What are our offensive and defensive game plans to beat Baltimore?

[Bronxbomber21]

I think on Defense we need to commit to to stopping the run and to covering the slants i think they had 4 tds on slants last Monday we need huge daya from Hyde & Poyer along with the LBs

[billsbackto81]

Offense: Poisoning

 

Defense: With hold antidote

[Dkollidas]

I think they’ll run a ton of zone defense. Most teams in the league run more man, and they carved up New England’s vaunted defense which prides itself on DB’s who can cover in man.

 

 I could see them having Poyer move up and spy on Jackson.

 

Baltimore runs a lot of 3TE sets and bigger packages. Milano and Hyde and cover those TE’s Tre should be glued to M. Brown most likely, Milano glued onto the TE Andrews, who leads them in catches. 

 

On offense i believe well see a decent dose dose of Singletary and Allen running the ball. Some RPO’s and stuff like that. Wouldn’t be surprised to see a trick play thrown in somewhere in the first half to catch the defense off guard. 

[WideNine]

2 hours ago, HappyDays said:

I'm not too worried about our offense in this game. It took some time but we found our identity and we have enough talent to create a mismatch somewhere on the field. Feed the ball to Singletary and let Allen do what he does. We'll put up points.

 

The defense on the other hand I am terrified for. We are built to stop the pass and that won't help in this game. I think we just have to clog the middle of the field and force Jackson to throw to the sidelines. Edmunds is athletic enough to keep him in check as a spy. Just don't let Ingram run all over us and don't give any free space in the middle. That's our only hope of stopping them.

 

McDermott and Frazier have done a really good job of game planning against QBs so I expect them to limit Jackson more than most.

 

This.

 

In particular our defense has really struggled with offenses that have used 2 running backs in the back field. With Lamar back there you essentially have two very good running backs, with the added twist that Lamar throws a good ball on the move when he breaks contain and the defense peals off their coverage assignments to come up to make a stop on him. Not only on very open receivers, but I have seen some nice 50/50 touch throws to well-covered receivers that he has delivered on the move.

 

Our defense is not really well suited to stop this and I don't think it is personnel, I think it is our scheme. We do not deviate very much from who we are and what we do well. That being said McD has shown some willingness to blitz far more than he has done in the past so we will see. For this game we would have to play a bit out of character - run-heavy teams have been a problem for us and we are going to get a healthy dose of this.

 

I would say that we lock up playing man defense down-field and go after Jackson and Ingram with our front and LBs, but I am pretty sure Belichick tried that and was schooled - that does not happen often as we all know.

 

Gang tackling Jackson and Ingram will be paramount. Like Allen that is easier said than done. Plenty of teams go up against us saying, "we just need to keep Allen in the pocket and then we can get him down on the ground". Then they watch in disbelief as he breaks tackles and contain and does exactly what they were trying to stop. Jackson and Ingram are those kinds of players too.  

 

Our best defense will be sustained, effective offense. Our only real chance is if we can keep their offense on the sideline and delivery long sustained drives that end in TD's. Hausch money has been anything but, and we cannot afford to trade field goals for their TD's. 

 

Make no mistake, this is a very confident team that has been performing at a pretty consistent high-level for longer than our Bills have. I think we are going in the right direction, but I think they have had a bit more runway in regards to fine-tuning their offensive identity and getting the most out of their skill positions. Not conceding anything, just keeping it real and know that the Bills have much bigger test against this team than they had against Dallas. 

 

 

 

 

 

[Florida Bills Fanatic]

1 hour ago, Mrbojanglezs said:

They should probably try to run some 5-2 defense. With 5 lineman 2 linebackers and 4 dbs

That's basically what the Bills have when they are in their base defense with Zo at strong side LB.  The teams that have contained Jackson have kept outside containment, collapsed the pocket up the middle, played a match up zone with a spy positioned in the low center zone.  The Ravens use a double team block at the point of attack on almost every running play.  It's important for the d-line to play low with leverage so as not to be pushed out of their gap by the double team and split the double team, if possible.  This forces the runner to go to either side of the double team where the pursuit can make the stop.  Ingram isn't as effective when he is forced to make a move at the line of scrimmage.  Bills probably hope to force Jackson to throw to beat them, especially if the weather isn't great.

