Baltimore Ravens are the worst match up imo

[Pokebball]

45 minutes ago, Giuseppe Tognarelli said:

The Ravens are a Championship-quality opponent. I'm not sure why anyone wants that early in the playoffs.

So might be the Titans, Browns, Dolphins as well as the Colts on any given Sunday.  Injuries, the Nova, weather conditions, etc are also factors.  I think we need to respect every team we face in the playoffs. Each can beat us. While I do understand your point, I'm willing to accept any and all challenges as I think we will be the better team in any game.

Edited January 2, 2021 by Pokebball
Added to

[Mr. WEO]

25 minutes ago, SlimShady'sSpaceForce said:

Madden?

 

A game?

 

 

Is this real life?

 

 

 

This thread is a based on the significance of a guy losing some video games. lol.

[MJS]

Sounds like you suck at Madden.

 

But yes. The Ravens (similar to the Bills) have been playing very well for the past few games.

[Mat68]

Most likley every team will have 11 wins.  Every team is good.  Only team that concerns me is KC and we will face them in the AFC championship game.  Buffalo is playing at a level no one wants to face.

[Big Gun]

1 hour ago, SinceThe70s said:

 

I welcome the opportunity to frogstomp whoever we play in the first round.

This, bring them on, not scared of anybody, they should be scared to play us.

[Thurman#1]

2 hours ago, Doc Brown said:

We want the two seed to avoid the Ravens but you don't want a starter injured going into the playoffs, so........

 

Start our backups and at halftime if the Browns aren't blowing out the Steelers then activate our starters for the 2nd half.  I know that's impractical but it's the only solution I can come up with.

 

 

We want the two seed.

 

But we want a rested healthy team much much more.

 

Agreed the Ravens would be one of the toughest matchups. Health is far far more important for us than matchups.

 

1 hour ago, Just Joshin' said:

If you are scared of another team in the playoffs, you have already lost.  All the teams in the AFC will have strong resumes.  To make the SB, they will need 3 strong wins.  Play to win Sunday and beat the teams you draw.

 

I am trying to imagine the coach's pregame talk:  "We need to win so we delay facing Baltimore".  

If you are scared of another team in the playoffs, you have already lost.  All the teams in the AFC will have strong resumes.  To make the SB, the Bills will need 3 strong wins.  Play to win Sunday and beat the teams you draw.

 

 

 

Try to imagine this coach's pre-game talk:  "Thank goodness we avoided facing Baltimore. Great win, fellas. Of course, now that Allen's out for the next three weeks with a knee tweak he got so we could avoid Baltimore, we should be fine with Barkley the next three weeks. Allen will be back for the Super Bowl."

 

There's no team we need to avoid in the sense that we can't play them with a good chance to win.  ... IF ... we're healthy.

Edited January 2, 2021 by Thurman#1

[gordong]

Really ... madden. Come on man....  

[abranovi]

Ravens and Titans are tied for the 3rd best team in the AFC.  I don’t want to play either of them.

[machine gun kelly]

First, concerns for opponents based on a children’s game is dumb.  
 

As far as opponents, I’m not worried, but respect all of them.

Offense Yards

Bills 4th 

Ravens 18th

Offense Pts.

 

Bills 6th

Ravens 8th

 

Passing

 

Bills 2nd

Ravens 31st

 

Rushing

 

Ravens 1st

Bills 19th

 

Note the Bills passing and rushing avg. 45 more yards per game then the Ravens.  The Ravens have to play with a lead.  When KC put up a lead on the Ravens, Harbaugh was stubborn and kept blitzing Mahomes and he torched them.  If we win the toss, I hope we receive if we play them.  The way we’ve lit up other teams in the first quarter, they’ll fall behind.

 

Defense

 

Yards

 

Ravens 9th

Bills 10th

 

Pass

 

Bills 8th

Ravens 14th

 

Rush

 

Ravens 9th

Bills 20th (Note: that has improving every week since the Seahawks minus the wind game with the Pats in Buffalo)

 

The easiest way to knock them out of their rhythm is a fast passing game.  Barring a mistake tomorrow, we will be the healthiest all year next week.  Just watch Allen, Diggs, Brown (thank god he’s back), Beasely (we hope), and Davis just torch them down the field.  I know it would be fun with a fast Diggs or Brown deep ball for a TD IN 30 seconds, but I’d rather see a methodical moving the ball down the field drive that takes up 8:43 and they have no answer for us.

