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

[bills11]

The gameplan has to start with dictating the pace ..the Ravens like to score fast with deep seam passes to their tight end out of their 21 personnel sets or go deep to Hollywood . we need to stay on the field converting on 3rd down will be crucial. We need to stop the run first and foremost it doesn't appear that any team has really boxed Lamar in yet ..we have two excellent safeties that should be able to limit their verticality ..we need to make Lamar have to stand in the pocket and keep him away from those easy dump off completions and wide open seam shots ...the media is salivating over him but their passing game really isn't very complex it's just excellent disguise and scheming . On offence Josh needs to continue his excellent trajectory and take what's there and not force things and give them short fields 

Edited December 3, 2019 by bills11

[dakrider]

This game I would be most concerned with Bills getting down early like 17-3 or something and then getting out of their offensive gameplan and start having Allen try to do to much. 

If they get way down like over 21 points then they definitely will have to do more but hopefully they can keep Singletary running plays and sustain some drives.  

[transplantbillsfan]

We have a chance to win this game, but I just don't know why anyone would be confident we will win this game.

 

Our offense is fine, but we never come out like gangbusters and put up points quickly or in bunches.  And I really do think some of that is the product of execution, but a big product of that is McDermott's approach, which  is generally conservative.

 

It's our defense that terrifies me.  We're average to below average as a run defense.  Harbaugh's a smart coach.  He's going to run the hell out of Ingram and Lamar.  Ingram, in fact, is the most similar to the RB who gave us the biggest problem this year: Jordan Howard.  And how confident are we that we really bottled Zeke Elliott up on Thanksgiving?  I think the Cowboys just stupidly gave up on the run game too early.

 

Until Buffalo proves on more than just a few plays they can stop the run consistently, Harbaugh and the Ravens are likely to just keep running it down our throats.  I expect to see Edmunds whiff on a few tackles he should have had because that's what he's done multiple times over the last 4 or 5 games.

 

I don't want to totally slam our defense because our pass defense is fantastic.  But there's a formula on offense for pummelling the Bills and the Ravens have all the necessary ingredients.

 

And just curious, when was the last time the Bills beat Harbaugh's Ravens?  It feels like we just get crushed every time we play them.

 

I know that we can win this game, but I'm very much braced for us to get blown out.

[Foxx]

27 minutes ago, transplantbillsfan said:

We have a chance to win this game, but I just don't know why anyone would be confident we will win this game.

 

Our offense is fine, but we never come out like gangbusters and put up points quickly or in bunches.  And I really do think some of that is the product of execution, but a big product of that is McDermott's approach, which  is generally conservative.

 

It's our defense that terrifies me.  We're average to below average as a run defense.  Harbaugh's a smart coach.  He's going to run the hell out of Ingram and Lamar.  Ingram, in fact, is the most similar to the RB who gave us the biggest problem this year: Jordan Howard.  And how confident are we that we really bottled Zeke Elliott up on Thanksgiving?  I think the Cowboys just stupidly gave up on the run game too early.

 

Until Buffalo proves on more than just a few plays they can stop the run consistently, Harbaugh and the Ravens are likely to just keep running it down our throats.  I expect to see Edmunds whiff on a few tackles he should have had because that's what he's done multiple times over the last 4 or 5 games.

 

I don't want to totally slam our defense because our pass defense is fantastic.  But there's a formula on offense for pummelling the Bills and the Ravens have all the necessary ingredients.

 

And just curious, when was the last time the Bills beat Harbaugh's Ravens?  It feels like we just get crushed every time we play them.

 

I know that we can win this game, but I'm very much braced for us to get blown out.

who are you and what have you done with our transplant?

[transplantbillsfan]

12 minutes ago, Foxx said:

who are you and what have you done with our transplant?

 

It's bizarro world when I have to talk some sense into you folks, isn't it? 

[Logic]

49 minutes ago, transplantbillsfan said:

 

Until Buffalo proves on more than just a few plays they can stop the run consistently, Harbaugh and the Ravens are likely to just keep running it down our throats.  

