Divisional Playoff round: Ravens at Bills on Saturday Night Football

[Cheektowaga Chad]

7 minutes ago, DisplacedBillsFan said:

"To me, tackling him ... you better throw big bodies at him because he's a big body," Martindale said. "I told the defense earlier: 'We need to tackle him like you tackle Henry because that's the way he runs.' He's a tough challenge that we have."
 

Baltimore D Coordinator talking about Allen. I hope this results in Allen staying healthy and multiple 15 yards penalties on them.

If I recall from last seasons game, Allen took some shots and it was a very physical game on both sides

 

[Process]

27 minutes ago, Big Turk said:

Update on potential LES from Buffalo NWS:

 

 

This is very bad. 

[Royale with Cheese]

From weather.com

 

[Penfield45]

19 minutes ago, AllDayLJ said:

One point of clarification. I've seen a couple comments the last 50 pages or so about our "TEs". We really only have 1 now.

 

Last year we had three tight ends and it was fantastic. We had Andrews, Hurst and Boyle.

 

This off-season we traded Hurst to the Falcons, leaving us two. Then Boyle got hurt during the Patriots game. We've picked up Eric Tomlinson, but he's basically a non-factor.

 

That's changed our offense this year. Those 3-TE sets were absolute daggers to defenses, and that part of our offense is just gone. Poof.

Ugh. I can't stand comments like this. They're short-sighted and frustrating. If you read even one article on LJ you would know that's not him at all. He a legitimately very, very nice dude.

 

He actually said after the game he wanted to pull the team off the field so that they DIDN'T get into it with the Titans. He knew emotions were high because of what's happened the last couple games and then the defense going out onto the logo.

 

 

 

this website has a vendetta against Lamar for no reason

 

just look at the "Lamar era is over" thread, the guy who made that is a total clown. 

[Big Turk]

2 minutes ago, Royale with Cheese said:

From weather.com

 

 

Those are meaningless for Lake Effect snow.  That just gives general synoptic snow from the front coming through.

14 minutes ago, wjag said:

 

Bullseye on Orchard Park.

 

Timing is still in question but the bigger concern might be winds 15 to 25 mph

[Process]

4 minutes ago, Royale with Cheese said:

From weather.com

 

Lake effect snow is a different animal. Wouldn't show up on weather.com when we're still a couple days out.

[SWATeam]

People afraid of the snow, lol.  Bring it.  Let's see Lamar on a sloppy track.

[zow2]

21 minutes ago, Penfield45 said:

Totally surprised at how many bills fans are wishing for a snow game 

 

have they not see our team play in bad weather?

 

chiefs game: Allen’s worst game, couldn’t get anything going all game

 

Pittsburgh 1sf half: it was sleeting, maybe our worst 1st half of the season for the offense. 2nd half it was clear and we improved 

 

The Bills and Josh have been changing the narrative all season on a bunch of different points.  Maybe this game...in the biggest moment of his young career...Josh goes off and we wake up Sunday morning saying WOW, this guy was amazing in the snow and wind.  He handled it way better than Lamar.  Just maybe?!? 

[ColoradoBills]

13 minutes ago, SWATeam said:

People afraid of the snow, lol.  Bring it.  Let's see Lamar on a sloppy track.

 

Agree.  It's Buffalo in January.  It is what it is and will affect both teams.

 

Can't help but think of what my old man would say, "Everyone complains about the weather but no one does anything about it"!

 

LJ on Saturday.

 

 

Edited January 14, 2021 by ColoradoBills

[BillsFan130]

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/category/rumor-mill/

 

Yeldon replacing Moss

[dave mcbride]

21 minutes ago, Process said:

This is very bad. 

If the Ravens can't throw, it's really bad for them. I'll take Allen's arm against anyone's in a snow/wind game. 

[RochesterLifer]

I don't know what to predict about Saturday night's weather, nor how it will impact the Bills' performance. However, I will note this: There is not one challenge this year that Josh Allen has failed to meet and conquer.

• Man coverage
• Zone coverage
• Pressure
• Pocket passing
• Reading and recognizing defenses
• Falling behind
• Needing to create
• Staying calm and focused during adversity

He is no longer a project. He is now an elite and lethal NFL quarterback. Given that, I will grab my popcorn (and bourbon), tune in Saturday night and watch what happens, with high optimism and anticipation.

[Blank Stare]

2 hours ago, ScottLaw said:

I hate the idea of forcing the run..... how many times have we tried that this year? 

