‘“This team comes from the black-and-blue division, and they pride themselves on being physical and really beating you up,” Alexander said. “We’ll have our hands full, but I’m looking forward to the challenge.”’
Archives for December 6, 2019
2018 season opener feels like a lifetime ago for Bills’ Josh Allen, Ravens’ Lamar Jackson
‘Allow us to refresh your memory: Allen and the Bills opened the 2018 season in Baltimore. It was a game all involved on the Buffalo side would like to forget. Nathan Peterman – remember him? – started for the Bills in a driving rainstorm, but couldn’t make it to the fourth quarter. Peterman went 5 for 18 for 24 yards and two interceptions – a perfectly imperfect 0.0 passer rating. Mercifully, he was benched midway through the third quarter after the Bills fell behind, 40-0. That meant Allen made his professional debut in what would end up a 47-3 Baltimore victory. Jackson also made his debut, coming into in a much different circumstance just 1:21 of game time later.’
‘Third Ryan brother’ will bring pressure on Bills’ Josh Allen
‘Like the Ryans, Martindale loves to bring an overload pressure to one side and drop a lineman into zone coverage on the other side. The Ravens like to rush five, play a three-deep zone on the back end and have three men in matchup-man coverage underneath.’
News’ staff predictions for Bills vs. Ravens showdown
‘Expecting the Bills’ defense to make Lamar Jackson look like less than the NFL MVP is probably asking too much, but the unit is good enough to limit the damage and force him into a mistake or two. It also has shown enough improvement to believe it can avoid being trampled by the league’s top rushing offense. Bills will scratch out a defining victory. Bills, 24-20.’
Betting trends and pick for Bills vs. Ravens
‘With the Ravens at 3-5 straight up and 1-7 against the spread when coming off consecutive NFC contests, and the Bills at 8-0 straight up and 7-1 against the spread at home off an NFC opponent, we find ourselves taking the six points.’
Tre’Davious White has been locking down receivers in shadow coverage
‘From Weeks 9 to 13, the Bills’ defense has utilized a shadow coverage scheme, asking White to follow and cover the opposing teams’ top receiver, no matter where he lines up. Not only has White handled the job, he’s had tremendous success in arguably one of the most challenging tasks as a defender.’
All eyes are on Lamar Jackson, but the Ravens defense has been just as dominant
“We’ve been able to start hitting our stride just a little bit with scheme and doing some different things and changing up from week to week and getting it right,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “We’re getting some experience working together, probably a big part of it, and it’s just week to week. We have to be consistent with everything we do, and we’re probably more consistent than we were early, I would say.”’
Ed Oliver’s wake up call wakes up Bills pass rush, which has produced 15 sacks in 3 games
‘“Not a lot of thinking, I’ve just been going out there and playing the ball free,’’ Lawson said. “I have to keep it going. I have four more weeks, five, six, hopefully seven or eight. You feel me? Other guys have put me in position to make plays and I just have to make them.’’’
Buffalo Bills RB Frank Gore explains why he thinks Tremaine Edmunds is going to be great
‘“The guy who is next to me is Tremaine (Edmunds),” Gore told the SiriusXM hosts. “Man, he asks about every linebacker I played against. He asked me about the guys I played with like Patrick Willis, NaVorro (Bowman). He picks my brain on everything. Like, he asked me about the linebacker for Dallas last week from Notre Dame, the middle linebacker (Jaylon Smith). He asked me about him, but I told him I couldn’t really get a feel because I didn’t get that many snaps last week. But Tremaine… I think he is going to be great in this league. He’s been balling all year. He’s got a bright future in the NFL.”’
Lorenzo Alexander reveals only way Buffalo Bills can beat Baltimore Ravens
‘The Ravens run an option-based offense predicated on Jackson’s ability to run and get the ball in the hands of his playmakers, whether it be running back Mark Ingram or speedy receivers who can grab the football in a variety of ways.’
Micah Hyde knew Buffalo Bills would be good in 2019, but former Packers, Hawkeyes teammates didn’t believe him
‘“You obviously look around the locker room and see what type of guys… high character guys, some studs in the locker room and you understand you have a pretty good football team,” said Hyde. “I remember having a conversation with some buddies on other teams, former players that I played with in the past whether it’s in Green Bay or even my days in Iowa. And I was telling guys, ‘Hey, don’t sleep on us this year. We’re going to be good. Obviously we have a young quarterback, but he’s a competitor. He’s a stud. Once he gets that confidence from year one to year two’ we’re going to be a pretty good football team.’ And obviously all the guys were like, ‘Yeah, yeah, yeah. Whatever. Whatever. Whatever.’ Maybe I was a little biased, because I appreciate this football team. I know the hard work and stuff that a lot of guys put in, but I really did. I saw the potential in this football team for sure.”’
30 best Bills Mafia tweets thanking GM for 9-3 Bills
‘I asked Bills fans what they’d say to Beane if they saw him out in public this week ahead of the big game against the Ravens. Here are the 30 best responses I got.’
Clash of the titans
‘“He’s an amazing talent, but not even that off the field he’s a great human being,” said Allen about Jackson. “I got to spend some time with him, pre-draft and last year after the season a little bit. Just one of those guys that you want to root for and he’s doing some amazing things right now.”’
Ravens defense faces another challenge in dual-threat QB Josh Allen
‘“He’s a big kid, man, he’s like tackling a tight end scrambling,” Ravens defensive coordinator Don Martindale said. “It’s going to be a great challenge. So we’ll see what happens on Sunday. He makes a lot of plays on his feet, that’s been their success the last five, six weeks.”’
Friday’s Baltimore Coverage
‘It’s not ideal, but we’re winning’: Being a Ravens receiver a test of patience, preparedness (Baltimore Sun)
Ravens CB Marlon Humphrey relishes first field goal block of career against 49ers (Baltimore Sun)
Ravens WR Willie Snead IV on 49ers analyst’s ‘dark skin’ comments on Lamar Jackson: ‘sore loser’ (Baltimore Sun)
Mike Preston hands out the Ravens’ third-quarter report card (Baltimore Sun)
‘Deserving of a big hug’: Why Ravens’ Marlon Humphrey, Chris Horton embraced after blocked kick (Harrisburg Patriot News)
When Baltimore Ravens play Buffalo Bills, both teams will understand David Culley’s influence (Harrisburg Patriot News)
Baltimore Ravens injury updates: Marquise Brown limited in practice with an ankle injury (Harrisburg Patriot News)
Baltimore Ravens’ Lamar Jackson wins AFC Offensive Player of the Month (Harrisburg Patriot News)
Lamar Jackson, Ravens were a perfect match. Most NFL teams would have wasted his skills. (Washington Post)
Ravens defense faces another challenge in dual-threat QB Josh Allen (NBC Sports Washington)
Lamar Jackson ‘honored’ at the chance to break Michael Vick’s single-season rushing record on Sunday (NBC Sports Washington)
Lamar Jackson earns November’s AFC’s Offensive Player of the Month award (NBC Sports Washington)
Lamar Jackson named AFC Offensive Player of the Month (WMAR-TV)
Lamar Jackson Wins AFC Offensive Player of the Month (WJZ-FM)
NFL milestone could come exactly as Lamar Jackson prefers it (WNST-AM)
News & Notes: Why Greg Roman Loves the Pistol Formation (BaltimoreRavens.com)
Here’s What the Ravens’ ‘Big Truss’ Means (BaltimoreRavens.com)
Lamar Jackson Named AFC Offensive Player of the Month (BaltimoreRavens.com)
Transcripts: Thursday Availability (BaltimoreRavens.com)