yard completion with 8:50 left in the game, but Bills linebacker Terrel Bernard punched the ball out of Andrews’ hands and Buffalo recovered the fumble.
The Ravens could still tie the game up, but Jackson’s 24-yard touchdown pass to Isiah Likely was followed by a failed 2-point conversion attempt. The Bills breathed a sigh of relief and closed the game out. Josh Allen finished with two rushing touchdowns in the game, while Jackson was 18-of-25 with 254 passing yards, two touchdown passes, and an interception.
The Bills will next meet the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship with a trip to Super Bowl LIX on the line. Buffalo beat Kansas City on November 17, 30-21. The Bills haven’t made a Super Bowl since the 1993 season and have never won a Super Bowl. It will be their first conference championship game since the 2020 season.