I’m not saying we force it. I’m all for passing. But they have 3 excellent corners and I guarantee Baltimore is thinking they will out muscle us in this game.
 

We shouldn’t change who we are or what got us here, but in a snow/wind game on a slick field, you need some production from the running game.
 

As I said in previous posts this week, if Motor (and/or Yeldon) has a similar YPC and overall production that we had in the Texans playoff game last year, along with a solid game from Josh, we will be in excellent shape and likely win the game barring a complete defensive meltdown. 

[SalCapaccioSayingHeyHeyHey]

First post here.

 

All week I have been buying into the Media hype for the Ravens and Lamar, I seem to have been brainwashed to think they are better than the Bills since they are so hot right now.  After reading through this whole thread,  I actually feel much better.  Some points that have been made about the Ravens strength of schedule VS. ours,  The quality of the defenses each team played last week,  and Maybe weather being a factor for their secondary.  

 

One thing I believe is that OUR secondary can be trusted against the  Ravens receivers.  I believe this should give Buffalo the chance to really focus on the Run game.  I think if we play this right,  we can actually keep the Ravens in check pretty well.  Mix this with some elite play by our offense (which I definitely expect),  and I am feeling cautiously optimistic about this game.  I really don't know if I can handle another nailbiter like last week,  so my prediction is 31-14 Buffalo.

 

GO BILLS!

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

Josh Allen victory in snow at Wyoming against Colorado State:

 

https://www.si.com/college/wyoming/football/wyoming-cowboys-dramatic-16-13-border-war-victory-in-the-snow-in-laramie-in-2017-featured-on-cowboy-classics

 

[Patrick Duffy]

39 minutes ago, Royale with Cheese said:

 

We didn't play well against in that stretch and weather wasn't the reason.  We struggled against the Titans, Pats and Jets in that time and all had good weather.

 

The weather wasn't bad against the Steelers.  If it was, Big Ben wouldn't have throw it 37 times and Allen wouldn't have thrown it 43 times.

Agree, I'm actually not concerned about if it snows or not. I kinda hope it does. I think the Ravens would struggle more than the Bills for the most part. I feel like Bills passing game will do a lot better in the snow than the Ravens would. Then that would make the Ravens basically a one trick pony for the most part imo

Edited January 14, 2021 by Patrick_Duffy

[Hapless Bills Fan]

1 hour ago, AllDayLJ said:

Hey @Hapless Bills Fan I actually saw that the other day. Just added it to the list of reasons why I like Allen. Just a good dude.

 

I actually just saw LJ say this yesterday:

"People are always just talking about Josh and his big arm, but he's doing it all out there," Jackson said. "He's getting out of the pocket, taking advantage of what the defense gives him, throwing the ball on a rope. He's slinging the ball like a Patrick Mahomes. He's helping his team out a lot. He's one of the key reasons they're putting up so many points and winning games. Hats off to Josh because he's been doing it since his rookie season."

 

Sounds like the two of them must have some contact off season or off the field.  Sounds like they each have a dislike for the "narrative" about the other, too.

 

6 minutes ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

Josh Allen victory in snow at Wyoming against Colorado State:

 

https://www.si.com/college/wyoming/football/wyoming-cowboys-dramatic-16-13-border-war-victory-in-the-snow-in-laramie-in-2017-featured-on-cowboy-classics

 

Sounds like Allen can run in snow

[Big Turk]

NWS Meteorologist Don Paul and former longtime Channel 4 chief meteorologist thinks the lake snows will be focused further south and will not play a significant role in the game:

 

"By Saturday evening, that northwest flow will be established, targeting most lake snow well to the south. There is good model agreement on this placement.

In other words, fans in attendance and the teams are unlikely to be dealing with any serious lake snow. After the game, those who have traveled north from ski country will run into some lake snow heading south, with some slick roads mainly below the Southtowns. The game-time temperature will be falling into the low 30s, and the 12-18-mph breeze will produce a noticeable wind chill, averaging around 22-24 degrees."

 

Things always can change at the last minute, but as of right now, it doesn't look like snow will have an effect...winds of 15 to 25 might tho

Edited January 14, 2021 by Big Turk

[leh-nerd skin-erd]

1 hour ago, AllDayLJ said:

Hey @Hapless Bills Fan I actually saw that the other day. Just added it to the list of reasons why I like Allen. Just a good dude.

