The Buffalo Bills beat the Ravens 36-10 in Week 8 at home. Baltimore used three quarterbacks in the contest as Lamar Jackson got hurt his first offensive play of the game and Tyler Huntley suffered a turf toe injury later. Nonetheless, the Bills are now 6-1 entering Week 9.
These are my takeaways from Buffalo’s victory.
The defense did what it should have given the circumstances
Of course, I’m not expecting Buffalo’s defense to allow 144 points at 2.9 yards per play very often. Playing a third-string quarterback made things exceptionally easier for that unit
in this game.
BUT… Buffalo’s defense did exactly what it should hav against an undrafted rookie quarterback thrust into an emergency relief appearance. That’s a positive sign.
Even Derrick Henry was held in check — only 11 carries for 53 yards — and Zay Flowers did not have a catch. Joey Fagnano demonstrated some moxie on a handful of throws yet none were completed to the receiver who entered this game with the NFL’s highest yards-per-route-run figure among all qualifying wideouts.
So while it’s absolutely correct to mention the caveat regarding this performance from the Bills defense, it was placed in a no-win situation because of the competition level it faced at quarterback.
This contest was a reminder that it’s a 60-minute game
The Bills have an incredible ability to put forth a C+ / B- performance and either score 30-plus points and/or win by more than one score, both of which happened in this game.
Despite the 16-7 lead at the half, Buffalo absolutely squandered quality scoring chances and made mistakes in the first two quarters. The end of half clock management wasn’t ideal. Worked. But the process was off. Overall, it was very disjointed. No doubt.
The Bills went from a somewhat pedestrian 2.0 points per drive in the first half to a massive 4.0 points per drive in the second half. And the vibe of Buffalo’s offense and ease at which it moved the football matched those splits. In the third and fourth quarters, the Bills ran it more efficiently and got more pass-catchers involved at all levels of the field.
In the end, Josh Allen finished 21-of-34 for 289 yards — 8.5 yards per — with two passing touchdowns, one interception, one sack, and a respectable passer rating of 96.3.
While, yes, a team’s own offense does have an impact on the defense, it’s not as if the Ravens third-string unit was out there against Allen and Co.
Welcome, back DJ Moore + Ed Oliver
Finally, the Bills had one of their receivers make a spectacular grab in a low-percentage situation. Moore’s 49-yarder down the middle of the field was a thing of beauty we frankly haven’t seen much of from Buffalo’s pass-catching group over the past few seasons.
His four snags, 82 yards and a score were a jolt to Buffalo’s aerial attack.
On the defensive side, Oliver finished with four pressures on 18 pass-rush snaps — good for a whopping 22.2% pressure rate. His bull rush was outstanding throughout, and his first-step quickness gave Baltimore’s interior blocking unit problems all game.
The Bills were playing without two key pieces on either side of the ball in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, and their impact was certainly felt in this win.
I still think the WR corps needs a boost
Despite Moore’s production — and outrageous catch on the long ball — it still feels like, collectively, the Bills receivers aren’t moving the needle enough on a regular, drive-to-drive basis.
Now, sure, there’s Dalton Kincaid at tight end, who had an up-and-down contest, James Cook on the ground and through the air and Ty Johnson making something happen on a critical third down.
But this offense still doesn’t want to feature Khalil Shakir — despite his awesome dependability — and Coleman disappeared in this game with one catch for four yards.
And now, Josh Palmer is working through another injury.
I highly doubt the Bills make a move at receiver before the trade deadline. But I would love for them to at least explore that position. As a last resort, how about some Greg Dortch in the offense? I want Allen to be able to lean on his collective of wide receivers a little more this season.
There’s the Jim Leonhard we expected (possible springboard?)
Leonhard likely was licking his chops when Huntley entered the game, and his eyes probably lit up when Baltimore’s undrafted rookie quarterback was forced into action. Those developments could’ve skewed Buffalo’s defensive philosophy in this one.
But nonetheless, Leonhard went blitzing berserk in this victory, and I view that as a positive sign.
Interestingly, Leonhard decided to call the game from the box for the first time this season as well. Should we expect the Bills to blitz on over 50% of the opposition’s dropbacks every week? Probably not.
But remember, before this game, Buffalo had the NFL’s 20th-highest blitz rate at just 27.9%.
Those blitzes were more creative against Baltimore and, sure, Jackson likely could’ve made some defenders miss in the pocket, but Leonhard’s blitz designs regularly got a free runner to the quarterback.
Overall, Fagnano was pressured on 56% of his dropbacks. Huntley was pressured on four of his five dropbacks, and Jackson was pressured on his only one in this game.
I wonder — and will be tracking — if this game acts as a springboard for a genuinely aggressive, blitz-heavy defense the rest of the way.