This. Entirely this.

When I take emotion and bias out of the equation and look at this game from a strictly matchup-based point of view, it doesn't look good for Buffalo.

A middling (at best) run defense against an elite, Roman-schemed running team. And even IF you devote all of the necessary resources to stopping Ingram, Lamar will take it on a keeper and gain 20. 

 

The only way I see the Bills winning this game is by matching the Ravens score for score and being the last team with the ball as the game ends with a chance for a winning TD or FG.

I simply do not see the Bills stopping the run or keeping points off the board. I hope, hope, hope I am wrong, but this has all the makings of an ugly one for Buffalo.

[YattaOkasan]

4 minutes ago, Logic said:

This. Entirely this.

When I take emotion and bias out of the equation and look at this game from a strictly matchup-based point of view, it doesn't look good for Buffalo.

A middling (at best) run defense against an elite, Roman-schemed running team. And even IF you devote all of the necessary resources to stopping Ingram, Lamar will take it on a keeper and gain 20. 

 

The only way I see the Bills winning this game is by matching the Ravens score for score and being the last team with the ball as the game ends with a chance for a winning TD or FG.

I simply do not see the Bills stopping the run or keeping points off the board. I hope, hope, hope I am wrong, but this has all the makings of an ugly one for Buffalo.

Could argue the opposite.  Were treating them like a option college offense and if any team is disciplined enough to beat that I think its our defense.  For me its really the offense.  I think theyll get 20-25.  Can we get 25-30?  I'm not sure I see us getting their, but if we do then I'm pretty sure the stars have aligned resulting in a Pats loss to the chiefs.

[transplantbillsfan]

12 minutes ago, Logic said:

This. Entirely this.

When I take emotion and bias out of the equation and look at this game from a strictly matchup-based point of view, it doesn't look good for Buffalo.

A middling (at best) run defense against an elite, Roman-schemed running team. And even IF you devote all of the necessary resources to stopping Ingram, Lamar will take it on a keeper and gain 20. 

 

The only way I see the Bills winning this game is by matching the Ravens score for score and being the last team with the ball as the game ends with a chance for a winning TD or FG.

I simply do not see the Bills stopping the run or keeping points off the board. I hope, hope, hope I am wrong, but this has all the makings of an ugly one for Buffalo.

 

Really sucks, but one of the biggest mysteries to me this season has been why every single team hasn't just played Buffalo with a run, Run, RUn, RUN, RUN philosophy...

 

I mean, maybe this is the week McDermott solves the riddle and we legitimately and consistently stop the run rather than just relying on the other team to abandon it too early.  I hope we do because you can bet the Patriots will have a very run-heavy gameplan if we haven't.

 

And our problems go back even before the Eagles game, anyway.  The week before when we played Miami our Run D got gashed.

 

As good as Edmunds has been in the pass D, I think he's a huge liability against the run.

 

To me, this is why I want to see run blitzes the entire game and just let Lamar try to beat us over the top.

Edited December 3, 2019 by transplantbillsfan

[Logic]

1 minute ago, transplantbillsfan said:

 

Really sucks, but one of the biggest mysteries to me this season has been why every single team hasn't just played Buffalo with a run, Run, RUn, RUN, RUN philosophy...

 

I mean, maybe this is the week McDermott solves the riddle and we legitimately and consistently stop the run rather than just relying on the other team to abandon it too early.  I hope we do because you can bet the Patriots will have a very run-heavy gameplan if we haven't.

 

And our problems go back even before the Eagles game, anyway.  The week before when we played Miami our Run D got gashed.

 

As good as Edmunds has been in the pass D, I think he's a huge liability against the run.

The Cowboys, for instance, could likely have dominated the game against the Bills if they had simply FED ZEKE and stuck to the run. To the Bills great fortune, they did not.

I definitely don't think just ANY team can beat Buffalo by running and running only. The Ravens, though, appear to be one such team. 