 

I actually just saw LJ say this yesterday:

"People are always just talking about Josh and his big arm, but he's doing it all out there," Jackson said. "He's getting out of the pocket, taking advantage of what the defense gives him, throwing the ball on a rope. He's slinging the ball like a Patrick Mahomes. He's helping his team out a lot. He's one of the key reasons they're putting up so many points and winning games. Hats off to Josh because he's been doing it since his rookie season."

Hats off?? Wtf does that even mean!??!!!
 

This is bulletin board material if I’ve ever seen it.  
 

 

[Cheektowaga Chad]

Last seasons ravens game highlighted that we needed a top wr

 

We have that guy now, gotta see it pay off

[Hapless Bills Fan]

27 minutes ago, ColoradoBills said:

 

Agree.  It's Buffalo in January.  It is what it is and will affect both teams.

 

Can't help but think of what my old man would say, "Everyone complains about the weather but no one does anything about it"!

 

LJ on Saturday.

 

 

 

Eh, we don't know.    Shady McCoy has almost a preternatural ability to play on snow.  I don't know how he does it and he wouldn't "give it up" in interviews.  But there must be some detail of how some guys use their feet that makes it not matter.  We'll see.

1 minute ago, leh-nerd skin-erd said:

Hats off?? Wtf does that even mean!??!!!

This is bulletin board material if I’ve ever seen it. 

 

Seriously?  As bulletin board stuff that's totally weak sauce.

 

He's saying that even in Josh's rookie season (when pundits were dissing him left and right) Josh was still a key reason the team was winning. 

[AllDayLJ]

2 minutes ago, leh-nerd skin-erd said:

Hats off?? Wtf does that even mean!??!!!
 

This is bulletin board material if I’ve ever seen it.  
 

 

....what? I'm assuming this is a satirical comment? But in the 1/100 chance it's not: "hats off" is a phrase used to to congratulate or show respect for someone.

[RichRiderBills]

I personally think heavy snow brings everyone down a level where whoever wants it more will get it. 

 

Josh would fare better running syle wise than lamar....at least i think. 

[TylerD]

Just now, RichRiderBills said:

I personally think heavy snow brings everyone down a level where whoever wants it more will get it. 

 

Josh would fare better running syle wise than lamar....at least i think. 

Agreed

[YoloinOhio]

 

[Hapless Bills Fan]

1 hour ago, ScottLaw said:

I think Allen was the major reason they lost that game last year.... but just about everyone offensively had a rough outing. 

 

Right, because if the protection assignments put a rookie TE named Knox on an all-pro DE named Judon and it results in a blindside strip sack, that's 100% on Allen 🤦‍♂️

 

The offense didn't put up enough points.  That's a team effort - bad throws, pass protection, receivers getting jammed or bracketed and taken away, receivers dropping the ball, Allen not pulling the trigger to open checkdowns, lack of run game, play calling, the whole deal.

 

Fair warning, I'm unlikely to engage with you further because I see you as relatively impervious to facts or reason therefore uninteresting, but for anyone who cares Brett Kollman did a very good breakdown of Josh Allen's performance in the Ravens game last year.  His conclusion was that while no one would call it a good game from Allen, the objective assessment of what happened is far more nuanced than "Allen is the major reason they lost the game last year". 

It's a good watch

[BillsfaninSB]

33 minutes ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

Josh Allen victory in snow at Wyoming against Colorado State:

 

https://www.si.com/college/wyoming/football/wyoming-cowboys-dramatic-16-13-border-war-victory-in-the-snow-in-laramie-in-2017-featured-on-cowboy-classics

 

As a CSU alum I say boooo. 

[Stank_Nasty]

1 hour ago, SWATeam said:

People afraid of the snow, lol.  Bring it.  Let's see Lamar on a sloppy track.

 

 ..... Josh Allen hanging back delivering carnage from the pocket....

 

 

 

While Lamar is trying to figure out the elements.... 🤣

 

 

 

 

in all seriousness though, this weather stuff is really being overblown this week. Its super annoying.

 

 

[Hapless Bills Fan]

1 hour ago, AllDayLJ said:

The Ravens offense was very mediocre against the Titans. And while the pure stats may tell you otherwise, we actually didn't have that great of a running day. I think both Edwards and Dobbins were held to only 80 or so total yard between the two. LJ getting 130+ is what skewed the stats.

 

On the other side of the ball, the defense balled out. Henry could barely get past the line of scrimmage most plays, and we just shifted the line a yard back seemingly every play.

