The Buffalo Bills defeated the Baltimore Ravens in stunning fashion on Sunday night, and the offense deserves a ton of credit alongside kick Matt Prater. The defense was sliced and diced, mauled and brawled, then left for dead by Bills fans streaming to the exit and oddsmakers everywhere.
Then Ed Oliver forced a Derrick Henry fumble and the Bills were back in business.
All the Ravens needed to
do was get a first down or two to salt out the clock. They have one of the best running back in NFL history. Should be easy. Except he ran into Oliver, who stripped it. The ball was recovered by the Bills, who went down the field to score a touchdown.
That was far from Oliver’s only moment in the game, as the veteran entering his seventh year was on a mission from the start. In the first quarter, he had a no-doubt sack on Lamar Jackson to force a field goal when the Ravens were driving.
In the second quarter, it was once again Oliver who made the stop to force a field goal attempt. (It was on 3rd and 24 and Nick Bosa did most of the work, but still, Oliver made the tackle.)
In the third quarter, Baltimore’s first punt was because Oliver stuffed Henry on second down for a five-year loss bringing up third and 10.
Then in the biggest moment of the game, Oliver stood up Henry and plucked out the ball, allowing Terrel Bernard to recover and give Buffalo life.
Oliver led the team in tackles for a loss (three) and solo tackles (six) and tied for the team lead with one sack. He had a decent game against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game and instead of shrinking under the brightest lights, they seem to be feeding him.
It’s definitely time to put respect on 91’s number. Ed Oliver is stepping up in the biggest moments. Something the Bills desperately needed when they handed him a huge contract extension in 2023.