[transplantbillsfan]

8 minutes ago, YattaOkasan said:

Could argue the opposite.  Were treating them like a option college offense and if any team is disciplined enough to beat that I think its our defense.  For me its really the offense.  I think theyll get 20-25.  Can we get 25-30?  I'm not sure I see us getting their, but if we do then I'm pretty sure the stars have aligned resulting in a Pats loss to the chiefs.

 

It's not just discipline--which I think you overestimate because we've still seen big chunk runs by RBs as recently as last week with Zeke-- it's about tackling.  The MLB is pretty much THE MOST important cog in run Defense, and if he's not a good tackler, that's a problem. 

 

Edmunds is a big guy, but he plays small.

 

He needs to start tackling like the behemoth he is.

2 minutes ago, Logic said:

The Cowboys, for instance, could likely have dominated the game against the Bills if they had simply FED ZEKE and stuck to the run. To the Bills great fortune, they did not.

I definitely don't think just ANY team can beat Buffalo by running and running only. The Ravens, though, appear to be one such team. 

 

Yes, I was so glad (and pretty confused) when the Cowboys stopped giving the ball to Zeke.

[transplantbillsfan]

Hopefully this praise from Thursday's game is warranted and McDermott is really hitting his stride as a Head Coach.  Might give our Defense the chance it needs in this game:

https://theathletic.com/1423156/2019/12/03/upon-further-review-ten-likes-and-dislikes-from-week-13-in-the-nfl/

Upon further review: Ten likes and dislikes from Week 13 in the NFL

7. Sean McDermott searching for an edge

I normally don’t address Thursday games in this space, but since we had three on Thanksgiving, and there were some duds on Sunday, I’m making an exception. One of my favorite parts of the Bills’ 26-15 win over the Cowboys was what Sean McDermott did at the end of the first half when Dallas was facing a third-and-3. The Bills showed a heavy blitz look before the snap, which seemed like an odd call. There were only 8 seconds left in the half, and Dallas had the ball at the Buffalo 24. Why risk giving up a touchdown there with a big blitz instead of playing it safe and forcing a field-goal attempt? The Cowboys lined up in empty, but after seeing the blitz look, Dak Prescott motioned Ezekiel Elliott back behind the offensive line and shouted out protection calls. Before the ball was snapped, McDermott called a timeout. CBS’ Tony Romo did a great job of explaining what was happening.

 

“That was Sean McDermott faking like he was gonna blitz everybody to see what you were gonna do,” Romo said. “Outstanding. Just to see what you were up in. This is really smart, Jim (Nantz). He wanted to look, if he got in this on third down, what’s your plan for it? …Now Sean got a taste for, ‘If I do this in the second half on a blitz, I want to see what you’ve planned as an offense, as a coaching staff during the week.’ Really, really intelligent. He just bought himself one extra play of knowledge for the second half.”

 

Is it the biggest deal in the world? Of course not. But I love that McDermott, even in that situation, was looking for a way to give his team an edge. That’s good coaching. The Bills schemed up a trick play that had John Brown throwing to Devin Singletary for a 28-yard touchdown. Josh Allen went 19-for-24 for 231 yards and keeps getting better. And rookie Ed Oliver (two sacks) had his best game of the season. The 9-3 Bills have a big one Sunday at home against the Ravens.

[Rocket94]

2 hours ago, mannc said:

Jackson loves to throw over the middle and the Bills' defense likes to force teams to throw over the middle, where they can create tipped balls and turnovers.  Something's gonna give...

Yes...as good as Jackson is, he can't be everywhere.

[FireChans]

1 hour ago, transplantbillsfan said:

We have a chance to win this game, but I just don't know why anyone would be confident we will win this game.

 

Our offense is fine, but we never come out like gangbusters and put up points quickly or in bunches.  And I really do think some of that is the product of execution, but a big product of that is McDermott's approach, which  is generally conservative.

