PARIS (AP) — On the Champ de Mars, where the first mayor of Paris was sent to the guillotine during the Reign of Terror, the American beach volleyball squad got cut in half.
Two U.S. teams fell on the sand at Eiffel Tower Stadium on Monday, with Taryn Kloth and Kristen Nuss losing to Canada in the women’s round of 16 a few hours after Chase Budinger and Miles Evans lost to Norway in the men’s.
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A spectator shows her patriotic support for Canada's Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson during a beach volleyball match against the United States at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Brazil's Ana Patricia Silva Ramos helps up Eduarda "Duda" Santos Lisboa in a beach volleyball match against Japan at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Brazil's Ana Patricia Silva Ramos celebrates a victory over Japan in a beach volleyball match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Brazil's Ana Patricia Silva Ramos, left, and Eduarda "Duda" Santos Lisboa pose after a victory over Japan in a beach volleyball match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Netherlands' Raisa Schoon eyes the ball during the women's round of 16 beach volleyball match between Spain and Netherlands at Eiffel Tower Stadium at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
Spain's Tania Moreno Matveeva hits the ball during the women's round of 16 beach volleyball match between Spain and Netherlands at Eiffel Tower Stadium at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
Netherlands' Raisa Schoon hits the ball during the women's round of 16 beach volleyball match between Spain and Netherlands at Eiffel Tower Stadium at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
Spain's Daniela Alvarez Mendoza, right, and Tania Moreno Matveeva celebrate victory in the women's round of 16 beach volleyball match between Spain and Netherlands at Eiffel Tower Stadium at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
US' Miles Evans hits the ball during the men's round of 16 beach volleyball match between USA and Norway at Eiffel Tower Stadium at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
US' Chase Budinger and Miles Evans react during the men's round of 16 beach volleyball match between USA and Norway at Eiffel Tower Stadium at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
United State's Andrew Benesh, left, and Miles Partain celebrate a point in a beach volleyball match against Italy at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Canada's Brandie Wilkerson, left, and Melissa Humana-Paredes give a celebratory pose after defeating the United States in a beach volleyball match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Canada's Brandie Wilkerson celebrates during a victory over the United States in a beach volleyball match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
United States' Taryn Kloth, top, and Kristen Nuss hug after a loss to Canada in a beach volleyball match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
United States' Taryn Kloth, left, and Kristen Nuss walk off the court after a loss to Canada in a beach volleyball match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Only Miles Partain and Andy Benesh advanced on the day, joining Kelly Cheng and Sara Hughes in the elite eight.
“Definitely a little heartbroken,” said Nuss, who along with her former LSU teammate formed the No. 2 team in the world rankings. “We came in wanting to bring home gold back to the United States. That’s been our goal for the past four years. So to go out in the round of 16 is obviously an earlier exit than we would have liked.”
Brandie Wilkerson and Melissa Humana-Paredes beat Nuss and Kloth 21-19, 21-18, leaving the country that has won four of the last five women’s gold medals with just one team in the bracket.
Wilkerson isn’t just a giant killer in Olympic beach volleyball: She’s an American giant killer. She also eliminated the U.S. pair of Cheng and Sarah Sponcil in the first round of the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Games.
“That’s what she’s good at doing,” Humana-Paredes said with a laugh.
“But honestly,” Wilkerson said, “they’re an amazing team. And it’s a whole new tournament. It’s a whole new Games, whole new atmosphere. We’re all different skill levels from what I was even, four years ago.
“We knew we were going to play this team at some point. They’re one of the best teams in the world. We thought it would be later in the tournament, because we both deserve to have a shot at those medals. But when we’re put in this situation, we were ready to respond.”
In other men's matches on Monday, Qatar beat Chile in straight sets, setting up a quarterfinal matchup with Partain and Benesh. Spain beat Poland, keeping six-time Olympian Pablo Herrera alive in his quest for his first medal since he won silver in Athens, 20 years ago.
On the women's side, Latvia beat Germany, Spain beat the Netherlands and Brazil beat Japan.
Budinger, a former NBA player, and Evans lost in straight sets to Norway, the defending Olympic champions, on Monday afternoon. To start off the night session, first-time Olympians Benesh and Partain knocked out four-time Olympian Paolo Nicolai and his partner, Samuele Cottafava, 21-19, 21-18.
“I am very in awe of how long they’ve been playing at such a high level. It’s definitely difficult to keep pushing your body after you’re at such a level of excellence. So I’m really inspired by those guys,” said Partain, who at 22 is the youngest person ever to represent the United States in Olympic beach volleyball.
“It’s cool that beach volleyball is a lifelong sport that you can play at a really high level till how old they are — and even past,” he said. “So I’m really glad to be a part of the sport that can do that encourages that and it’s part of its, kind of aura.”