[transplantbillsfan]

3 hours ago, ChicagoRic said:

Interesting article on this.  You don't blitz Lamar Jackson often and you don't key on his runs.  You flood the field with DBS/Speed guys.  https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/theres-a-blueprint-for-stopping-lamar-jackson-but-teams-arent-using-it/

 

Who are our speed guys on defense?

[transplantbillsfan]

If I'm the Ravens, I run Ingram the vast majority of the game.

 

Our run defense still scares the crap outta me and Ingram is the exact type of RB we're terrible against.

[Hebert19]

2 words.  Delayed blitz.  Show that we are dropping 7 into coverage and then bring LBs and DBs late as it will be better timing to get to him when he decides to take off.  

 

Saw it work a few times when they played Cleveland.  

[ComradeKayAdams]

3 hours ago, KD in CA said:

 

You mean like for a big meal?  Maybe pasta or something that will make him feel sluggish during the game?

 

We need to find that skank that gave Darnold mono, and then introduce her to Lamar.

 

EDIT: aww shucks....the incubation period for mono is 4-7 weeks.

Edited December 1, 2019 by KayAdams

[Hebert19]

22 minutes ago, transplantbillsfan said:

 

Who are our speed guys on defense?

Well you dont put alexander out there this week on specific downs and go with 5 or 6 DBs and neal being one of them as he is a bigger Safety. 

Edited December 1, 2019 by Hebert19
Missed word

[Buffalo716]

1 minute ago, KayAdams said:

 

We need to find that skank that gave Darnold mono, and then introduce her to Lamar.

You could always just do the deed ?

[Boatdrinks]

Simply put , the Bills will have to win this one on offense. Long drives, milk the clock and score TDs. Their no huddle has been effective, but the downside is using less clock. It will be interesting to see if the 49ers are able to keep the Ravens in check with their defense. Perhaps the Bills can get a few ideas from that. 

[Buffalo Barbarian]

4 hours ago, BuffaloBillies said:

Lamar still has to play a game Sunday vs SF.

I really hope he comes out of that game completely unscathed.

 

i hope he gets beat up and is a shell of himself.

 

 

[Patrick Duffy]

Hopefully there will be snow. Would make this game even more fun to watch.

[Boatdrinks]

2 minutes ago, Patrick_Duffy said:

Hopefully there will be snow. Would make this game even more fun to watch.

It’s early of course, but it looks like low ‘40s and partly cloudy for the Ravens game right now. Unless a major change occurs, probably won’t be a “ weather” game. 

[The Wiz]

What's their gameplan???

 

 

And trust the process too.

Edited December 1, 2019 by The Wiz

[Georgia Bill]

If the Niners defense can't find a way to slow the Raven's offense down, I don't think we will.   I'm hoping that they "show us the way".  It's also possible that Baltimore is getting all jacked up about their big game with the Niners, and will have some form of let down against us.  Plus we are at home.  I'd like the Niners to lose in a hard fought close game - as I don't want the Raven's coming in here smarting from a loss.

Edited December 1, 2019 by Georgia Bill
typo

[Dr.Sack]

You win by taking away the ball & controlling the clock. Jackson isn’t the most accurate QB & with the typical December bad weather; wind, rain, snow, gale force winds, this game will be won in the trenches. Jackson still will be the fastest player but I believe the formula is out there. Invite the Ravens to run in the middle stack players on the OTs and give up the interior. Thinks Star on an island. The Ravens won’t be able to get the edge, and as soon as the ball is snapped the lanes collapse on Jackson / Ingram. Disguising overloads blitzes won’t work. You need to hit them hard and keep hitting them. On offense same thing. This is a game we win if Singletary, Gore & Allen run wild. 