 

It's our defense that terrifies me.  We're average to below average as a run defense.  Harbaugh's a smart coach.  He's going to run the hell out of Ingram and Lamar.  Ingram, in fact, is the most similar to the RB who gave us the biggest problem this year: Jordan Howard.  And how confident are we that we really bottled Zeke Elliott up on Thanksgiving?  I think the Cowboys just stupidly gave up on the run game too early.

 

Until Buffalo proves on more than just a few plays they can stop the run consistently, Harbaugh and the Ravens are likely to just keep running it down our throats.  I expect to see Edmunds whiff on a few tackles he should have had because that's what he's done multiple times over the last 4 or 5 games.

 

I don't want to totally slam our defense because our pass defense is fantastic.  But there's a formula on offense for pummelling the Bills and the Ravens have all the necessary ingredients.

 

And just curious, when was the last time the Bills beat Harbaugh's Ravens?  It feels like we just get crushed every time we play them.

 

I know that we can win this game, but I'm very much braced for us to get blown out.

EJ beat the defending Super Bowl champ Ravens. Flacco threw 4 picks.

[YattaOkasan]

1 hour ago, transplantbillsfan said:

 

It's not just discipline--which I think you overestimate because we've still seen big chunk runs by RBs as recently as last week with Zeke-- it's about tackling.  The MLB is pretty much THE MOST important cog in run Defense, and if he's not a good tackler, that's a problem. 

 

Edmunds is a big guy, but he plays small.

 

He needs to start tackling like the behemoth he is.

 

Yes, I was so glad (and pretty confused) when the Cowboys stopped giving the ball to Zeke.

I get what youre saying but I'm not thinking of the Ravens as a typical run offense.  Yes weve given up big chunk plays using our standard gap assignments but with the Ravens game its much more assignment in the run game.  In this way, sticking your assignment, we may actually be better than against a typical zone rushing attack.  I'm sorta just making this all up so anyone with some knowledge please step in here.  I would be interested to know how weve done versus power type runs versus zone runs.  I know weve been killed on the duo concept all year.

[hjnick]

Not too worried about Buffalo's Offense.  I think they will find a way to score 18-21 points.

 

Ravens play most of the time with multiple TE's to control the LOS and are also targets in the passing game.

 

The #1 thing is to stop the run (both QB and RB).

 

I think there are 2 ways to attack their offense.

1) Be aggressive and attack the mesh point where Jackson/Ingram hands the ball off (or keeps it).  Make Jackson make a decision early, then run it down.

2) Only blitz with a CB.  Because of Jackson's speed, I think you attack off the edge with a CB blitz to try and match his speed. (also try and get in quicker).  I do not think interior blitzes will be effective.

 

I would play 5/2/4 to try and neutralize their running game and live with the passing.

 

Have 5 down linemen (can mix LBs here too) to try and control the LOS, 2 LBs (one of these potentially a backup CB or Safety to spy Jackson), and 4 DBs.

 

 

 

 

[Rocket94]

10 hours ago, Freddie's Dead said:

"The quarterback must go down, and he must go down hard." - Al Davis

They still used the clothesline in those days!

[TPS]

I don’t know if the Bills can win this game. However, if they do, then they will leap into super bowl discussions...

[SectionC3]

5 hours ago, mannc said:

Jackson loves to throw over the middle and the Bills' defense likes to force teams to throw over the middle, where they can create tipped balls and turnovers.  Something's gonna give...

We could see our exceptionally tall MLB shine in this one.  I agree w all of the zone comments.  Can’t turn our back to Jackson.  Gap integrity and shutting down Ingram will be key.  Jackson is going to get his yards; just want to minimize that damage and not let him throw easily.  I think we’re going to see a heavy dose of big nickel this week, too.  Not much Lorax save for obvious passing downs. 
 

To me Andrews is the guy that makes it work for them.   Maybe Tre sees him on passing downs.  

[umangatan]

Keep Lamar off the field similar to Brady. If he’s not on the field he can’t do anything. Our d is good for one or two stops. We just have to play ball control and come away with points every possession. I know, easier said than done but that imho is our best chance...