Already at Paris, five-time Olympian and Rio de Janeiro gold medalist Laura Ludwig of Germany has been eliminated, and the 42-year-old Herrera has said he will retire.
The defending men’s gold medalists from Norway are 27 and 28 and the top-ranked team from Sweden features a pair of 22-year-olds.
Nicolai said he hasn’t made a decision on whether to go for a fifth Olympics. He would be 40 for Los Angeles in 2028.
“I’m 36, and I have to be sure that if I started a new Olympic journey, that I’m ready to do it,” he said. “Because I know how difficult it is to be focused for four more years.”
So, is it a young person’s sport?
“I hope so, because that means that we have a great future,” Nicolai said. “The Norwegians, Swedish, they are the top two in the rankings. And they are really young. So that’s great because they are full of energy. And so maybe after this tournament we can do something more for our sport because we deserve it."
“In all the two weeks, the crowd was always full and always crazy for the beach volleyball,” he said. “That’s the moment for us, for our sport to grow.”
This story has been updated to correct that the U.S. teams lost in the round of 16, not the quarterfinals. And Miles Partain, not Miles Evans, advanced.
AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games
A spectator shows her patriotic support for Canada's Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson during a beach volleyball match against the United States at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Brazil's Ana Patricia Silva Ramos helps up Eduarda "Duda" Santos Lisboa in a beach volleyball match against Japan at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Brazil's Ana Patricia Silva Ramos celebrates a victory over Japan in a beach volleyball match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Brazil's Ana Patricia Silva Ramos, left, and Eduarda "Duda" Santos Lisboa pose after a victory over Japan in a beach volleyball match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Netherlands' Raisa Schoon eyes the ball during the women's round of 16 beach volleyball match between Spain and Netherlands at Eiffel Tower Stadium at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
Spain's Tania Moreno Matveeva hits the ball during the women's round of 16 beach volleyball match between Spain and Netherlands at Eiffel Tower Stadium at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
Netherlands' Raisa Schoon hits the ball during the women's round of 16 beach volleyball match between Spain and Netherlands at Eiffel Tower Stadium at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
Spain's Daniela Alvarez Mendoza, right, and Tania Moreno Matveeva celebrate victory in the women's round of 16 beach volleyball match between Spain and Netherlands at Eiffel Tower Stadium at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
US' Miles Evans hits the ball during the men's round of 16 beach volleyball match between USA and Norway at Eiffel Tower Stadium at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
US' Chase Budinger and Miles Evans react during the men's round of 16 beach volleyball match between USA and Norway at Eiffel Tower Stadium at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
United State's Andrew Benesh, left, and Miles Partain celebrate a point in a beach volleyball match against Italy at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Canada's Brandie Wilkerson, left, and Melissa Humana-Paredes give a celebratory pose after defeating the United States in a beach volleyball match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Canada's Brandie Wilkerson celebrates during a victory over the United States in a beach volleyball match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
United States' Taryn Kloth, top, and Kristen Nuss hug after a loss to Canada in a beach volleyball match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
United States' Taryn Kloth, left, and Kristen Nuss walk off the court after a loss to Canada in a beach volleyball match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Josh Allen heard the “MVP! MVP!” chants directed at him from the stands, but Buffalo's quarterback deflected the credit following the Bills' hard-fought victory in the divisional playoff round.
This season's Bills were thought to be thin on both sides of the ball. And it wasn't one player or one unit that led to Buffalo beating Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens 27-25 on Sunday night, ending its string of three straight losses at this stage of the postseason and moving on to play the two-time defending champion Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game next Sunday.
It was everyone.
“What a complete win,” Allen said. “All year, this team has heard we’ve got no talent, we’re too small, we can’t stop the run, we’re not good enough to compete. 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.”
Allen rushed for touchdowns of 1 and 4 yards, but he threw for only 127 yards and rushed for 20. Buffalo finished with a modest 273 yards of offense that included rookie Ray Davis scoring on a 1-yard run.
How about that often maligned defense, which gave up 271 yards rushing in a 35-10 loss to Baltimore in Week 4?
On Sunday, the Bills allowed 176 yards rushing and 416 overall to the Ravens, but compensated by forcing three turnovers.
“We were motivated all week, man,” said linebacker Terrel Bernard, who forced and recovered Mark Andrews' fumble to set up Tyler Bass' 21-yard field goal with 3:29 left. “We put a lot of work into it. And to see the results start to pay off right now, I can’t say enough about this team.”
The Bills made fewer mistakes than the Ravens on a snow-slicked field and hung on when the usually sure-handed and wide-open Andrews dropped a 2-point conversion pass from Jackson, allowing the ball to bounce off his chest with 1:33 left. Jackson connected with a sliding Isaiah Likely for a 24-yard touchdown to give the Ravens a chance to tie it.
Baltimore tried an onside kick and cornerback Rasul Douglas fielded the ball on two hops.
