Bills vs Ravens Divisional Round

[Coach Tuesday]

2 hours ago, jaybeezee said:

They are relying on us running the dink and dunk screens and rushing Cook. They will not be prepared for us to consistently attack them deep. I know we lack the speed, but there always hope for PI's to be called. Again, if we do some unique QB roll-outs and draws, this will force them to the outside more, which will open up the middle of the field. 

 

I largely agree with this.  The Ravens definitely will be expecting that horizontal offense of quick screens to Shakir and Coleman and they're well-positioned to stop it (in a very physical fashion), same with the Cook runs.  We need to attack more aggressively downfield or it will be a frustrating event. 

[Buryravens]

28 minutes ago, Beck Water said:

 

Milano was out.  Bernard was out.  Johnson was out.  Rapp went out and Bishop played 3/4 of the game.

 

Brown and Cook both played

And Baltimore had the 32nd ranked defense until week 11

[Trust The Process]

1 hour ago, Desert Bills Fan said:

 

so what innovative defensive alignment might the Bills use against this “heavy” Ravens group?
Maybe: 5 DL, 3 LB, 2 CB, 1 safety ?

The vast majority of the game I would deploy 3 to 4 DB's. I would also deploy a 4-3-4 defense which is 4 down linemen, 3 LB's Milano, Bernard, and Williams, and 4 DB's Douglas, Benford, Rapp, and Hamlin.

 

I would switch to a 4-4-3 defense whenever the Ravens offense lines up with 6 OL, FB Patrick Ricard, and a combo of Andrews and Likely or Andrews/Likely with Bateman which is what the Ravens did on 22.2% of plays verses the Steelers which averaged 9.5 yards per play whenever the Steelers defense played with 5 DB's. The 4-4-3 defense will be 4 down linemen, 3 LB's and 1 SS Milano, Bernard, Williams, and Rapp, and 3 DB's Douglas, Benford, and Hamlin.

 

Taron Johnson is on the field on 2nd and long and 3rd and long only.

Edited 16 hours ago by Trust The Process

[BeastMaster]

22 minutes ago, CaseyatBat said:

 

the cold helps Derrick Henry. hes a 260lb running back, he wants it to be cold so he's even harder to tackle

 

in general I think weather talk is overblown for this game

Snow would not be good for us due to nobody having footing and Henry being a downhill bruiser with straight line speed

 

I'll take wind and cold all day with Josh at QB

[Pete]

One of my favorite plays!

[K-9]

46 minutes ago, WideNine said:

 

Unless we are terribly concerned about their slot receivers or RBs catching passes out of the backfield the Bills could pull Taron out and sub in Dorian as the extra backer without too much drop off.

 

They have rolled with 3 LBs before, but everyone knows they prefer to run their base nickel.

 

We tried leaning into our base defense before and were gashed by Henry and Lamar runs so we will see if our defense tries to match up more on the size and box numbers than they did before and run a bit more man coverage and single high.

 

Rushers need to be gap sound and not get too far up field or they will set themselves up for wham blocks or lose contain. Have to win that trench war and be sound tackling/wrapping up with that first guy there.

 

Tall order for our defense regardless unless we can get the early lead and force Lamar to beat us with his arm.

 

Even then I don't see Harbough abandoning the run completely unless they really feel the squeeze of running out of clock.

 

 

It’s been mentioned several times, but the three most key pieces in our base nickel were all out of the lineup when we faced the Ravens previously. That’s not a comment on whether or not we should use 3 LBs, but our base nickel just isn’t the same without those three players. 

[Tanoros]

1 hour ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

Interesting breakdown by Steelers’ film guy, and a very cautionary tale for us. Listen around 9 minute mark. Two takeaways: 

 

1) Ravens were basically in 11 personnel with an extra offensive lineman (plus Ricard) for a ton of the game. 
 

2) Steelers played nickel a ton out of those sets, and were gashed for over 9 yards per play. (When Steelers went heavy, they stopped them).