[Hapless Bills Fan]

1 hour ago, SectionC3 said:

We could see our exceptionally tall MLB shine in this one.  I agree w all of the zone comments.  Can’t turn our back to Jackson.  Gap integrity and shutting down Ingram will be key.  Jackson is going to get his yards; just want to minimize that damage and not let him throw easily.  I think we’re going to see a heavy dose of big nickel this week, too.  Not much Lorax save for obvious passing downs. 
 

To me Andrews is the guy that makes it work for them.   Maybe Tre sees him on passing downs.  

 

IMHO we drafted Edmunds because McBeane hoped he would become a player who could handle Gronk - speed and size.

If Edmunds could handle Andrews, that would be sweet.

 

I think we might need Tre on Marquise Brown.

[umangatan]

1 hour ago, SectionC3 said:

We could see our exceptionally tall MLB shine in this one.  I agree w all of the zone comments.  Can’t turn our back to Jackson.  Gap integrity and shutting down Ingram will be key.  Jackson is going to get his yards; just want to minimize that damage and not let him throw easily.  I think we’re going to see a heavy dose of big nickel this week, too.  Not much Lorax save for obvious passing downs. 
 

To me Andrews is the guy that makes it work for them.   Maybe Tre sees him on passing downs.  

I agree with most of what you say but tre doesn’t make much sense in this role. Maybe a safety? 

[Hapless Bills Fan]

55 minutes ago, umang_a_desai said:

Keep Lamar off the field similar to Brady. If he’s not on the field he can’t do anything. Our d is good for one or two stops. We just have to play ball control and come away with points every possession. I know, easier said than done but that imho is our best chance...

 

That'll be the goal, but the Ravens do have a pretty stout D.

[umangatan]

Just now, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

That'll be the goal, but the Ravens do have a pretty stout D.

Agreed. JA may just have to ball out like last year against Miami. If he does I just hope he stays safe...

4 minutes ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

IMHO we drafted Edmunds because McBeane hoped he would become a player who could handle Gronk - speed and size.

If Edmunds could handle Andrews, that would be sweet.

 

I think we might need Tre on Marquise Brown.

Agree with the last part. Gotta keep Hollywood in contain. Tre needs to shut that option down.

[transplantbillsfan]

3 hours ago, TPS said:

I don’t know if the Bills can win this game. However, if they do, then they will leap into super bowl discussions...

 

Deservedly so 

57 minutes ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

That'll be the goal, but the Ravens do have a pretty stout D.

 

Yeah. No one's really talking about their D, but I'm pretty worried about their Defense, too.

 

I feel like this is one of those games they shut us down in the 1st half and then we can finally move the ball and score after we make some halftime adjustments.

 

The problem is that'll likely be too late.

[SectionC3]

1 hour ago, umang_a_desai said:

I agree with most of what you say but tre doesn’t make much sense in this role. Maybe a safety? 

Possibly.  Andrews strikes me as their catalyst,  though.  I’d be tempted to take him away and make Jackson throw to areas outside of his comfort zone.  

[keepthefaith]

Lock Lamar in his hotel room Sunday AM. 

[GoBills808]

13 hours ago, BobBelcher said:

I think this is a matchup nightmare as it has been for many teams and we are about to be destroyed.

 

The last time I was so sure that a Bills opponent would absolutely destroy us:

 

2018 bills at Vikings  

Fear not for this Sunday...no battle is ever won. They are not even fought. The field only reveals to man his folly and despair, and victory is an illusion of philosophers and fools.

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

3 hours ago, GoBills808 said:

Fear not for this Sunday...no battle is ever won. They are not even fought. The field only reveals to man his folly and despair, and victory is an illusion of philosophers and fools.

 

"The victorious warrior wins first and then goes to war, while the defeated warrior goes to war and then seeks to win."

 

Or something like that.