[{::'KayCeeS::}]

Get a lead on anybody and you can put them down if you have a halfway decent defence.

[H2o]

Outside of one busted coverage last year we played Baltimore even. It was Lamar's lowest total yardage output of the season. This was also with last year's offense and last year's Josh. We even had a chance to tie the game up until our final play where John Brown ran a lazy route, giving Peters a chance to drive on it and break it up. This isn't the same Bills team and Lamar is no better than he was last year, actually having taken a step back for the most part. We are the team no one wants to see in January. 

[GunnerBill]

I think the Ravens are the best wildcard team. They are in my opinion at worst the 4th best team in the AFC. However, I don't think they are the worst matchup for the Bills. I don't think we'd blow them out, but I think we'd win.

[billsfan1959]

There are some very good teams in the AFC playoffs this year. I doubt the Bills fear playing any of them, anywhere. Nor should they.

[machine gun kelly]

One last thing, the Ravens are 3-5 against teams with a winning record.  I included the Pats as the Pats beat them when the Pats had a winning record, so at the worst, 3-4.

 

They've had a relatively easy schedule playing the NFC Least, and AFCS.  They don’t have nearly as much experience playing well performing teams.  The same goes for the Steelers and Browns.

 

I know it concerned some our SOS was looking cough for opponents at the beginning of the year, but that changes year to year.  Bottom line after tomorrow we should finish 6-3 against teams with winning records, or 5-4 if we sit a ton of people and was a gimme for the Fins.  I actually had a tool Jests fan come up to me in the gym (wearing Bills or Sabres clothes a lot when I workout), “but yeah we beat you last year”.  I didn’t know the guy that well, and just stopped in the stairclimber and simply said, “do even watch football”.  He said, “yeah, why”.  “Because we rested our whole team and you still barely beat us”.

 

I’ve listened to you guys and I guess not just the stars, but a lot of people, ok, fine.

[Wayne Cubed]

Ravens have had the easiest run in of any of the playoff teams in the AFC and probably NFL.

 

For me, I don’t get the being scared to play a team? It must be BBFS.

 

Let’s say the Bills get what is  considered favourable matchup, and they win. They’ll end up playing a better team in division round, so it’s not like they can avoid these teams. And that’s putting aside that when teams are in the playoffs, all bets are off anyways. So, what may be favourable based on the regular season, could completely change in the playoffs.

[machine gun kelly]

Ok, not sure where to place so I’ll do it here.  After I eyeballed the Ravens win/loss record against winning teams (I’m not going to figure out if opponents had a winning record at the time, but just are they a winning team now after 15 games.  Honestly, my head would explode if I tried that trick), I thought what about the other AFC potential playoff opponents for you guys to make up you’re own mind.  It was interesting.  Then because I’m taking a day off from the gym, I then took just the most likely SB opponents from the NFC.

 

AFC

 

Bills 5-3 (even with backups, we might still beat the Fins)
 

Browns 2-4

Colts 4-4

Dolphins 2-3

Titans 4-4

Ravens 3-4

Steelers 5-1

 

Chiefs 5-0

So, to me we will be the only team after tomorrow played 9 winning teams in prep for the playoffs.  Whether we win or lose tomorrow, us and the Chiefs are the only ones with 5 wins against winning teams.  Are you guys really afraid of any of these teams as potential wildcard opponents?  I’m not.  I have respect for them, but not worried about them.  The best outcome (assuming the Browns and Titans win tomorrow) is the Browns win their first round as well as the Titans.  We get the Browns in the divisional and Henry and the Titans get to beat up the Chiefs defense.

 

NFC

 

Saints 3-2

Bucs 1-5

Packers 3-2

Seahawks 3-3

 

I didn’t bother with the others as they’ll never make it to the SB.  If we can I dare say it beat the Chiefs, every one of the NFC teams is beatable the way we are playing.

