GunnerBill

Baltimore definitely got us with cadance and quick snaps a few times. The theory on the Cole Bishop brain fart blitz was that they snapped it so early he hadn't started to creep up (though I don't absolve him of blame because if that was Hyde or Poyer they just go "fine, no point blitzing now I'll just sit spare here" I know Cole is young but these mental mistakes are way too frequent).

Yea if Harbaugh doesn't call time out Josh lines them up and spikes the ball once it gets under say 10 seconds. Could he have waited until say 15 seconds then called time out? Possibly. At that point with no time outs I think the Bills probably kick on 3rd down and maybe the Ravens get the chance to try and break a return or do throwbacks etc. That might have been the optimum usage. But the idea that he just doesn't call it and the Bills are panicking I don't think so. It was 3rd down. It would benefit the Bills to get under 10 seconds, spike it and then have the chance to walk the kicker out with a full play clock.

Williams hits the wrong lane on the first Henry touchdown. That was his gap and his missed it and ran into a blocker for an inexplicable reason. Agree though Bernard had a terrible game. Rapp was worse and Milano wasn't much better. Bishop wasn't as directly culpable on a big play from memory but he just still doesn't know where he is supposed to be his head is swimming out there and I don't think right now he deserves to be on the field. He is out there because they are hoping a light comes on and it allows his physical potential to flourish but if you had Sean McDermott, Bobby Babich or Brandon Beane 1on1 in a room gun to their head and asked them to name the two best safeties on the roster right now.... I don't think any of them say Bishop. They are trying to live through the growing pains but it is becoming increasingly difficult. I know the play you mean to Flowers. He is coming across from the left side of the formation of the motion and Strong seems to be following then he pops out the other side for a big gain and Strong seems to have stopped. I need to look back at the all22 but I suspect Strong thought he had passed him on in zone and the guy he had passed on to had read that differently and it was a busted coverage.

Good spot. It is only Ed that's out. I think DQ is trying to disengage and while I do think he is basically washed, I don't put that play mainly on him. Could he have done more? Sure. The bigger errors were Bernard and Rapp. And that was consistent throughout the day. Like @Buffalo716 said... you would hope for a bit more out of your Dline, but the bigger missed assisgnments were the 2nd and 3rd level not getting to their landmarks and filling their gaps.

Ha! Fair point 😂 EDIT: I also think at this stage he is just a better player in week 1 than in the Divisional Round. As great as he is at 31 the long season and impact running style does take a toll. If the Bills faced him in January I think they'd have more success against him.

Not the only issue, sure. But it is a major issue however u frame it. Right now I think it is the 32nd best safety combo in the NFL.

Yea thats my take as well. They caught us backup line in post the long Jackson run (presumably starters blowing). DL tried to play the right responsibilities but Ravens blocked up well and got some movement, Bernard late and washed when he got to his gap. Rapp bad starting body position, slow recognition, bad angle.

Agree I don't think that is roughing. Even the way they often call it now I don't think it is roughing. Could it have been possible that a ref wrongly called it? Sure. But they are reluctant to that on close plays in game on the line moments. The refs tend to just display more caution at those moments.

Yea the contain was an issue - but that was more on the Jackson keepers. The Henry runs specifically were more gap control and lane discipline and lack of fill from the 2nd and 3rd level defenders.

No that is based on what I saw live at the time. Not had a chance to get to the all 22. But Dorian Williams in particular missed multiple gaps that led to big plays. Taylor Rapp missed one as well. You have to fill your gaps to get Henry moving horizontally. Then you have a chance. If you miss or are late to your gap and he gets going north to south you are in trouble. Our gap discipline was by far the biggest issue.

He was dominant on Sunday. As I said above every time we got the Ravens off the field there was a play in those 3 downs that Ed Oliver made. I know people here hate PFF but they gave him a 92.1 grade for the game. That was the 7th best grade they gave to anyone in the league at any position week 1.

Last night wasn't a Matt Milano type game even when he was at his peak, in fairness. I think absolutely he isn't close to Smith at this point. Simpson is a different type of linebacker and after some struggles earlier last season he does seem on the upswing. Where Matt is on the downslope is something to view in games other than Sunday night IMO.

The Bills defended the run much better when Williams was out. I know people love the idea of him because he is big and can hit but the next time he plays his right gap in the run game will be the first....

Agreed. I listened to Jeremy and Joe yesterday saying "what are the linebackers and DBs supposed to do? The front has to stop him" and thought you guys really have even less clue what you are watching than I thought. Our gap control was atrocious and the majority of it was linebackers and safeties not filling their gaps. Would some of the DTs other than Oliver getting off a block once in a while have helped too? Sure. But it was primarily loss of gap control on Henry's big runs. I think every drive the Ravens didn't score a touchdown on Ed Oliver had a critical play to get them off the field.

Both happened. That is sports.

Maybe. But that isn't a complete pass.

His contain and discipline first half was wretched. But he made some plays too including at the end if half to hold the Ravens to 3 and allow us chance to answer. He also did blow the would be sack 2nd half. If he and Rousseau both stay on their feet Lamar has no escape and they get him. Otherwise he showed some pop as a rusher. There was reason to be optimistic.

I am a little bit more defensive of the offensive playcalling. Partly cos there were some bad alerts by Josh first half and partly because until the Ravens eased up into a prevent style in the 4th Qrtr there was zero separation outside every time they did call to go down the field. Other than that on offense my concerns are minimal. Defense I think my more sustained long term concerns are greater.

These Chiefs and Ravens games come down to clutch plays. Comparing them to games against everyone else is pointless IMO. They are gonna come down to who makes the clutch plays when it matters.

Yea agree. It is Allen, Spencer, Ed, Benford and then possibly one receiver.

Yep. That is what I saw too. I was glad it was a chip shot.

Also possible. Also frankly if a couplen of bad play checks are what I have to suffer for Josh Allen being Josh Allen I will take it.

He did. The check into the 2nd and 1 run was out of a pass and was a bad check. Then the check into a screen to Kincaid was a poor check too we were outnumbered outside. Second half he seemes to check a bit less and almost think he confused himself first half by spending too much time worrying about what the Ravens were in.

The Ravens getting too conservative too early in the 4th. Before that the receivers outside had nothing.

The 2nd play was the Cook pretending to come into block and then sudden change and motion out. The Bills made 2 pointers on it last year (both with Cook and I think Shakir) but the Ravens were ready for it.