Buffalo closed its season 10-0 at home, including a 30-21 win over the previously unbeaten Chiefs in Week 11. Now the Bills head to Kansas City, where they've been eliminated twice in the past four years — more recently in an unforgettable finish three years ago, when Buffalo blew a three-point lead in the final 13 seconds of regulation and lost 42-36 in overtime.
“We know what they are. They’re the perennial of what you want to be in the NFL,” Allen said. “You’ve got to beat them to get past them. So, you know, we’re going to enjoy this one tonight.”
The Ravens had one of the NFL’s most productive offenses in the regular season but fell a win short of reaching the conference title game, which they lost to the Chiefs a year ago. Scrutiny of Jackson’s playoff performances will only increase as he fell to 3-5 in the postseason.
“We got to get over this, because we’re right there,” said Jackson, who dropped to 1-5 when committing a turnover in the playoffs. “I’m tired of being right there. We need to punch in that ticket.”
Baltimore fell to 5-8 in the divisional round, including 1-4 in its last five.
Jackson finished 18 of 25 for 254 yards and two touchdowns, including a 16-yarder to Rashod Bateman to cap Baltimore’s first possession.
In a showdown of MVP candidates, Jackson lost the turnover battle with an interception and a fumble, while Allen enjoyed his 11th turnover-free game of the season.
“It was uncharacteristic to have turnovers like that. There were opportunities for us to not have those, but we had them,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “You try to bounce back from them in the course of the game. You can’t take them back.”
Andrews did not make himself available after his critical drop, but got plenty of support from his teammates.
“One play doesn’t define anybody. He’s the all-time leading touchdown receiver in Ravens history,” safety Kyle Hamilton said. “He’s been a consistent beacon of success the whole time he’s been here.”
The Bills leaned on the complementary football that allowed them to match a franchise record with 13 regular-season wins, become the NFL’s first team to score 30 touchdowns passing and rushing, and do so without a receiver gaining 900 yards. Defensively, Buffalo finished the regular season with a league-best plus-24 turnover differential.
“The mindset is what it’s all about,” coach Sean McDermott said. “These guys believed, played to win, and you find a way, right?”
The Bills limited Derrick Henry to 84 yards rushing and a touchdown on 16 carries after he had a season-high 199 yards in Week 4.
Allen’s 1-yard touchdown run with 8:49 left in the second quarter gave the Bills the lead for good at 14-7.
That score was set up by Jackson’s fumble. Facing second-and-10 at the Buffalo 28, Jackson first had to secure a high snap. After gaining control, he attempted to scramble forward, only to lose the ball when safety Damar Hamlin grabbed the quarterback by the ankle.
Von Miller scooped up the fumble and was finally chased down at Baltimore’s 24.
The Ravens failed on both 2-point conversion attempts, with linebacker Matt Milano batting down Jackson’s pass attempt after Henry scored to make it 21-19.
The Bills get a rematch of the AFC championship game after the 2020 season, which Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs won 38-24. That Kansas City team lost the Super Bowl to Tom Brady and Tampa Bay.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely (80) makes a touchdown catch against the Buffalo Bills during the fourth quarter of an NFL divisional playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir (10) celebrates with quarterback Josh Allen (17) and tight end Dawson Knox (88) after a touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens during the second quarter of an NFL divisional playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman (7) reacts after making a touchdown catch against the Buffalo Bills during the first quarter of an NFL divisional playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Buffalo Bills fans waits for the start of an NFL divisional playoff football game between the Buffalo Bills and the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Buffalo Bills running back Ray Davis (22) celebrates with offensive tackle Dion Dawkins (73) after scoring a touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens during the first quarter of an NFL divisional playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews (89) celebrates with wide receiver Rashod Bateman (7) after Bateman scored a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills during the first quarter of an NFL divisional playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) passes against the Buffalo Bills during the first quarter of an NFL divisional playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) hands off the ball to running back Derrick Henry (22) during the first quarter of an NFL divisional playoff football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) fumbles the ball as he is tackled by Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin (3) during the second quarter of an NFL divisional playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Baltimore Ravens running back Justice Hill (43) tackles Buffalo Bills linebacker Von Miller (40) after Miller recovered a fumble during the second quarter of an NFL divisional playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) walks off the field after playing against the Baltimore Ravens in an NFL divisional playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) carries the ball into the end zone to score a touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens during the second quarter of an NFL divisional playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) jogs to the sidelines during the fourth quarter of an NFL divisional playoff football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Buffalo Bills linebacker Terrel Bernard (43) strips the ball from Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews (89) during the fourth quarter of an NFL divisional playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Dion Dawkins (73) and tight end Dalton Kincaid (86) celebrate as time winds off the clock of an NFL divisional playoff football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) carries the ball into the end zone to score a touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens during the second quarter of an NFL divisional playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)