 

Yeah, you guys smothered Henry.  Really impressive game, and Tennessee does, IMO, have a very good offensive line.

 

Henry 40 YPG was his new season low, surpassing his regular season low of....57 YPG, against......hmmmmm.  2.2 YPA is also stunning, surpassing his previous low of 3 YPA against....hmmmmm.

 

The Bills can stop the run, BTW, but they typically risk the pass game to do it.  The question then becomes does the team we're facing have the ability to take advantage of whatever we put at risk.  The Tennessee game in general was an awful game for the Bills.  Allen was playing injured with a linebacker brace holding down his left arm, we were missing our #2 WR John Brown, our #1 and #2 CB Tre' White and Levi Wallace, and our starting OLB Matt Milano and the DC hadn't clued to it that substituting anyone for Matt Milano doesn't work, you have to kind of rework our D to make up for him.  We still played like crap in all 3 phases of the game.

 

So the hope is with the regular cast of characters on D vs. the Ravens, we can shut down the run without opening the floodgates quite as much to the pass game.  We shut down the run for 3Q vs the Colts; Philip Rivers is just a total surgeon and the Colts pass plays were very well designed to force decisions on our zone defenders and exploit any gaps. 

 

 

[Hapless Bills Fan]

17 hours ago, Success said:

The Ravens are becoming a popular upset pick. Though it wouldn't be TOO much of an upset.

 

I actually didn't know their running game had been so good - averaging 240+ over the past 6 games. That's a serious ground game.

 

So important to take an early lead in this one.

 

It's a serious ground game, but against that you need to look at who they played.  Cowboys have the 29th run D, Jaguars 30th, Bengals 31st.  404, 159, and 294 yds there. 

 

The 159 yd game against the Jaguars interests me the most.  Looks like Lamar had a good game passing, 250 yds passing.   I don't know if I have time to watch it, but I'd be interested if anyone has, did the Jags just sell out to stop the run and dare the Ravens to pass?  Glancing at the box score, it looks as though the Ravens tried to run a good bit, 37 rush attempts to 26 pass attempts (Jackson 17 of 22 for 243 yards).

 

The other game I'd rewatch if I had the stompach for it would be the Browns.  Their rush defense isn't godawful - 19th - and they gave up 249 rush yards.  The thing was I watched it real time and came away with the impression just a sloppy football game on both sides, so even though the announcers were all over the ending I was done with it by then.

[AllDayLJ]

4 minutes ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

It's a serious ground game, but against that you need to look at who they played.  Cowboys have the 29th run D, Jaguars 30th, Bengals 31st.  404, 159, and 294 yds there. 

 

The 159 yd game against the Jaguars interests me the most.  Looks like Lamar had a good game passing, 250 yds passing.   I don't know if I have time to watch it, but I'd be interested if anyone has, did the Jags just sell out to stop the run and dare the Ravens to pass?  Glancing at the box score, it looks as though the Ravens tried to run a good bit, 37 rush attempts to 26 pass attempts (Jackson 17 of 22 for 243 yards).

 

The other game I'd rewatch if I had the stompach for it would be the Browns.  Their rush defense isn't godawful - 19th - and they gave up 249 rush yards.  The thing was I watched it real time and came away with the impression just a sloppy football game on both sides, so even though the announcers were all over the ending I was done with it by then.

The Jags game was a weird one. They couldn't stop a thing, we were railroading them, but the rushing stats don't really show that. Lamar didn't get much. If I remember correctly, LJ was also pulled with about 8 or 9 minutes left and Tyler Huntley led the last two drives.

 

The Browns game there was just zero defense being played. It was an anomaly. We almost never get into shootouts like that. It just felt like both offenses were doing as they pleased. Wild game but it really screwed with our defensive statistics for the season.

 

The only thing that makes me feel good about the game that doesn't reflect on a quick glance at the season box scores is our health. Yes, our franchise LT is out and our backup (but heavily used) TE is out, but our defense is very healthy for the first time all year. You really saw that last game against the Titans and that's very encouraging if you're a Ravens fan.

[buffaloboyinATL]

McDermott said Yeldon will be activated.

[Pokebball]

37 minutes ago, BillsfaninSB said:

As a CSU alum I say boooo. 

I was at that game.  No moisture the first half.  It wasn't even that cold.  I went down underneath the stadium at half time for some refreshments and when I walked back out for the second half, there was already an inch of snow on the field.  Crazy.  That winning drive in the 4th by Josh was epic Josh!

