It was the biggest game of the weekend between two heavyweight teams, and the fight more than lived up to the billing. Coming right down to the end, the Bills survived and knocked the Ravens out of the playoffs, 27-25.

After the game, the two MVP frontrunners, Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson, met at midfield in a friendly embrace. Speaking with CBS after the game, Allen was asked what he said to Jackson. His response was brimming with respect.

“I’ve just got so much respect and love for him,” Allen said. “The way he plays the game — he’s a true competitor. He’s a true football player. One of the greatest ever to step on the football field, so nothing but love.”

Despite being at home, despite being an underdog, despite what Allen did this year, despite many people thinking the combination of Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry were going to be too much for the Buffalo defense to handle, the Bills took care of business.

They capped off a perfect 10-0 season at home, and punched their ticket to the AFC Championship Game. The next hurdle is the one that the Bills haven’t been able to cross — they have to get past Kansas City in the AFC Championship Game in order to reach the Super Bowl. This team, with this performance, should be carrying all the grit and confidence in the world into next week’s matchup. It’ll be yet another chapter in the incredible saga of Allen and Patrick Mahomes.

The season ends for Jackson and the Ravens, but he deserves all the respect, and more, that Allen gave to him. He’s an elite talent, and football fans should count themselves lucky that we live in this era of football with Allen, Jackson, and Mahomes.