 

If you guys have other measured opinions, please feel free to share.  Again, if you’re going to look at their records as of today, these are the winning team opponents.  There are one off like the Raiders at one point, as well as the Pats.  They are not now, so we’re not included.

[Buffalo ill]

It's almost like every team in the playoffs is at least halfway decent.  The horror!

[The Wiz]

8 hours ago, Big Gun said:

This, bring them on, not scared of anybody, they should be scared to play us.

[Don Otreply]

10 hours ago, Over 29 years of fanhood said:

The ravens are the team we don’t want to play. 
 

ive played 4 madden games vs them and got killed every time. There is a match up issue here. 
 

They take away the pass, but bottle up the run. 

You do realize madden is make believe right? 
 

Go Bills!!!

[Teddy KGB]

9 hours ago, Giuseppe Tognarelli said:

They're #1 in the NFL in point differential. They're coming in extremely hot, with a chip on their shoulder and no pressure.

Some of the more respected talking heads agree. Chris Simms called them a top 4-5 team this week. So the fact that people are conflating them with the other Wild Card teams is baffling.

This is a team that was 14-2 last year, a preseason Super Bowl favorite this year, and dealt with a lot of injuries and COVID throughout the season. They are just now hitting their stride and will probably beat whoever they play in Round 1.

You’re talking about a Qb who has never won a playoff game though and can’t throw anywhere except the middle of the field.  
 

Pump the brakes guy.    

[Thurman#1]

9 hours ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

The Bills were looking plenty physical against the 49ers and Steelers.  IMO.

 

 

 

They did look physical in those two games. But I think they had in both games advantages that allowed them to leave large areas of the field relatively unprotected against the pass and to concentrate hard on the run. The Niners without Garoppolo are not much of an air threat, and the Steelers had had very little long-distance success in the weeks before our game. We looked like we were confident we didn't have to worry too much about Roethlisberger going long.

 

Do you think playing the Ravens you have a similar automatic scheme advantage in being able to not worry about the long ball? That's a real question, I don't know the answer, but my personal guess is that while Lamar's throwing isn't nearly where it needs to be, that he's still good enough that they need to protect long, and they need to worry about him attacking outside. 

 

Will the Bills be able to be so physical when they have to protect every yard of the field? My guess is no. If they play the Ravens and get a real early lead, it should be academic, as the Ravens don't seem able to come back well. But if the Ravens get ahead early, I would really worry.

[HOUSE]

I read somewhere it was the END OF THE LAMAR JACKSON ERA

 

SO, I see no problem facing Tyler Huntley

 

 

..

Edited January 2, 2021 by HOUSE

[PrimeTime101]

For me its the colts im worried about. They are the most complete team. I am guessing we see the colts round 1. time will tell.

[aristocrat]

Gotta score and make them chase you. Slow em down early and Lamar can’t pass the ball to catch a lead.  They are a great front running team 

[Thurman#1]

11 minutes ago, Teddy KGB said:

You’re talking about a Qb who has never won a playoff game though and can’t throw anywhere except the middle of the field.  
 

Pump the brakes guy.    

 

 

I was curious about your assertion that he can't throw anywhere but the middle of the field, so I went and checked.

 

Just not true.

 

https://nextgenstats.nfl.com/charts/player/season/lamar-jackson/JAC323395/2020/all/qb-grid

 

Below average to the left flat, awful beyond twenty yards on the right side, but everywhere else he's at least average.

 

If anyone can do a good job shutting him down, it's McDermott. But how much effort will he put in to stop them throwing? My guess is that they will be worrying more about the run game.

[Ya Digg?]

8 minutes ago, Thurman#1 said:

 

 

I was curious about your assertion that he can't throw anywhere but the middle of the field, so I went and checked.

 

Just not true.

 

https://nextgenstats.nfl.com/charts/player/season/lamar-jackson/JAC323395/2020/all/qb-grid

 

Below average to the left flat, awful beyond twenty yards on the right side, but everywhere else he's at least average.

 

If anyone can do a good job shutting him down, it's McDermott. But how much effort will he put in to stop them throwing? My guess is that they will be worrying more about the run game.

