Baltimore lost quiet a few key players this offseason, but Flacco, Forsett, Suggs, Smith, and 2015 first-round draft pick Breshad Perriman – who missed the entire season past year – are now healthy.
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“Man, it was scripted just how you envisioned it as a defensive player”, Weddle said. “It was good to be back there with the boys”.
Perriman said it was “a dream come true” to suit up with his teammates and make a play in his first regular-season game. A Reggie Bush rush and a couple of short receptions from Robert Woods set up a 49-yard field goal for the Bills.
Flacco wasn’t exuberant after the game.
“The reality was I probably was going to be leave Baltimore at some point or another”.
Smith meant to retire last season until his injury. Now, after skipping the preseason, he returned to grab a team-high five passes. On the ensuing play, Wright tripped up running back Mike Gillislee on a screen pass for a 4-yard loss.
“I’ve got to be a smarter football player”, Hughes said. I’m excited, but it’s not about me. “We don’t win the game without those two plays”.
“I’m excited, just as everyone else is on our team, for Week 1”. “Words can’t really explain it all. I’m just very happy”.
Stanley was called for a false start and even perennial All-Pro guard Marshal Yanda was flagged for two penalties on a tough day for an offensive line that not only couldn’t hold back a Bills’ rush that produced only 21 sacks previous year, but could only spring running back Justin Forsett for 41 yards on ten carries. When Taylor scrambled, his tight ends were reduced to blockers instead of targets.
“Us keeping them to 60-plus yards was great, but obviously we can do better”, defensive tackle Brandon Williams said.
The left side of the offensive line could be a concern for Baltimore as the Ravens may start two rookies, Stanley and guard Alex Lewis.
Taylor, 27, played in 14 games for the Bills last season, completing 63.7 percent of his passes for 3,035 yards with 20 touchdowns and six interceptions.
“It was a good start”, Flacco said. He was a great guy. The Bills forced the Ravens to settle for a Justin Tucker field goal from 45 yards. He completed 13-of-19 passes for 188 yards in the first half, including a 66-yard touchdown pass to newly acquired speed receiver Mike Wallace.But Buffalo’s defensive unit, led by defensive mastermind and Bills head coach Rex Ryan, tightened up in the second half and limited Flacco to just 70 passing yards through the final third and fourth quarters. “We have the ability on the outside”. At times, protection held extremely well. They’re well-coached, and they got after us.
The Bills scored four plays later on a 1-yard plunge by McCoy on fourth down, lifting them right back into the contest. Several times, the Ravens were able to push McCoy laterally on a run, preventing him from turning the corner and making a big gain.
The Ravens were the only defense not allow its opponent to reach double digits.
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“They are going to try and blitz you”, Yanda said.
