The Ravens’ season took a nosedive on Sunday against the Bills when Lamar Jackson suffered a thumb injury on his first snap back from a three-week absence. Baltimore’s defense did their best to keep the game close, but the unit eventually unraveled against Josh Allen with no help from an offense that was down to its emergency third-string undrafted rookie quarterback.
Winners
Roquan Smith: After a week of questions targeted at Baltimore’s defense, and specifically the highly-paid leaders of the unit, Smith responded
with one of his best games of the season. His 11 total tackles led the Ravens; he also forced a fumble and deflected two passes. Smith finished with a 91.1 grade from Pro Football Focus, the highest on the team and his best since Week 1.
Broderick Washington: Washington’s game was otherwise unremarkable, but he did come down with an interception off a dropped pass on Buffalo’s third drive. The turnover set the Ravens up at the 17-yard line, leading to a Derrick Henry touchdown a few plays later to cut the lead to 10-7.
T.J. Tampa: Tampa had a strong first game back from injured reserve. The third-year cornerback recovered the fumble forced by Smith while allowing zero catches on one target, according to PFF.
Chidobe Awuzie: Awuzie played 43 snaps on Sunday, his most of the season outside of Marlon Humphrey’s Week 4 absence. The veteran made a case for more playing time going forward as he broke up his lone target.
Nate Wiggins: The Bills avoided Wiggins entirely on Sunday. He locked down the right side of the field and was not targeted a single time.
Losers
Quarterbacks: Three quarterbacks took snaps for the Ravens against the Bills, and all three suffered injuries of various degrees. Jackson’s long-awaited return lasted just one snap, while Tyler Huntley left the game with a toe injury in the second quarter. Rookie undrafted free agent Joe Fagnano — the team’s emergency quarterback — finished the game, but he suffered an ankle injury that now puts into question his availability for Thursday’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The three quarterbacks combined for just 12 completions on 26 attempts for 91 yards, an interception, and two lost fumbles.
Offensive line: Baltimore’s offensive line has been a source of frustration all season, and the unit had perhaps its worst outing yet against Buffalo. Jackson had pressure in his face immediately on the play where he injured his thumb, and Huntley and Fagnano dealt with more of the same for the remainder of the game with injuries of their own. According to PFF, the Ravens’ offensive line allowed 14 pressures on 31 dropbacks (45.1%). A questionable holding call against Ronnie Stanley wiped out a Henry touchdown as well.
Tyler Loop: Loop started the game off on the wrong foot, no pun intended, by landing the opening kickoff out of bounds. This set the Bills and Josh Allen up at the 40-yard line. Loop later missed a 34-yard field goal that would have pulled the score within three points in the second quarter. Jessie Minter announced on Monday that Loop could go on injured reserve with a groin injury with Jake Moody set to step in for the time being.
Zay Flowers: Flowers’ excellent season hit a roadblock in Week 8 as he failed to record a single catch on five targets. What was looking like a potential Offensive Player of the Year caliber season for Flowers could dwindle now with the Ravens’ uncertainty at the quarterback position.
Marlon Humphrey: Humphrey allowed the longest catch of the day by giving up a 49-yard completion to D.J. Moore on the opening drive of the second half. He was also flagged for holding on a third down.