[TigerJ]

Baltimore has one older guard who's been one of the best at his position for many years.  Their other guard is young and not heralded.  Their starting center just went out for the rest of the season, and they will be starting a rookie UDFA the rest of the way.  That is probably going to be the weak link of the offense.  Their tackles are young and need to continue developing, but they aren't bad.  Their starting WRs are rookies:  Marquise Brown, the highly drafted smurf speedster from Oklahoma and Miles Boykin, a big athletic guy they drafted in the mid rounds from Notre Dame.  Their Running back is Mark Ingram, signed away from the Saints last off season.  He's got decent size and is a very tough runner.  Of course, Lamar Jackson is a significant part of their running game too.  Their starting tight end is big.  He gets two or three receptions per game, but I'm guessing his primary benefit to the offense is as a blocker.

 

When Buffalo is on defense, I assume they will need to treat Jackson as a second runner and  focus on discipline and gap integrity.  If the Bills want to leave Tre White on one guy, the obvious choice is Marquise Brown.  They can't, however, leave Levi Wallace one on one with Miles Boykin all game.  Boykin will have him for lunch.  They'll need to give him some safety help.

 

Baltimore has short, broad interior defensive linemen in their 3-4 system.  I'm guessing that running inside will find tough sledding.  In the secondary, their two best DBs are Earl Thomas and Marlon Humphrey.  It's a tough defense to be sure.  I wouldn't try to rely on Frank Gore pounding the ball into the middle of the line.  I'm sure Josh Allen can find some room on scrambles and I think Cole Beasley will continue to find opportunities.

[Buffalo Junction]

7 hours ago, Virgil said:

The biggest advantage in the Ravens offense, outside of just Lamar, is that all defenders first step is forward on every snap because you assume the run first.  This leaves the receivers in 1 on 1 coverage or allows the TE's to slip out in coverage.

With that, I think you play hard zones and allow the short yardage.  You have Milano and Edmunds play zone, 5 yards back, within the Tackles and Guards.  Let them get those free first yards, but don't commit to the play until you absolute know where it's going.  You run heavy on the line, playing solid gap defense.  Don't let them create confusion. 

 

The challenge then is how you handle the pulling guards and backfield blockers who lead the way.  That's where gap integrity is key, as well as the play of the safeties.  Hyde should be playing in the box for most of the game, with Poyer covering deep.  If you have a gap controlled front 3, 7 in zoned out within 3-7 yards, you keep them to short plays.  Eventually, you'll get stops.  Honestly, we run more of a 3-4 style defense with Phillips in the middle, Oliver as an End, and Shaq on the other End. 

 

The speed of Edmunds and Milano are key

This. I’d almost say that it makes sense to just go with cover 3 or quarters most of the game and force them into nonstop 10+ play drives and hope to out score them... Basically turn the game into fewest TOs wins and see what happens. ?‍♂️

[Motorin']

7 hours ago, Boatdrinks said:

Simply put , the Bills will have to win this one on offense. Long drives, milk the clock and score TDs. Their no huddle has been effective, but the downside is using less clock. It will be interesting to see if the 49ers are able to keep the Ravens in check with their defense. Perhaps the Bills can get a few ideas from that. 

 

For sure can't wait to watch the 49ers tomorrow... But the Bills no huddle isn't a fast break no huddle. It's designed to give JA 10-15 seconds to read the D and make pre-snap adjustments. They aren't going at a K-Gun pace unless it's 2 minute drill.

[ALF]

Looks like rain probable in Baltimore Sunday,  that would change game plans.   

 

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001081970/article/nasty-weather-looms-over-ravens-49ers-matchup

Edited December 1, 2019 by ALF

[HOUSE]

Run the ol WING T at em

 

[Solomon Grundy]

I don’t wanna sound like Marv Levy, but in order to win this game the Bills have to run and stop the run. No special teams mistakes.

[PrimeTime101]

Continue to cheat one or the other safety. 7-8 in the box on first down. Bump and run all game long gap zone defense. Force them to play the middle of the field. Line lines up wide to stop edge running. Force them to throw all game. Hace an extra corner ore safety on the field 33% of time to match speed.

 

spying on qb all game wont work. Strong wide hold the gaps.