[Gugny]

1 hour ago, Joe in Winslow said:

 

"The victorious warrior wins first and then goes to war, while the defeated warrior goes to war and then seeks to win."

 

Or something like that.

 

"He got a 13.  A 13.  Figure out how to be smarter than that."

[HOUSE]

I can give you my game plan. Bill Parcells Superbowl 25

 

Run the ball & eat clock, long drives to keep Lamar on the sidelines

 

My personal game plan is to drink beer in a dark room with no sharp objects

[MAJBobby]

Pressure HAS to come from Inside this game. There is no ifs ands or buts about it. 
 

The DEs rush up the field 3-4 yards and Contain. Cannot allow Lamar Jackson to slide in between the DT and DE to escape because the DE got to far up the field. 
 

Oliver and Phillips or those inside games have to be where the Pressure is from. 
 

With Lamar being 6’2 212 you can spy him with a DB. Normally people would call for Milano to pull that duty but I want him able to cover Mark Andrews so the Spy duties shift to a DB. 
 

Tre White follows Brown all over the field. I feel fine with our rotation at 2CB handling Snead   
 

I feel pretty confident in our Pass Defense Matchups as long as they can keep Lamar in the Pocket. 
 

on Offense 

 

Protect Allen. Also he should run a bunch early when Ravens in Man IF we can gash them early with Allen’s legs on man Pressed pass plays it should have the affect of Pulling Ravens DBs out of their man concepts and put them in Zones. 
 

Running is going to be tough sledding BUT we have to keep at it just to keep Defense honest. 
 

no turnovers have to make Baltimore’s Offense really earn their points. 
 

also take points when you get them because Baltimore have been a Front running Team. If we can get on top early We can’t take their Run Concepts out of the game. 
 

shorten the game. Sustain drives keeping that Offense off the field. (Ala SB25 like Giants did to us). 
 

if we can do those things consistently I think we win a close game. I do not see a blowout from either side. 
 

SHOCK THE WORLD AND ANNOUNCE YOURSELF AT 10-3 and climb to a Tie at atop of the Division. 

[SectionC3]

14 minutes ago, MAJBobby said:

Pressure HAS to come from Inside this game. There is no ifs ands or buts about it. 
 

The DEs rush up the field 3-4 yards and Contain. Cannot allow Lamar Jackson to slide in between the DT and DE to escape because the DE got to far up the field. 
 

Oliver and Phillips or those inside games have to be where the Pressure is from. 
 

With Lamar being 6’2 212 you can spy him with a DB. Normally people would call for Milano to pull that duty but I want him able to cover Mark Andrews so the Spy duties shift to a DB. 
 

Tre White follows Brown all over the field. I feel fine with our rotation at 2CB handling Snead   
 

I feel pretty confident in our Pass Defense Matchups as long as they can keep Lamar in the Pocket. 
 

on Offense 

 

Protect Allen. Also he should run a bunch early when Ravens in Man IF we can gash them early with Allen’s legs on man Pressed pass plays it should have the affect of Pulling Ravens DBs out of their man concepts and put them in Zones. 
 

Running is going to be tough sledding BUT we have to keep at it just to keep Defense honest. 
 

no turnovers have to make Baltimore’s Offense really earn their points. 
 

also take points when you get them because Baltimore have been a Front running Team. If we can get on top early We can’t take their Run Concepts out of the game. 
 

shorten the game. Sustain drives keeping that Offense off the field. (Ala SB25 like Giants did to us). 
 

if we can do those things consistently I think we win a close game. I do not see a blowout from either side. 
 

SHOCK THE WORLD AND ANNOUNCE YOURSELF AT 10-3 and climb to a Tie at atop of the Division. 

This is all perfectly reasonable.  I like the idea of playing with an extra DB.  Get more speed on the field.  

[Chuck Schick]

I would like to see Johnson get some more snaps at DE.   I’m scared to death of what Lamar will do to Trent Murphy, or even Shaq to a lesser extent. 
 

