Ravens OBLITERATE The Bills On SNF And Send A Message To The Rest Of The AFC
What a complete and total ass-kicking from beginning to end. The Ravens just bullied the Bills on both sides of the ball in front of a national audience. Exactly what the doctor ordered after a couple tough losses to start the season.
Derrick Henry was a man possessed tonight. We are starting to see just what this offense is capable of with that lethal Lamar/Henry combo. DH going 87 on the first offensive play of the game sent a message from the get go. It's been said a billion times but it really is absurd what a man that size is capable of when his wheels get going. That's not a foot race that should be won by him.
He followed that up with a punishing collection of downhill runs, totaling 199 and 2 total tuddies. Even when he got cut down, he dished out pain. Taylor Rapp didn't return after stepping onto the train tracks
Lamar was magnificent as well. Didn't have to throw much, but was very effective when he did and picked up some big chunks on the ground too. He wasn't necessarily the star of the evening, but he played nearly perfect football tonight save for a reckless fumble late in the first half.
Defensively… the boys were physical all night long. Zach Orr drew up a perfect gameplan tonight, dialing up pressures at the right time and making life uncomfortable for Josh Allen. Kyle Van Noy has been an absolute weapon the last 3 weeks, picking up a ridiculous 6 sacks and making the biggest play of the night by halting Buffalo's momentum right in its tracks with a strip sack and Travis Jones cleaning Allen's clock
The elephant in the room was their tendency to blow 2nd half leads. When 17 made that insane play near the sideline and the Bills closed the lead to 11 and forced a 3 and out, it felt like we were in quicksand yet again. The walls were closing in and the defense made that gigantic play to re-assert control of the game. Instantly, the offense found their groove again and shoved it down their throats.
The Ravens are scary good. I don't think anyone doubted it was in there, but we're starting to see them put it together in real time. The OL, tight ends, and Pat Ricard blocked their fucking dicks off tonight. The pass protection, as little as it was needed, was much better tonight. And there's elements of the offense that haven't even been unleashed yet. Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely both made big impacts tonight as blocker, but we all know what they're capable of in the pass game. Zay Flowers was hardly used tonight either. This offense has tons of dimensions, and the defense held the NFL's #1 offense to 236 yards, 12 first downs, and 10 points tonight. That is scary.
There is a ton of football left and a ton of work left to do. Next week is another monster game against a Bengals team that has gotten themselves off the mat too. But this Ravens team is probably looking as good as any 2-2 team ever has all things considered. Feels good to be on the up and up after starting 2 games in the hole.
Onwards.