 

 

For clarification he actually says that the Ravens played very little 11 personnel. They played with 6 o-linemen 22% of the time, and he didn’t say how often Richard was out there when in a 6 o-linemen formation. He also stated the Steelers allowed just over 3 yards a play when they had 3 db’s on the field, and 4.1 yards per play with 4 db’s on the field, however they gave up over 9 yards per play with 5 db’s on the field. They Steelers played 5 db’s just under 50% of the time. 
 

Sounds like we need a plan to counter when the Ravens go heavy with 6 o-linemen and/or bring Ricard out. 
 

We should have an idea how to play 6 o-linemen because the Bills led the league during the regular season in that formation.  
 

Thanks for sharing the video. 

[sleeby]

Hope you're right about the weather being overblown for this game but if that forecast stands a 20 deg drop in one day seems like high winds that change a game.  But I ain't no metarologist or nothing.    

Edited 16 hours ago by sleeby

[BananaB]

4 minutes ago, Buryravens said:

And Baltimore had the 32nd ranked defense until week 11

Glad they could put it all together against the Steelers, Browns, Giants and a crippled Houston O. 

Very impressed 

 

[Goin Breakdown]

3 hours ago, Big Turk said:

 

 

Pretty much what we already know.  Lamar runs more, Allen is just better at it across the board and especially on key downs and in the redzone.

Youll never heard talking heads bring this up. Goes against the grain 

[Tanoros]

9 minutes ago, Trust The Process said:

The vast majority of the game I would deploy 3 to 4 DB's. I would also deploy a 4-3-4 defense which is 4 down linemen, 3 LB's Milano, Bernard, and Williams, and 4 DB's Douglas, Benford, Rapp, and Hamlin.

 

I would switch to a 4-4-3 defense whenever the Ravens offense lines up with 6 OL, FB Patrick Ricard, and a combo of Andrews and Likely or Andrews/Likely with Bateman which is what the Ravens did on 22.2% of plays verses the Steelers which averaged 9.6 yards per carry whenever the Steelers defense played with 4 or 5 DB's. The 4-4-3 defense will be 4 down linemen, 3 LB's and 1 SS Milano, Bernard, Williams, and Rapp, and 3 DB's Douglas, Benford, and Hamlin.

 

Taron Johnson is on the field on 2nd and long and 3rd and long only.

I think you’re right about going big to match the Ravens, but taking Taron out a bunch is really hard to do. He is so special. But I don’t think he can go in at safety either, so that might be the only option when the Ravens go big. We definitely need a plan other than staying in nickel. 

[Generic_Bills_Fan]

1 minute ago, Buryravens said:

And Baltimore had the 32nd ranked defense until week 11

Apples and oranges imo…the bills schematically could not even really attempt anything but their base nickel in the first matchup because they were missing pretty much everyone they would’ve needed to run something else and the ravens knew it.  They briefly tried adding morrow as a 3rd Lber to go along with an ok linebacker that is pretty bad in coverage,a linebacker who’s awful at everything, a rookie safety that missed camp seeing his first significant time and a decent enough dime db forced to play nickel who was terrible also.

 

I promise you if the roles were reversed you would be saying all the same things this isn’t just fan bs but you can certainly choose not to take my word for it if you wish 😂. This wasn’t a talented roster underperforming, it had to be one of the worst defensive lineups playing considerable minutes in a game for any team all year.   It was like the quality of a team who is blowing someone out and pulls most of their defensive starters but their opponent has their starting offense in still and moves the ball easily  haha there were guys to pick on all over the field 
 

 

[fergie's ire]

22 minutes ago, BeastMaster said:

Snow would not be good for us due to nobody having footing and Henry being a downhill bruiser with straight line speed

 

I'll take wind and cold all day with Josh at QB

Bruisers having the advantage in snow is always something I hear...the conventional wisdom.  However, I don't agree.  You want speed and you want to cut (you know where you are going but the defender does not so has to cut more suddenly).  You just have to soften or round your cuts and then use speed.  Look at what Davis did against SF.  Shady McCoy was famous for being GREAT in the snow.  If someone is a bruiser just stand in front of them (they don't have the traction to get push) or just fall down and have them trip over you.

[Big Turk]

Even ChatGPT knows what's up:

 

[HappyDays]

Curious to hear from our resident Chiefs fans - would you prefer to play Buffalo or Baltimore in the AFCCG?

