Buffalo will beat The Ravens

[Pete]

2 minutes ago, jletha said:

In week 4 they played man and had no issue covering our guys. I know the defense was horrible but the offense was also mediocre for a lot of the game. We are a different team now but I do agree that we need the WRs to get separation reliably. If they can comfortably cover our WRs in man coverage it frees up the LBs to focus on spying Josh and containing the run.

No Shakir or Cooper.  Samuels was hurt.  Still it was 21-10, we had ball, and had a disastrous fake punt

[YattaOkasan]

4 hours ago, skibum said:

Players who dressed week 4 who are either gone or will be inactive or special teams/emergency duty at best:

- Casey Toohill

- LB corp of Spector, Morrow, and Andreessen (!!!!!)

- MVS

- Dawuayne Smoot

- Dewayne Carter

 

 

 

Smoot will get reps.  I think I actually prefer him to Epensa on early downs in this match up.  But agree with everything else you said.  

4 minutes ago, jletha said:

In week 4 they played man and had no issue covering our guys. I know the defense was horrible but the offense was also mediocre for a lot of the game. We are a different team now but I do agree that we need the WRs to get separation reliably. If they can comfortably cover our WRs in man coverage it frees up the LBs to focus on spying Josh and containing the run.

Why Cooper trade was so important.  If we didnt have him i would expect them to clog the middle and for us to struggle.  With him on the outside we can make them pay if they run that strategy back.  

[jletha]

Just now, Pete said:

No Shakir or Cooper.  Samuels was hurt.  Still it was 21-10, we had ball, and had a disastrous fake punt

Shakir did play but got injured. But these factors are why I said we are a different team. That said in week 4 Baltimores pass defense was ranked 32nd I dont think we were really getting separation reliably against Denver. Leaning on the run so effectively opened things up in the second half. But we will need everyones best effort all game, including Brady.

[The Jokeman]

1 minute ago, jletha said:

Shakir did play but got injured. But these factors are why I said we are a different team. That said in week 4 Baltimores pass defense was ranked 32nd I dont think we were really getting separation reliably against Denver. Leaning on the run so effectively opened things up in the second half. But we will need everyones best effort all game, including Brady.

Toss in Samuel appears to have been nursing his turf toe as he's been better the last few weeks. Not to mention Keon isn't a rookie anymore etc. Ultimately as all of us have said it's going to be how our defense is against Henry as when he doesn't get 100 the Ravens chances of losing increases dramatically. I think our offense has just to control the clock as much as possible and keep Henry bottled up for a chance to win. 

[ExiledInIllinois]

On 1/13/2025 at 10:51 AM, Sojourner said:

The country is always accepting new residents Gunner! 

You sure about that!

😏

[Pete]

33 minutes ago, jletha said:

Shakir did play but got injured. But these factors are why I said we are a different team. That said in week 4 Baltimores pass defense was ranked 32nd I dont think we were really getting separation reliably against Denver. Leaning on the run so effectively opened things up in the second half. But we will need everyones best effort all game, including Brady.

Shakir got hurt in the first quarter and left game

[That's No Moon]

On 1/13/2025 at 10:45 AM, PromoTheRobot said:

This game is the biggest challenge the Bills have seen in years. If they can take down the Ravens, I'm not afraid of any other team going forward.

I'm not afraid right now.

 

You gotta beat who you gotta beat. Last time I checked #17 is still on this team. I don't care who they have. "They" always have someone at this time of year. Don't care. If the Bills play their game they will win. I'm not worried.

 

This is the year Gary. It's been said before but this IS the year.

 

[jletha]

3 minutes ago, Pete said:

Shakir got hurt in the first quarter and left game

He caught the 50 yard bomb when Josh scrambled right in the 3rd quarter:

 

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DGJ4nb9s7An0&ved=2ahUKEwjqq73z2PWKAxW7FlkFHQzhJykQtwJ6BAgKEAI&usg=AOvVaw31mSmrqbsB8une_-CCraM-

[Big Turk]

41 minutes ago, Pete said:

No Shakir or Cooper.  Samuels was hurt.  Still it was 21-10, we had ball, and had a disastrous fake punt

 

Shakir played, he caught that 52 yard bomb from Allen when he rolled out and threw as he was going out of bounds.  He got hurt during the game tho.

[WillSaints81]

On 1/13/2025 at 10:56 AM, Gregg said:

 

The Bills are healthier on defense, so I don't expect another beatdown from them. But I expect this will be a real "heart attack" type of game. It will be nervous time for both fanbases. This has 34-31 written all over it. It wouldn't surprise me if it went to OT.

Will it be 34-31 if playoff Lamar shows up? How is Henry on the road in cold weather historically?

[Gregg]

8 minutes ago, WillSaints81 said:

Will it be 34-31 if playoff Lamar shows up? How is Henry on the road in cold weather historically?

 

I think this will be a back-and-forth contest with both teams scoring a lot of points.

[D. L. Hot-Flamethrower]

Wouldn't it be amazing to all those on the media bandwagon if we actually went out and kicked some Raven ass like 35-10.

[That's No Moon]

Just now, D. L. Hot-Flamethrower said:

Wouldn't it be amazing to all those on the media bandwagon if we actually went out and kicked some Raven ass like 35-10.

