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Bills Get Reality Check by Ravens; Buffalo Faces Major Questions

The Bills' early-season momentum got destroyed by Derrick Henry, Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens. Where does Buffalo go from here?
Buffalo Bills running back Ty Johnson

The Buffalo Bills received a brutal wake-up call from the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday night. A 35-10 beatdown furthered lingering concerns about the Bills punching above their weight in the early weeks and raised new questions about where Josh Allen and Co. go from here.

“They came out with urgency and they whooped our butt,” Allen told reporters.

That’s putting it mildly. Not only were the Bills outplayed in all three phases, but head coach Sean McDermott and his staff were convincingly outcoached. It was the team’s worst performance since a 27-10 playoff loss to the Cincinnati Bengals at the end of the 2022 season.

A ridiculously tough stretch of schedule continues Sunday when Buffalo travels to face former teammate Stefon Diggs and the Houston Texans. So there’s little time for adjustment as the Bills attempt to avoid a slide that erases their 3-0 start.

Bills Crushed by Ravens; Key Questions Ahead of Week 5

Are Bills’ Injuries Too Much to Overcome?

It took one Ravens offensive play to know the Bills were in trouble Sunday night. Derrick Henry ran through a gaping hole created by his offensive line and ran 87 untouched yards for a touchdown. It was an embarrassing start for the Buffalo defense.

Henry finished the night with 199 rushing yards. Baltimore’s overall offensive breakdown looked like this:

  • Passing: 14 of 19 for 156 yards (8.2 YPA), 2 TD, 0 INT
  • Rushing: 34 carries for 271 yards (8.0 YPC), 2 TD

Buffalo’s defense, which dominated in blowout wins over the Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars, had no answer for the Ravens. The injuries finally took their toll.

Most notably, the absence of linebackers Matt Milano and Terrel Bernard was evident. Replacements Dorian Williams and Baylon Spector simply can’t replace the sideline-to-sideline playmaking ability of one of the NFL’s best linebacker duos. Baltimore took full advantage.

Milano is out until at least December because of a bicep injury. Bernard (pectoral) returned to practice in a red non-contact jersey last week, but he doesn’t have a firm timetable for his return. Neither does star slot cornerback Taron Johnson (forearm). The Bills are incredibly weak in the middle of the field without those three players. You can guarantee other teams saw what the Ravens did to attack that weakness and will attempt to replicate it.

Although the Buffalo defense isn’t as disastrous as it appeared Sunday night, there are serious concerns about its ability to defend the middle of the field without that trio.

Meanwhile, Allen entered the game with an injury to his non-throwing hand suffered back in Week 1. An awful trick-play call added to the problem. He put a lot of stress on his elbow with a full throwing motion after the ball was knocked loose, and then he appeared to hit his head after a hard shot to finish the play. He struggled with throwing consistency after that moment and was eventually removed because of the lopsided score.

Allen probably won’t miss any time with his current ailments. That said, he’s getting more banged up by the week and the Bills can’t afford to lose him for any significant period if they want to make the playoffs.

Why Did the Coaching Staff Struggle vs. Baltimore?

The ill-timed and poorly executed trick play exemplified a miserable performance by the Bills’ coaching staff.

Buffalo wasn’t prepared to stop Baltimore’s multifaceted rushing attack. Any on-the-fly adjustments the staff tried weren’t effective. Jackson, Henry, and their teammates dominated from start to finish.

Offensively, the Bills struggled throughout the first half. They finally started to find a rhythm after halftime. They trimmed the Ravens’ lead to 21-10 and had the ball near midfield when the trick play was called. Baltimore scored after the turnover and the game was essentially over at that point.

McDermott also failed with his macro decisions. Early in the second quarter, the Bills faced a 4th & 1 at their own 39 while trailing 14-3. It was already clear at this point it was likely going to take a score in the 30s to win. You can’t punt in that situation. The Bills coach did. It showed he wasn’t ready for the game playing out in front of him.

Buffalo’s staff received ample credit for the 3-0 start, and it was deserved praise. McDermott, offensive coordinator Joe Brady and defensive coordinator Bobby Babich had an awful night in Baltimore. Any criticism that arrives is also deserved.

Is a Bills Losing Streak Inevitable?

So, what’s next for the Bills? There were always more concerns than their three-game winning streak suggested. That was obvious. The degree to which Baltimore controlled Sunday’s contest in all three phases is the bigger issue, and it should sound significant alarm bells in Orchard Park.

Buffalo is now staring down road games against the Texans and New York Jets. Just as quick as the Bills were 3-0 and on top of the NFL standings, they could be 3-3 and second in the AFC East.

They’re entering a phase where they may need Allen to play the role of superhero to take down tough opponents. The perennial MVP candidate might not be healthy enough to completely take over games, though.

The Bills are entering the prove-it stage of their season. That’s the bottom line. Are they the team that looked ready to contend for a Super Bowl despite an offseason roster overhaul? Or, after a brief period of hope, is it merely a retooling year after the widespread personnel changes?

Buffalo needs a statement victory soon. A clear-cut win over an AFC threat, like the Texans or Jets, to show the early success wasn’t a fluke courtesy of a favorable schedule.

Simply put: the sky isn’t falling yet, but the dark clouds are rolling in.

Main Photo: [Geoff Burke] – USA Today Sports

Tim Daniels

Tim Daniels

Tim Daniels is a lifelong sports fan who spent much of his youth playing soccer. He transitioned to writing in college and hasn't looked back. He spent 11 years on Bleacher Report's Breaking News Team and helped Topps launch its Ripped collecting website.

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