On the surface, the Buffalo Bills’ loss to the Baltimore Ravens exposed the AFC East-leading squad. The defense gave up 35 points and nearly 200 yards to running back Derrick Henry on the ground. The offense sputtered all night, failing to utilize the strategy of spreading around the ball that was successful in the first three weeks of the season.
Quarterback Josh Allen easily distributed the ball to multiple players without needing to take many deep shots in the early season. That strategy didn’t work against Baltimore. Allen reverted to more of the “Hero Ball” that he was known for before the 2024 season.
Buffalo can still pepper many receivers based on who is open in future games. However, the philosophy should be abandoned briefly in certain situations when they arise. The opposing defense may dictate which strategy to use. If opponents use a lot of man coverage, Allen can take more deep shots downfield. Those chances mirror the high-risk, high-reward types he’s made his career on in the NFL.
If an opposing defense leans on zone coverage, feeding multiple targets can still take effect. It may still need to be slightly adjusted from week to week. Changing the game plan when necessary can help in future big games against high-caliber teams like the Houston Texans (Week 5), Kansas City Chiefs (Week 11), San Francisco 49ers (Week 13), and Detroit Lions (Week 15).
Buffalo must learn from its mistakes when the team travels to Houston in Week 5 to face its second 2024 division winner in a row in the Texans.
Silver Linings Exist After Buffalo Bills Loss to Baltimore Ravens
Timing is Everything
A blowout loss early in the season differs from a blowout loss in late November or early December. Teams are still figuring things out in the season’s first six weeks. If the Bills come out flat in Houston in Week 5, it may be time to re-evaluate things. Since the blowout occurred in the fourth game of the season, Buffalo has ample time to self-correct and adjust.
These two teams are good bets to make the playoffs. Head coach Sean McDermott, Allen, and new defensive coordinator Bobby Babich must learn from the mistakes in the one-sided meeting. The Ravens relied heavily on running back Justice Hill in the passing game. Jackson completed six of his passes to Hill. Nine of his 13 completions went to running backs, exposing the linebackers in the mid-range passing game.
Babich called a defense against a quarterback like Lamar Jackson for the first time in 2024. The Bills faced Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals in Week 1 but the Cardinals are a team in transition. Baltimore claimed the top seed in the AFC last year and is among the better teams in the AFC for much of the last five years.
Babich has been part of the staff since 2017, working as an assistant coach in the Bills secondary and linebacking corps. In the past, he could rely on Tre’Davious White, Micah Hyde, Jordan Poyer, and Matt Milano. All four players are gone or hurt (Milano).
Experience against one of the best quarterbacks in the league allows Babich to call a better game if and when the two teams face off in the playoffs.
Turning Down the Pressure
Another reason to pump the brakes after the Buffalo Bills loss to the Ravens involves the pressure of going undefeated. Only two teams have accomplished the feat in NFL history. The 1972 Miami Dolphins went 17-0 after winning Super Bowl VII. The 2007 New England Patriots almost bested that in a 17-game season. The Patriots fell short against the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII.
Had the Bills defeated the Ravens or blown them out, the pressure to stay perfect would have mounted week after week. Getting a blemish on the record early on takes away some of the strain of remaining perfect.
The Bills would have been postured as one of the top two teams in the lead had they clobbered the Ravens in Baltimore. Having the problems emerging in Week 11 would have been more detrimental than a sound defeat in Week 4 of 2024.
Main Photo: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