Edited December 4, 2019 by Chuck Schick

[foreboding]

On 11/30/2019 at 3:29 PM, 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/

 The only The only problem with this, they haven't had to do it, is you could put the game on mark Ingram shoulders, he is a big physical beast.

[Coach Tuesday]

47 minutes ago, Chuck Schick said:

I would like to see Johnson get some more snaps at DE.   I’m scared to death of what Lamar will do to Trent Murphy, or even Shaq to a lesser extent. 
 

 

Don't count on it this Sunday.  Johnson is notorious for losing contain and other teams have taken advantage of it every time he's been on the field.  Wouldn't be surprised to see him inactive on Sunday - he's just not a fully baked cookie.

[eball]

Offense -- get on the edges of Baltimore's D...that's where they are susceptible.

 

Defense -- pray that our DEs can contain the edge, and I'd like to see some DB blitzes as well.

 

I'm actually pretty confident in McD's ability to gameplan and I don't the Ravens will score more than 24 unless we help them with TOs or bad ST play.

[BritBill]

Anybody had the chance to go back and look to see what the Browns did to beat them so convincingly? 

 

The box score shows they got in front early (7-0, 10-7, 24-10 were the scores after first 3 quarters).  

 

Jackson went 24/34 for 247yds 3/2 TD/INT. He ran for another 66 at 7.3 a pop. 

 

Ingram went 71 yards at 5.9 per attempt. 

 

The TEs caught a total of 7 balls for 79. 

 

Cleveland had a 99 yard, 8:31 minute drive resulting in a TD in the 1st quarter.

 

Total time of possession couldn't have been much closer - 30:17 to 29:43 in the Browns favour. By quarter:

 

First - 9:59 to 5:01 Browns

Second - 7:52 to 7:08 Browns

Third - 6:52 to 8:08 Ravens

Fourth - 5:34 to 9:26 Ravens

 

I think the above pretty much backs up what you guys have been suggesting so far. 

[Hapless Bills Fan]

9 hours ago, GoBills808 said:

Fear not for this Sunday...no battle is ever won. They are not even fought. The field only reveals to man his folly and despair, and victory is an illusion of philosophers and fools.

 

Who are you, and What did you do with @GoBills808?

[RavensFan]

On 12/2/2019 at 1:11 PM, Mikey152 said:

Historically, the best defense against Lamar was in the playoffs last year, and it was...unconventional.

 

The Chargers played the vast majority of the game with SEVEN dbs on the field...they basically had safeties playing lb.  the idea is to increase the athleticism on the field so you can run with Lamar and cover their TE.  You are vulnerable to a power run game, so you have to be aggressive on running downs.

That worked against last year's Lamar and last year's Ravens offense, neither of which resembles this year's model. That offense was thrown together almost overnight after Flacco went down, and Lamar was not nearly skilled enough as a passer to make up for its shortcomings. But play seven DBs now, and half of them might end up on IR. They sometimes put 900 pounds of blockers in the backfield with Lamar.

 

What no team has done consistently is something several of you have mentioned: have your edge guy commit to tacking Lamar on every option. Forget the RB; take your chances that your interior line can control him. You cannot let Lamar have the edge. On pass plays, the TEs are definitely the strength; all three can find the holes in the zone, run good routes, and have good/great hands. They've also been using Ingram more in the passing game recently, which they should have done sooner.

 

Against the Ravens defense: I don't think you have the edge blockers and speed back that allowed the 49ers to run so well, and running up the middle doesn't work. The pass rush isn't great, with many of the sacks due to coverage by the very strong secondary. Allen will have to make quick decisions and take what's available. They'll probably try to bottle him up with a disciplined pass rush, as they did sucessfully with Watson a couple weeks ago. They will definitely try to confuse him with fake blitzes and last-second alignment changes. After looking like garbage through week 4, they're at least a top 10 unit now.

 

 

[Putin]

On 11/30/2019 at 1:09 PM, matter2003 said:

Take out Lamar Jackson early.

Sweep the leg ??