Two silver linings for the offense were a leaping 35-yard catch from receiver Breshad Perriman, playing in his first National Football League game after missing his entire rookie season with knee problems, and a fall-down, 27-yard grab from tight end Dennis Pitta, playing in his first game in 721 days after hip surgery and a broken finger. A 37-yard field goal by Justin Tucker gave Baltimore a 13-7 lead with 5:30 left in the fourth quarter. “It’s still a work in progress”.
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“I think if we would have lost somebody maybe the question would be different”, he said.
For Flacco, it won’t be about playing his former backup, but rather about making his first start since he sustained a season-ending knee injury in November of a year ago. He endured four sacks, but was able to bounce back each time. Weddle was signed as a free agent and Webb has been shifted to free safety from cornerback.
He did just that in his first game in purple and black.
So, despite some of the stalled drives, Baltimore is confident the pieces are in place for a big season.
“It was a check”, Wallace said. “They know how to get things done, so it just feels right”.
The Ravens were all over the Bills’ double moves, and Taylor attempted only five passes of more than 10 yards downfield. It’s something that, hopefully, we can get the film from this one day and watch it when we’re sitting old somewhere. “We did not have critical penalties down the stretch. We can’t win games if we can’t do that”. Penalties were once again a problem for the Bills as they took 8 for 89 yards. The Ravens announced this morning that Pitta would get the start at tight end today, coming off of his second major hip surgery. Twice penalties extended Ravens drives.
It sure does seem like the Ravens defense is back to the form fans are accustomed to. “On offence, we just couldn’t get anything going”.
The pass defense was impressive, but Baltimore was also impenetrable against the run, allowing only 65 yards on 24 carries. Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor and running back LeSean McCoy both acknowledged the Ravens surprised them by how unpredictable they were on third down (Bills failed to convert on 10 of 13). The Buffalo News reports Bills linebacker Lorenzo Alexander wore a firefighter’s helmet in recognition of the 15th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks that left almost 3,000 people dead.
“It was a bad day”. We played with discipline.
Added linebacker Zachary Orr: This is the fastest defence thats been around here in a long time We were flying around.. That group delivered impressive performance against the Bills.
“Jerry is trying to make a play on the quarterback …” Timmy Jernigan and Terrell Suggs each finished with a sack.
The Bills only touchdown came in the second quarter when LeSean McCoy rushed the ball from a yard out. We just have to do a good job on defense of doing what we’re supposed to do – having good eyes and doing our technique, following our assignments and being where we’re supposed to be. “One of our main focuses and goals was nothing over the top of us. It was really an easy throw; nobody was back there”, Flacco said.
Ravens defensive players flew to the ball. It was a positive step all-around.
The Bills went three-and-out an NFL-leading 27.9 percent of the time last season.
This game was there for the taking … from start to finish. “It was a great scheme”.
After short, forgettable stints in Miami (2013-14) and Minnesota (last year), receiver Mike Wallace wanted to return to relevance in a big way with the Ravens. Flacco floated a attractive pass to Wallace, and once he caught it, he smelled the end zone.
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Winning is the ultimate goal. And that was not only after but before left tackle Cordy Glenn left the game for good in the second quarter, with an undisclosed ankle injury. “I thought we would make a few more plays than we did”.