[Rockinon]

After watching the 49ers game, occurred to me that trying to force the Ravens into passing can only be accomplished by getting a big lead. They just keep coming with that rushing attack. A close game where you are battling for time of possession is not what we want. I'm thinking no huddle right out of the gate and put up pts as fast as possible in the first half. 

[Tcali]

On 11/30/2019 at 12:45 PM, Rockinon said:

You're right about containing Jackson, and forcing him to throw. But that isn't a bad thing against our defense.  Remember our D excels against the pass. We can lean on our secondary to stop the pass. The #1 objective is closing rushing lanes and keeping Lamar bottled up. Also have to be prepared for the option plays they run. Don't be fooled by the misdirection run plays like we were killed on against the Eagles. Don't get me wrong. This team is dangerous. No one is running the ball better. That has to be shut down first.

 

Lamar can still hurt teams passing, but his chances diminish against our secondary.

 

On offense, I'd like to see them keeping the best players on the field. All of the swapping of players and trickery are just asking for false start penalties and such. Let Josh mix in hurry up and continue with the 400+ yard offensive production we have been seeing the past few weeks. Baltimore is best at stopping the run so perhaps the passing percentage should tick up a bit. Nothing too extreme. Still have to run so we give the defense some variety to think about. We want to draw the Ravens into thinking it's going to be a run to help out the passing game. They are vulnerable against the pass. This could finally be Josh's big 300yd game.

I like your post. Thats what we have to do. Its still a longshot.Balt is tied with SF as the best team in football.

[Ethan in Cleveland]

Same as it always should be except forget about rushing the QB.  Run the ball. Stop the run. Play action on early downs. This is the game Kroft and Knox should get 12 catches for 160 combined. Dink and dunk them to death and keep Jackson off the field. 

[Shaw66]

On 11/30/2019 at 5:03 PM, WideNine said:

 

 

Make no mistake, this is a very confident team that has been performing at a pretty consistent high-level for longer than our Bills have. I think we are going in the right direction, but I think they have had a bit more runway in regards to fine-tuning their offensive identity and getting the most out of their skill positions. Not conceding anything, just keeping it real and know that the Bills have much bigger test against this team than they had against Dallas. 

 

 

 

 

 

I haven't seen them much and I don't know if your technical analysis is correct, but what I've seen makes me think this last paragraph is correct.   The Ravens seem to come at you relentlessly, attacking on both sides of the ball and challenging you to execute offense and defense almost perfectly.   That's the style the Bills play, but with a little less explosiveness.   Like you, I think the Ravens have gotten better at this a little faster than the Bills, which isn't a knock on the Bills.  

 

I expect an intense game.  

[CEN-CAL17]

I expect a lot of Nickel defense... 

 

throw a a bunch of guys in the box, Dline moving around and shifting. Collapse the pocket up the middle with a lazy rush around the end for contain. SPY Milano and Edmunds occasionally. I think some corner/FS blitzes will be successful.

 

Anytime TE Andrews is on the line I’d press him off his route and timing, used with a robber style defense where Poyer or Hyde sit underneath.

[DJB]

My suggestion  is a spy on Lamar. Maybe even both Edmunds  and Milano to contain the outside. Lamar loves running to the outside. Keep contain and shut down Lamar.

 

Their entire offence is Lamar running, then Ingram then a short pass to a TE. 

 

It's not that complicated  to me.

Edited December 1, 2019 by DJB

[transplantbillsfan]

8 hours ago, Rockinon said:

After watching the 49ers game, occurred to me that trying to force the Ravens into passing can only be accomplished by getting a big lead. They just keep coming with that rushing attack. A close game where you are battling for time of possession is not what we want. I'm thinking no huddle right out of the gate and put up pts as fast as possible in the first half. 

 

We're screwed then... this just isn't what we do

[Scott7975]

Baltimore is going to get their yards.  The Bills just have to do what the Bills have been doing and keep everything in front of them. Make the tackles. Stall them out in the redzone. 

