The Baltimore Loss in Retrospect

[BigAl2526]

When it happened, I chalked it up to matchup problems for the Bills.  The Ravens have long been one of the NFL's "bully' teams.  They not only talk tough, they play to beat up their opponents.  Acquiring Derrick "Mack Truck" Henry only adds to that persona.  I'm not so sure now.  I think perhaps Buffalo had not yet fully adjusted to the injuries they had already sustained to that point in the season.  Of course, the choice the Bills have made to go primarily with a 4-2-5 nickel lineup as their base defense also reduces their margin for error in run defense and a number of teams have run up yardage totals on the ground against the Bills this season.

 

The Bills have adjusted to their injury situation and found other players who can contribute effectively.  Against KC, they played with a pretty high level of consistency.  Kareem Hunt actually had his longest run of the season yesterday, but overall, Buffalo's defense did a solid job against both the run and the pass.  I think if Buffalo played Baltimore now, the result would be very different.  Even if they didn't win, it would be a very close game.

 

Against Houston, I think Buffalo was still dealing with the shock of the Baltimore blowout.  It's on the coaches that they didn't get the players past it.

 

What do you think?  Has your view changed?

[Success]

Still say that if we hadn't tried that trick play, we were coming back & would have won that game.

 

That changed all of the momentum we had regained.

 

[Giuseppe Tognarelli]

1 minute ago, BigAl2526 said:

When it happened, I chalked it up to matchup problems for the Bills.  The Ravens have long been one of the NFL's "bully' teams.  They not only talk tough, they play to beat up their opponents.  Acquiring Derrick "Mack Truck" Henry only adds to that persona.  I'm not so sure now.  I think perhaps Buffalo had not yet fully adjusted to the injuries they had already sustained to that point in the season.  Of course, the choice the Bills have made to go primarily with a 4-2-5 nickel lineup as their base defense also reduces their margin for error in run defense and a number of teams have run up yardage totals on the ground against the Bills this season.

 

The Bills have adjusted to their injury situation and found other players who can contribute effectively.  Against KC, they played with a pretty high level of consistency.  Kareem Hunt actually had his longest run of the season yesterday, but overall, Buffalo's defense did a solid job against both the run and the pass.  I think if Buffalo played Baltimore now, the result would be very different.  Even if they didn't win, it would be a very close game.

 

Against Houston, I think Buffalo was still dealing with the shock of the Baltimore blowout.  It's on the coaches that they didn't get the players past it.

 

What do you think?  Has your view changed?

We lost to Houston because of offensive injuries and Allen trying to show out to prove he didn't need Diggs.

[The Firebaugh Kid]

I am steadfast in my unbelief of Lamar Jackson and the Ravens in general. 

[Bob Chandler's Hands]

It's a long season in the NFL. Stuff happens and it evolves as the season progresses. 

 

That said, it was not only a defensive failure, but an offensive one too against Baltimore. I expect the offensive side of the ball would improve in a rematch. The defense, TBD. Stopping Jackson and Henry on the ground is nothing like stopping KC. 

[Alphadawg7]

Houston had one problem - Josh Allen.  Was his worst game since maybe his first start as a rookie.  The opportunities were there, he was just off most the game in a big way.  I think maybe the Diggs thing just got into his head more than he wanted to let happen and he just couldn't find his rhythm and was pressing too much.  

 

Balt I think was more it was a short week for us, we had injuries, we had been rolling and went into a hostile environment where they were in about as close to a must win game Balt could be in that early in the season.  Just one of those games, and I am sure the Henry big run to start just kind of set them back on their heals a bit.  

[Steptide]

McDermott for whatever reason just has these games in him. Think back to the 2020 season. Bills go 13-3 with two bad losses to the titans and kc. I think part of it too is the offense wasn't gelling well at the time. They've definitely come around alot since the Ravens game and Houston game. 

[US Egg]

4 minutes ago, Giuseppe Tognarelli said:

We lost to Houston because of offensive injuries and Allen trying to show out to prove he didn’t need Diggs.

Could you elaborate, please.

[JerseyBills]

Most satisfying W in a while..

 

[Sojourner]

12 minutes ago, Success said:

Still say that if we hadn't tried that trick play, we were coming back & would have won that game.

 

That changed all of the momentum we had regained.

 

Surprised Josh walked away after getting his beans spilt all over the 50 yard line of M&T. 

 

Absolutely the nail in our coffin that game. Pressure would have been on Baltimore big time. Do they rise to the occasion with the way they were playing? Who knows. The missed fg drive evaporated all false hope. 
 

Kyle Van Noy was a monster for them that game. Easily the difference between both teams. Made so many massive plays for them. 

 

Edit: well… maybe Henry a little too lol

 

Edited November 19 by Sojourner

[stevestojan]

21 minutes ago, Success said:

Still say that if we hadn't tried that trick play, we were coming back & would have won that game.

 

That changed all of the momentum we had regained.

 

I almost blocked the debacle from my mind. What a disaster. 

[streetkings01]

I remember watching Brady and the Patriots having at least 1 horrendous game every season except for 2007 where they made some team look like a juggernaut! It’s the NFL…..those type of games happen.

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

Just now, stevestojan said:

I almost blocked the debacle from my mind. What a disaster. 

It’s like a nightmare memory.  all I can remember is a flash of Samuel and Josh Allen running straight into 3 monster linebackers descending on his throwing elbow. 

[Big Blitz]

By Chiefs fans logic we lost to the Ravens and Texans when it doesn’t matter so we will automatically win in January.  

[T.E.]

3 minutes ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

It’s like a nightmare memory.  all I can remember is a flash of Samuel and Josh Allen running straight into 3 monster linebackers descending on his throwing elbow. 

His arm has not been 100% right since that happened. What a horrific call. Reminds me of the notorious Travis Henry halfback option in 2003.

[WotAGuy]

This is what’s so interesting and frustrating about team sports in general. There seems to be times when a team just doesn’t have it and everything is a battle every play. Those usually end in big losses. Then there are the days when that momentum swings and suddenly the tide turns from one team to the other and it’s a tsunami. 
 

I’ve often wondered what is at work to create momentum and the effects it has on games. 

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

4 minutes ago, T.E. said:

His arm has not been 100% right since that happened. What a horrific call. Reminds me of the notorious Travis Henry halfback option in 2003.

I remember that Henry play like it was yesterday! So outrageously stupid. 

[Brand J]

I also think it’s possible the team had a collectively bad game. I said at the time the defensive and offensive game plans were wrong. You don’t defend a heavy rushing team by giving them a light box 60% of the time, nor do you play small ball against a defense that was known for giving up chunk plays. They also confused our OL for much of the game which was just as bad. It was a collective team failure, not in any way indicative of how much better BAL is than BUF. If they played again I don’t think BUF loses by 4+ scores.