When Cleveland Browns quarterback Robert Griffin III looks at the tape, he will see a Baltimore Ravens defense that was always a step ahead of the Buffalo Bills.
Advertisement
Instead, the predictable ill-considered penalties and inability to sustain drives combined to produce an all-too-familiar lackluster performance. It was still a one-score game, but that was enough for the Baltimore defense. Of course, none of that will matter if Ryan doesn’t get Ronald Darby and the defense humming like the talent says it should.
Greg Roman’s offense had 160 yards of offense against the Ravens and only completed 48 offensive plays in the game.
Later in the half, Mike Wallace easily ran past safety Duke Williams and caught a pass in stride from Flacco for a 66-yard touchdown on a 3rd and 1.
Buffalo’s running attack, which averaged a league-leading 152 yards per game last season, managed just 65 yards on 24 carries. They have a very, very talented crew.
Of his infrequent scrambles, he added, “It wasn’t a conscious effort on my part …” That touchdown was set up when Taylor escaped a sack with a spin move and found tight end Charles Clay for a 33-yard gain.
It’s finally Week 1, and it is time for the games that count.
Overall, Buffalo committed eight penalties for 89 yards.
By the second half, the Bills gave Baltimore the appearance of surrendering on the ground, going with shotgun-spread formations on all but two plays, in lieu of their usual mix with two-back formations.
Allowing two sacks and six quarterback hits, the offensive line needs to get better if the Buffalo Bills are to be contenders.
“Some of those you can excuse”, he said. “It was all about, ‘Don’t let Tyrod Taylor make an explosive play”. That one I understand. (Flacco’s) running with the ball and stepping up in the pocket. Guys are learning. Guys are getting better. I don’t argue the call (but) he’s trying to make the tackle. I can blame the Bills O-line and their unquestioned leader Richie Incognito. The total included personal-foul penalties by linebacker Jerry Hughes and cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman on the same drive in the third quarter.
Flacco was never going to stay safe throwing it short. I thought he was running … the referee saw it differently. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m proud of the improvements we’ve made”.
Backed up by safeties Eric Weddle and Lardarius Webb, Wright and Smith helped Baltimore limit Taylor to a mere 111 yards passing. LeSean McCoy went over from close range on fourth-and-goal to answer for the Bills, but Dan Carpenter missed a field goal and blew the chance to tie it in the third quarter.
That year was also the most recent occasion during which the Bills have even made the playoffs. The Ravens have the home field advantage today.
“He has some different blitzes, some that are executed various ways”, coach John Harbaugh said.
Advertisement
Will the Bills cover as underdogs this afternoon when they visit the Ravens at 1:00PM ET?