[Lieutenant Aldo Raine]

1. We have to stop the run up the middle on the RPO.

2. DEs have to stay disciplined and not chase the RB or Lamar will keep it and take the edge.

3.  DEs need to go after Lamar and touch him, even if he hands the ball off on the RPO.

4. DBs must win their individual battles.

5. Safeties must be aware of all TEs

6. Interior line and LBs fill their gaps, tackle, and strip the ball.

 

In the beginning of the SF game, the DEs kept chasing the RB giving Lamar the edge.  They adapted and kept Lamar pretty contained after.  The SF interior line and LBs did a good job bottling up Ingram.  In the Rams game two weeks ago, the Rams couldn’t stop Ingram up the middle, so they got throttled.

[dma0034]

Sell out and stop the run. Make their WRs beat our CBs. I think Lamar is a good passer but we have to force him into what we are great with. Also Alexander needs to be a pass rusher or stay on the sideline. He doesn't have the speed

[GregPersons]

7 hours ago, DJB said:

My suggestion  is a spy on Lamar. Maybe even both Edmunds  and Milano to contain the outside. Lamar loves running to the outside. Keep contain and shut down Lamar.

 

Their entire offence is Lamar running, then Ingram then a short pass to a TE. 

 

It's not that complicated  to me.

 

I agree, I think you need Edmunds & Milano to stay in zone/spying on Jackson, one safety deep, man on the outsides, 4 rushers, occasional zone blitzes. Pretty straight forward, it's just about the execution.

 

I think Buffalo's defense is perfectly constructed to give Jackson a sub-par day... provided that Edmunds shows a comparable leap in development as Allen has shown, or Oliver, or Shaq, or Phillips... he's just gotta turn the corner on his anticipation and timing and feel for it to be at the right place at the right time. 

On 11/30/2019 at 4:01 PM, Boatdrinks said:

Simply put , the Bills will have to win this one on offense. Long drives, milk the clock and score TDs. Their no huddle has been effective, but the downside is using less clock. It will be interesting to see if the 49ers are able to keep the Ravens in check with their defense. Perhaps the Bills can get a few ideas from that. 

 

Niners showed today how an effective running game can do just that. As it so happens, our running game is versatile with Singletary, Gore, and Allen each providing a different style of run play that can be used at any time. 

 

Bills would need to play as good or better than they played on Thanksgiving. We're at home. It could happen.

[BuffaloButt]

8 hours ago, DJB said:

My suggestion  is a spy on Lamar. Maybe even both Edmunds  and Milano to contain the outside. Lamar loves running to the outside. Keep contain and shut down Lamar.

 

Their entire offence is Lamar running, then Ingram then a short pass to a TE. 

 

It's not that complicated  to me.

Bingo!!

[dollars 2 donuts]

On 11/30/2019 at 1:58 PM, transplantbillsfan said:

On defense, they're friggin good. #4 in defensive DVOA.

 

On offense, they're friggin good. #1 in offensive DVOA.

 

I honestly haven't watched them enough to form an opinion.

 

They're #3 in pass defense DVOA but #24 in rush defense DVOA. So is this a Singletary game? Are they weaker on the interior or on the edges? Are they weaker at CB or Safety? Do we continue with what we're doing and just tell Josh if he sees a path to run, do it but protect yourself? I really hope we don't do a bunch of designed QB runs.

 

We all know Lamar is the story with the offense, but Mark Ingram is EXACTLY the type of RB we have tons of problems with. Personally I want to see Frazier just dial up TONS of pressure on both run and pass blitzes and go for broke. Put 8 up front and emphasize gap responsibilities and containment on the edges and let the secondary earn their stripes. Lamar and Ingram will undoubtedly make some large chunk plays, but maybe this forces some mistakes, too.

 

As far as the weather gods, do we really want utterly terrible WNY weather? Doesn't that typically benefit the offense?

 

We're more than a week away from this game and this game more than the NE game in Foxborough will be our most difficult test.

 

 

In the hopes the Bills coaches and players aren’t just passing the roulette gun from Deer Hunter around One Bills Drive I’m looking forward to them just plain lining up and going with “ourzin is better than yourzin.”