You would think of all fan bases that Bills fans would try to avoid just believing the narratives that are put out against quarterbacks. I do believe that Josh is much better than Lamar and I think that Lamar can struggle if he needs to bring a team back, but the guy is a good quarterback 

[Doc]

34 minutes ago, PrimeTime101 said:

For me its the colts im worried about. They are the most complete team. I am guessing we see the colts round 1. time will tell.

 

The Colts probably won't make the playoffs.  They're outside looking in and need one of the Dols, Browns, and Ravens to lose, and they're all favored.

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

https://www.espn.com/blog/buffalo-bills/post/_/id/35486/for-sizzling-bills-two-teams-loom-as-tough-first-round-playoff-matchups
 

However, rank 12th in the NFL in rushing at 908 yards, averaging 6.1 yards per carry.

 

Baltimore is once again the league's top rushing team (177.8 yards per game), which presents a challenge for a vulnerable, albeit improved, Bills defense that has allowed 200 rushing yards twice this season.

 

Baltimore has been especially torrid during its current four-game win streak, averaging an NFL-leading 37 points per game over that span.

 

Considering their vast improvement on that side of the ball in 2020, the Bills are better-equipped for Baltimore this time around.

Edited January 2, 2021 by SlimShady'sSpaceForce

[st pete gogolak]

Baltimore is one strange team.  They look utterly invincible and unstoppable until they don't.  Then they look very beatable.  I can't think of another team past or present that fits that description.

[Teddy KGB]

1 hour ago, Thurman#1 said:

 

 

If anyone can do a good job shutting him down, it's McDermott

if anyone can shut him down it’s the playoffs 

[Hapless Bills Fan]

2 hours ago, Thurman#1 said:

 

 

They did look physical in those two games. But I think they had in both games advantages that allowed them to leave large areas of the field relatively unprotected against the pass and to concentrate hard on the run. The Niners without Garoppolo are not much of an air threat, and the Steelers had had very little long-distance success in the weeks before our game. We looked like we were confident we didn't have to worry too much about Roethlisberger going long.

 

Do you think playing the Ravens you have a similar automatic scheme advantage in being able to not worry about the long ball? That's a real question, I don't know the answer, but my personal guess is that while Lamar's throwing isn't nearly where it needs to be, that he's still good enough that they need to protect long, and they need to worry about him attacking outside. 

 

Will the Bills be able to be so physical when they have to protect every yard of the field? My guess is no. If they play the Ravens and get a real early lead, it should be academic, as the Ravens don't seem able to come back well. But if the Ravens get ahead early, I would really worry.

 

Well...I thought the "book" on Jackson was still, smother the center of the field and don't worry too much about him throwing outside the hashes?  So that allows large areas of the field to be similarly unprotected. 

 

The physicality I'm talking about isn't related to what gets covered and how, it was just we attacked in a way I hadn't seen us do.  We were jamming receivers on the line, nailing people when we tackled, punching the ball, just a more physical style of play all over.

 

Which one of these Jackson, and which one Mullens?

[oldmanfan]

All the potential AFC playoff teams are good.  But the Bills and Chiefs are each on another level right now.  I don’t care who we play round 1, we’ll be favored and for good reason.

[Hapless Bills Fan]

1 hour ago, SlimShady'sSpaceForce said:

https://www.espn.com/blog/buffalo-bills/post/_/id/35486/for-sizzling-bills-two-teams-loom-as-tough-first-round-playoff-matchups
 

However, rank 12th in the NFL in rushing at 908 yards, averaging 6.1 yards per carry.

 

Baltimore is once again the league's top rushing team (177.8 yards per game), which presents a challenge for a vulnerable, albeit improved, Bills defense that has allowed 200 rushing yards twice this season.

 

Baltimore has been especially torrid during its current four-game win streak, averaging an NFL-leading 37 points per game over that span.

 

Considering their vast improvement on that side of the ball in 2020, the Bills are better-equipped for Baltimore this time around.

 

Did the article include the info that their torrid play during the 4 game win streak included the Cowboys and the Jaguars who have the #30 and #31 defenses?

And that they gave up 42 points to the Browns (that was an awful football game IMO but then I like defense)? 

