Ravens vs. Bills final: MVP, 12 Winners & 3 Losers

The Baltimore Ravens’ demise was greatly exaggerated. After falling to 0-2, they manufactured their identity and have steamrolled their opponents for 545 rushing yards in two games and totaled 63 points. Tonight, they hammered one of the best teams in the NFL with said run game and came away with a 35-10 victory over the Buffalo Bills. Here’s Sunday’s MVP, the Winners and Losers.

Undoubtedly, this goes to the coaching staff. Head Coach John Harbaugh had this team locked in and ready to play. The past two weeks they’ve outlined their identity. They’ve learned from mistakes, corrected errors and maximized their strengths. Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken ran circles around Bills Defensive Coordinator Bobby Babich. First-year play-caller and Defensive Coordinator Zach Orr trounced the efforts of quarterback Josh Allen and Offensive Coordinator Joe Brady. The Bills finished with just 12 first downs and went 3-of-13 on third down. They just, for all intents and purposes, were better tonight.

Offensive Line: The Ravens offensive line bullied the Bills. Their strength, attack and repetition wore down on the defense. But they didn’t need all game to do so. According to TruMedia, the Ravens averaged 5.18 yards BEFORE contact per carry. For a second-straight week, Lamar Jackson shouted out his offensive line, and more specifically, the play from right guard Daniel Faalele.

“The offensive line did a great job; two weeks back-to-back,” Jackson said. “I believe we had one sack tonight; I believe that was my fault. I believe I should have gotten out of that, but the offensive line did a great job tonight. Like I said, [it’s] not just Pat Mekari, but Daniel Faalele, as well, because that’s the guy who they were sleeping on the most. Just all the guys, they just blocked their tail off, and they did what they were supposed to do.”

Lamar Jackson: Oh, speaking of Jackson, he played pretty well, too. If we’re being really nit-picky, he had a couple errant/dangerous throws. He also lost the fumble on not sliding and taking a hit you’d like for him to avoid. But that all feels like splitting hairs on account of him carving up the Bills for 156 passing yards and two passing touchdowns along with 54 rushing yards and a touchdown. This was a bona fide Jackson efficiency performance.

Derrick Henry: The King broke out in Dallas for 151 yards against a measly Cowboys defensive line. He followed that up with an even greater performance, rushing for 199 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries (8.3 YPC). The lone flaw in his game was a fumble on the goal line that could’ve given the Bills life. Fortunately, it was recovered by fullback Patrick Ricard.

Patrick Ricard: Along with his recovered fumble touchdown, Ricard is tossing defenders. He’s the point of attack and is blowing gaps wide open for Henry. On film, you can see defenders making business decisions when faced with Henry running behind Ricard and he confirmed that’s the case.

“Yeah, especially corners,” Ricard said. “When I go out there to try and block them they back up and they try to work edge-to-edge. I don’t blame them. But yeah, it’s cool to see, but I want them to come and hit me.”

Justice Hill: I think “underrated” can no longer be a thing for Hill. He’s been mentioned the past three weeks for the impact he makes on the field. Maybe underpaid, seeing as he signed a two-year, $6 million deal 10 days ago and that’s looking greater each game for the Ravens, but he’s being recognized. And against the Bills, he was the Ravens’ leading receiver, catching all six targets for 78 yards and a touchdown.

Kyle Van Noy: The fountain of youth has been discovered by the veteran pass rusher as he’s totaled 15 sacks in 18 games as a Raven. At 33-years-old, Van Noy is a half-sack from the second most in a single season. The first being last year, where he totaled nine in 14 games.

Skill Position Blocking: Bills defenders didn’t know what was hitting them as fast, physical pass-catchers, be they receivers or tight ends, ran out of their breaks to find the nearest non-black uniform and get their hands in their chest. The tape from this game will be inspirational for high school coaches everywhere to point toward as being selfless players for team success.

Odafe Oweh: Taking down Allen is no easy feat. His elusiveness is the closest to Jackson’s in the modern era, and his strength is enough to push away the likes of most defenders. But Oweh is a specimen too, and he hunted down Allen for a 16-yard loss. It’s a play Oweh has missed out on by a split-second in years past. But on Sunday night, he got home and tallied another impact play.

Travis Jones: The Ravens appear to have developed another wrecking ball defensive lineman who has the strength of a bear and speed of one, too. It’s not good to be without Michael Pierce, but after Jones’ production on Sunday night, the Ravens won’t be ushering him back from injury with fervor.

Kyle Hamilton: His range, speed and savvy were on display. He closed gaps on pass-catchers and came downhill in a hurry. In all, he finished as the Ravens’ leading tackler, with six solo and seven total. Oh, there was also that fumble recovery worth mentioning to slam the door closed on Buffalo.

Marlon Humphrey: A diving pass breakup and overall hip-gluing coverage with a nickel blitz pressure on Allen to boot, Humphrey may be all the way back.

Second Half Ravens: The greater the lead, the more panic grew as the Ravens went backward to begin the second half. Two straight three-and-outs has fans in full meltdown mode, and who could blame them? This is their worst rerun to watch. Then, it changed. Blame it on Bills OC Joe Brady for dialing up the most perplexing trick play call but credit the defense for capitalizing. In the second half, the Ravens outscored the Bills 14-7, and had Allen on the bench midway through the fourth quarter.

Discipline: The Ravens once again put added stress on themselves with eight penalties for 79 yards. Credit them for overcoming the added burdens but eliminating the flags will prove more fruitful.

Mark Andrews: Solely from a receiving standpoint, Andrews has to feel frustrated. Back-to-back games with zero catches, a first in his career. But he was far from a “loser” when blocking safety Taylor Rapp on the first offensive snap and springing Henry loose for an 87-yard touchdown. The production will come, though fantasy football owners will bemoan his 0.0 points.

Nate Wiggins: Two gift-wrapped interception opportunities from Allen as he started to put on the cape fell incomplete for the rookie cornerback. Though it’s in jest, Hamilton called him on it in the post-game presser. Jackson also reminded Hamilton to poke at Brandon Stephens’ dropped interception, too.

“I thought DBs [defensive backs] covered really well, even though Nate [Wiggins] dropped some money today – ‘B-Steve’ [Brandon Stephens], too, so we have two culprits,” Hamilton said.