 

...I just don’t want them to play afraid of this team...this Bills team being cautious is maddening.

 

edit: to go a step further I actually want their mindset to be how they take Baltimore out to the woodshed, to be honest.

Edited December 2, 2019 by dollars 2 donuts

[Mat68]

On 11/30/2019 at 2:15 PM, HappyDays said:

I'm not too worried about our offense in this game. It took some time but we found our identity and we have enough talent to create a mismatch somewhere on the field. Feed the ball to Singletary and let Allen do what he does. We'll put up points.

 

The defense on the other hand I am terrified for. We are built to stop the pass and that won't help in this game. I think we just have to clog the middle of the field and force Jackson to throw to the sidelines. Edmunds is athletic enough to keep him in check as a spy. Just don't let Ingram run all over us and don't give any free space in the middle. That's our only hope of stopping them.

 

McDermott and Frazier have done a really good job of game planning against QBs so I expect them to limit Jackson more than most.

Basic responsibility football.  De's have to hold contain.  Key force 3rd and long.  Make Lamar pick you apart through the air.  It a ball control game.  Buffalo has to stop Ingram in the middle and Jackson on the boundaries.  McDermott and the coaches getting a few extra day should be a big boost in coming up with the gameplan.

[H2o]

I don't know if this is what we do, but I believe it is what we should do. Since the Ravens are basically running a college style, option type offense we need to run a 30 Stack or 4-4 type of defense in appearance. I know McDermott and Frazier love their zone, but we will have to man up a lot more this week. Instead of a LB, we should have Neal or Coleman in the lineup at all times with another S around the box. The Ravens love to run those multiple TE sets. Having Neal or Coleman out there would give them guys with the covering ability to keep up as well as be able to stick their head in there against the run. Poyer likely needs to be the other S kept in the box on either edge or stacked just behind Edmunds. Kevin Johnson also needs to get the start with him being the better overall defender than Wallace. Murphy also should not see the field much on Sunday as it will be imperative to have containment on the edge against the run, not one of his strong suits. Lawson needs to play 80% of the snaps this week. I'm hoping for a lineup like this:

 

Hughes, the DT rotation of Liuget/Phillips/Oliver/Star, Lawson on the DL (Lorax filling in @ DE this week for the most part)

Milano, Edmunds, Neal/Coleman, Poyer on the second level

White, Hyde, Johnson playing on the last line.

 

If we can't stop the run to a certain extent then we will lose this game. The DE's are going to have to be disciplined in setting the edge. You do want to get pressure if possible, but you absolutely CANNOT lose contain on Jackson. You have to force him back inside to the guys playing on the interior and that second level who hopefully play with gap integrity this week while making necessary tackles. Ideally, you contain Jackson in the pocket and force him to beat you throwing the ball. I know he has some gaudy TD numbers overall, but his legs are still the most effective thing he has. Contain the edges, clog the middle, and force him make those reads. He loves throwing the ball in the middle of the field. Force him to make those throws outside of the hashes to the deeper intermediate area. Tre will have to be on Brown all day. Johnson's responsibility will be Snead, Boykin, whoever. Hyde will be playing center field basically. They may try to spread us out if this is effective against their run game, but I wouldn't vary much in personnel or formations outside of Taron Johnson on the field for Coleman or Neal when they go with 3 WR sets. 

 

Offensively we just have to keep doing what we have been doing for the last 3 weeks or so. Get the run game going, let Josh be Josh, and hopefully Daboll stays in attack mode for 60 minutes. This is the first time in a long time I am really pleased with the way things are going on offense. Time of possession and TO's will again play a large role this week. If we are on the winning side of both of those stats then I believe we will be on the winning side of the final score. Our WR's match up well with their DB's imo and I think Knox could have a big game as his size/athleticism presents a tough matchup for their Safeties/LB's. Watch out for the double moves against Peters. He loves to try and jump routes and I think Daboll/Josh take advantage of that. I see him getting beaten for a couple of big gains this week by Brown or Foster. That was his m.o. in LA and KC.