Yup, because they'll all then come up with 40 reasons why the Chiefs/Texans will beat them starting with "This week was their Super Bowl, they had to lay too much on the line."

[BuffaloBill]

On 1/13/2025 at 10:45 AM, PromoTheRobot said:

This game is the biggest challenge the Bills have seen in years. If they can take down the Ravens, I'm not afraid of any other team going forward.

 

I want to think this but the Chiefs have always found something extra against the Bills in the playoffs (or arguably the Bills have enabled them to find something extra).

 

I do like where we are as a team right now - the Bills appear to be calm cool and collected - on a mission.

[TheWei44]

10 minutes ago, Gregg said:

 

I think this will be a back-and-forth contest with both teams scoring a lot of points.

Agree - Of course anything can happen, including a Bills blowout, but I expect more like a closely contested Bills-Chiefs game with a lot of back and forth and lead changes.

[Alphadawg7]

7 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

 

I certainly don't wish an injury on Lamar but if he went down on the first play and we beat Josh Johnson 31 zip I don't give a damn about people saying "oh well you'd have lost to Lamar." So what? Lamar got hurt. That's playoff football. Beat who is in front of you. The same way, heaven forbid Josh went down early I wouldn't be putting an asterisk on a Ravens win. Does anyone say that about the Eagles making the Superbowl two years ago against Kyle Shanahan's window cleaner at QB for San Fran? It was a story for like a week after the game and then everyone moves on. 

 

I agree on the second para though. I think the winner of this game goes to the Superbowl and is the favourite to win it. It feels to me a bit like there are two teams of destiny in the NFL this year and they are about to smash into one another for three hours on Sunday. The only way the winner isn't in prime position is if they come out so bloodied and beaten up as to be easy pickings for the Chiefs. 

 

 

 

You are right, it shouldn't matter and I am normally of that mindset.  I guess I just have a lot of fatigue from all the Allen vs Lamar debates going on about who is better, who is the MVP, etc...and I am just tired of hearing about it.  So just in the moment I wrote that, I was over it and just wanted to see Allen go out and send Lamar home and stop the noise.  But at the end of the day, just go win the SB, nothing else matters.  So I agree with you about that.

 

And yeah, kind of feels like a mini Super Bowl this weekend when these two face off.  And I agree, I think if one of these two teams do reach the SB they will be the favorite regardless of who emerges in the NFC.  

 

Two biggest keyss to this game is going to be our OL and turnovers.  Week 4 the OL was often lost and confused and got owned that whole game and if I am not mistaken O'Cyrus had one of his worst games of his career.  And then defensively, its a lot to ask any D to try and contain Lamar and Henry.  But if we can steal a possession or two by winning the turnover battle it would be massive in a game like this.  I mean its always important, but in this particular game it might be the difference in the game.  

 

 

[Gary Marangi]

33 minutes ago, D. L. Hot-Flamethrower said:

Wouldn't it be amazing to all those on the media bandwagon if we actually went out and kicked some Raven ass like 35-10.

I have the Bills beating the Ravens by 10 or more

quite easily 

Edited 10 hours ago by Gary Marangi

[PaattMaann]

9 minutes ago, Alphadawg7 said:

 

You are right, it shouldn't matter and I am normally of that mindset.  I guess I just have a lot of fatigue from all the Allen vs Lamar debates going on about who is better, who is the MVP, etc...and I am just tired of hearing about it.  So just in the moment I wrote that, I was over it and just wanted to see Allen go out and send Lamar home and stop the noise.  But at the end of the day, just go win the SB, nothing else matters.  So I agree with you about that.

 

And yeah, kind of feels like a mini Super Bowl this weekend when these two face off.  And I agree, I think if one of these two teams do reach the SB they will be the favorite regardless of who emerges in the NFC.  

 

Two biggest keyss to this game is going to be our OL and turnovers.  Week 4 the OL was often lost and confused and got owned that whole game and if I am not mistaken O'Cyrus had one of his worst games of his career.  And then defensively, its a lot to ask any D to try and contain Lamar and Henry.  But if we can steal a possession or two by winning the turnover battle it would be massive in a game like this.  I mean its always important, but in this particular game it might be the difference in the game.  

 

 

 

We have vastly improved our blitz pickup / scheme / answers since that game. There's a reason we are tops in the league when being blitzed now. That game was kind of a blessing in hindsight. 

[skibum]

3 hours ago, zow2 said:

 

Just by the eye test, I didn't think the Bills played all that great on Sunday..and yet they won easily 31-7.   The D balled out after the first Denver drive, I'll give them that.  Then when i saw the stats from the game it was eye popping how efficient the Bills were.   It was a weird game, thinking Oh, they can be much better than this.

 

 

I had the same experience. It seemed like Josh couldn't find anyone open most of the time, and that they were just getting by on the run game. Lots of penalties, too. It wasn't a terrible game for the Bills, but they were depending a lot on Josh doing Josh things. That, and the Broncos did a lot to beat themselves. It should have been closer. 

[Danger Mouse]

We’re a different team, sure. But so are they. They look mean as hell right now. The winner of this game looks likely to play the rams is my bet. I can’t really evaluate buffalo independently as we seem to make things look quite easy while not appearing spectacular. 
 

 

but yeah, ravens and rams look like they are in a zone right now.