 

Again, I'm not trying to diss the Ravens.  They're a very, very good football team.  Talented on D, best run game in the league, very well coached, very physical.  But I don't get why people are singling them out to shake in our shoes over, vs. the Titans (who already beat us, and who have the #2 run game in the league), the Browns (#4 run game), the Colts, or even Miami which happens to have the #1 defense in the league on points (Ravens are #4)?

Trust the Process.  McD came up with a good plan last year.  Just stay healthy and avoid the Covids.

[Ya Digg?]

4 minutes ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

Did the article include the info that their torrid play during the 4 game win streak included the Cowboys and the Jaguars who have the #30 and #31 defenses?

And that they gave up 42 points to the Browns (that was an awful football game IMO but then I like defense)? 

 

Again, I'm not trying to diss the Ravens.  They're a very, very good football team.  Talented on D, best run game in the league, very well coached, very physical.  But I don't get why people are singling them out to shake in our shoes over, vs. the Titans (who already beat us, and who have the #2 run game in the league), the Browns (#4 run game), the Colts, or even Miami which happens to have the #1 defense in the league on points (Ravens are #4)?

Trust the Process.  McD came up with a good plan last year.  Just stay healthy and avoid the Covids.

Stats without context is how good analysis is done these days apparently. It’s more important to get the stats out there to fit your narrative than it is to be thorough. People care about being first, they don’t care about the holes in their argument. Stats are the reason why Mahomes was considered the favorite foe so long this year for MVP. I think Mahomes is an amazing QB and deserves the praise he gets, but pretty much any QB is going to put up amazing numbers with the weapons they have on that offense 

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

If we are playing our backups against Miami, I think we are destined for a first round matchup with Baltimore. 
 

I don’t see the browns beating the Steelers backups. If both the bills

and Browns lose, then 6 out of the 8 scenarios have us against Baltimore (with the other two being tenn or Indy). 

[Hapless Bills Fan]

12 minutes ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

If we are playing our backups against Miami, I think we are destined for a first round matchup with Baltimore. 
 

I don’t see the browns beating the Steelers backups. If both the bills

and Browns lose, then 6 out of the 8 scenarios have us against Baltimore (with the other two being tenn or Indy). 

 

I'm OK with a healthy Bills team playing a first round matchup with Baltimore, vs. a injured, hampered Bills team playing a first round matchup with Tenn. or Indy.  Of course, a healthy Bills team playing anyone would be great, but that can change fast as we know.

 

I think the Browns can beat the Steelers without Hayward and Watt, IF they don't lose more players to Covid and IF the coaches they lose to this am's covid findings aren't HC, OC, or DC.  Right now I'm not optimistic for that game taking place as scheduled, though.  I think they got them an outbreak.

 

Curious why you think the Browns can't beat the Hayward and Watt-less Steelers?

[mabden]

3 hours ago, Thurman#1 said:

 

 

I was curious about your assertion that he can't throw anywhere but the middle of the field, so I went and checked.

 

Just not true.

 

https://nextgenstats.nfl.com/charts/player/season/lamar-jackson/JAC323395/2020/all/qb-grid

 

Below average to the left flat, awful beyond twenty yards on the right side, but everywhere else he's at least average.

 

If anyone can do a good job shutting him down, it's McDermott. But how much effort will he put in to stop them throwing? My guess is that they will be worrying more about the run game.

 

If look at Josh Allen's 'NextGenStats,' I would say the Ravens have more to worry about than the Bills.

[bigK14094]

The appeal of these playoffs is that the farther you go, you always find a good team on the other side of the ball.  I actually fear the Titans more than the Ravens, but I am into round two thinking on that one.  The Bills can beat anyone, they just need to execute their plan better than the other guy.  Of course, the plan might be the decider, and this year our coaches are putting together great  game plans...especially over the last two months.  That is why I am apprehensive about loosing a coordinator.  Daboll is a potential loss, but I think Frazier will stay.

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

12 hours ago, SlimShady'sSpaceForce said:

Madden?

 

A game?

 

 

Is this real life?

 

yes it’s a game in real life, played on line also known as a football game simulator,  against others. Normal I am about 60%, can’t beat Ravens. They are good up front and can cover WRs. 

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

4 hours ago, Don Otreply said:

You do realize madden is make believe right? 
 

Go Bills!!!

Simulation *****!!!