 

@beebe @Zerovoltz @SaulGoodman @Billl

[BigAl2526]

42 minutes ago, Jauronimo said:

Lamar does wear that ski mask even when its 70 degrees out.  I don't think he likes the cold.  

No, he does not.

[NewEra]

7 hours ago, Buryravens said:

Look it’s 2 wins vs playoff teams all year, I’m not here to disparage but it’s night and day the competition. 
 

afc east is dog water for whatever reason

 

 

I would never give up Lamar at all, he is insane. 
 

Iconic moments? Dude extends plays left right and center and scores TDs due to it, 2x vs the bengals (sorry borrow), he did on Christmas vs the Texans, 9 yard TD run vs the bills untouched. 65 yards TD vs the broncos at half, perfect passer rating game (record for most all time), Jackson 5 vs the bucs (158.1), yada yada. 
 

bros just built different 

You’re a ravens fan- you should say that.  
 

josh played 11 less quarters of football-  the stats would be much closer if we had something to play for over the last month of the season and we didn’t blow so many teams out.

 

point is-  he won the mvp last season strictly due to his teams great record and had nothing to do with his stats.  This year- the reason he’d be winning is he’s stats?  How does that make sense?

 

 Your team added Derrick Henry and your team lost 2 additional games.  You have 8 pro bowlers other than Lamar.  Meanwhile Josh’s “team got worse” and had 2 more wins than last season- the one negative aspect in his game- interceptions- was turned into a positive.  Josh has 1 pro bowler along side of him.  Meanwhile his team is hosting Lamar’s in the playoffs and Lamar has more talent around him.  Most VALUABLE player-  not the player who had the best season statistically. Josh is the most valuable-  there is no doubt.  But I’m glad Josh isn’t going to win the award.  More fuel to his fire.  

Edited 16 hours ago by NewEra

[colin]

i don't think the bills ever get heavier than 4-3 replacing TJ w DW.  playing nickle vs an extra olineman is pretty foolish, especially vs the ravens.  their FB is 300, and henry is giant too.

 

well, maybe im wrong, maybe the bills might go 5 2 4, but i'd think that 5th lineman might be DW lined up along the DL, but being a bit of a joker, changing gaps, spying lamar, etc.  ow it would have to be aj, groot, dquan, oliver, smoot for a heavy jumbo line.  im not sure aj there is a better misdirection run defender than DW, but who knows.

[Big Turk]

11 minutes ago, bills742 said:

 

 

"I'll take interviews that never happened for $1000 Alex!"

 

7 hours ago, Buryravens said:

Look it’s 2 wins vs playoff teams all year, I’m not here to disparage but it’s night and day the competition. 
 

afc east is dog water for whatever reason

 

 

I would never give up Lamar at all, he is insane. 
 

Iconic moments? Dude extends plays left right and center and scores TDs due to it, 2x vs the bengals (sorry borrow), he did on Christmas vs the Texans, 9 yard TD run vs the bills untouched. 65 yards TD vs the broncos at half, perfect passer rating game (record for most all time), Jackson 5 vs the bucs (158.1), yada yada. 
 

bros just built different 

 

You realize the AFC East is basically flipping the Jets for the Steelers right? Browns were worse than the Pats. Bengals and Fins were the same record. Bills better than Ravens record wise. 

 

It's not like you are in the NFC North with 3 playoff teams and 2 teams that accounted for 29 wins.

 

Also, you actually lost to the Browns this year so I guess that doesn't mean a whole lot in terms of how poor a team is?

[Simon]

28 minutes ago, K-9 said:

It’s been mentioned several times, but the three most key pieces in our base nickel were all out of the lineup when we faced the Ravens previously. That’s not a comment on whether or not we should use 3 LBs, but our base nickel just isn’t the same without those three players. 

 

Additionally, with both Bernard and Milano out, they also couldn't realistically run any 4-3, even if they'd wanted to.

They were fighting cops while handcuffed.

The team that's going to walk on the field Sunday is world's apart from the earlier matchup, and on both sides of the ball when you factor in the addition of Shakir and Cooper.