[leh-nerd skin-erd]

46 minutes ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

Seriously?  As bulletin board stuff that's totally weak sauce.

 

He's saying that even in Josh's rookie season (when pundits were dissing him left and right) Josh was still a key reason the team was winning. 

 

44 minutes ago, AllDayLJ said:

....what? I'm assuming this is a satirical comment? But in the 1/100 chance it's not: "hats off" is a phrase used to to congratulate or show respect for someone.

 

Hats off? 

 

Hats.

Heads.

Head hunting.

Bountygate. 

Greg Williams.

 

 See, on the surface, what sounds like a young, gifted professional athlete being respectful and effusive with his praise of another athlete often leads directly back to Greg Williams.  

 

I'm actually embarrassed I have to explain it to you people.  

 

 

 

[Juice_32]

 

1 hour ago, RichRiderBills said:

I personally think heavy snow brings everyone down a level where whoever wants it more will get it. 

 

Josh would fare better running syle wise than lamar....at least i think. 

 

I re-watched the last Ravens v Browns game and LJ was slipping all over in that one. He also had 124 yards rushing so...

Edited January 14, 2021 by Juice_32

[Scott7975]

2 hours ago, Penfield45 said:

Totally surprised at how many bills fans are wishing for a snow game 

 

have they not see our team play in bad weather?

 

chiefs game: Allen’s worst game, couldn’t get anything going all game

 

Pittsburgh 1sf half: it was sleeting, maybe our worst 1st half of the season for the offense. 2nd half it was clear and we improved 

 

Not me.  I have been hoping for years they would build a dome.  Home field advantage due to weather is hogwash.  Allen has the talent within him and around him.  Why hope to slow it down with god aweful weather.

[stevewin]

2 hours ago, YoloinOhio said:

 

 

Would love to see Williams brought up as well - a bruising change of pace option for selected plays, also some RB depth if one of the other guys go down.   For protection, just make sure Singletary/Yeldon are out there on passing down.  Question is who would he replace (wish the NFL would add a few more payers to the game day roster limit - reward deep teams and teams that have good specialists on their roster for STs etc.) 

[SCBills]

5 minutes ago, YattaOkasan said:

Couple thoughts.  

See some talk about the Ravens only putting 20 up on Titans, but their D really held a good offense down.  Thats what scares me the most.  Whether its Titans play calling or OL worse at pass pro than run block or Ravens are that good I dont know, but thats what worries me the most.  I am hopeful with the way we have been tested and responded all season (last week is a great example of a team that wont back down if things do go their way at all).  On Simms and Florio, I like them picking against us.  I think we have done well in those situations, and i saw rodney harrison (Dungy also eye rolled) correct Florio's line of "the Bills have to be second guessing themselves."  Both teams got a big weight of their shoulders and will be playing loose.  So excited for this game.

 

Ravens Defense is legit. 

 

I have no clue what happened in the Browns game, but now that they're healthy, they have a strong DL only a notch below what we saw from the Colts and a secondary that is up there with the Rams & Dolphins.  

 

Campbell is really good, but he's not Buckner, so hopefully our OL performs better than what we saw against Indy.   Our tackles typically hold their own, but the interior seems to be where monster DT's can blow up the protection.  

[Hapless Bills Fan]

11 minutes ago, leh-nerd skin-erd said:

Hats off? 

 

Hats.

Heads.

Head hunting.

Bountygate. 

Greg Williams.

 

 See, on the surface, what sounds like a young, gifted professional athlete being respectful and effusive with his praise of another athlete often leads directly back to Greg Williams.  

 

I'm actually embarrassed I have to explain it to you people. 

 

"I see" said the blind man.  As he picked up his hammer and saw.

[LeGOATski]

27 minutes ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

It's a serious ground game, but against that you need to look at who they played.  Cowboys have the 29th run D, Jaguars 30th, Bengals 31st.  404, 159, and 294 yds there. 

 

The 159 yd game against the Jaguars interests me the most.  Looks like Lamar had a good game passing, 250 yds passing.   I don't know if I have time to watch it, but I'd be interested if anyone has, did the Jags just sell out to stop the run and dare the Ravens to pass?  Glancing at the box score, it looks as though the Ravens tried to run a good bit, 37 rush attempts to 26 pass attempts (Jackson 17 of 22 for 243 yards).

 

The other game I'd rewatch if I had the stompach for it would be the Browns.  Their rush defense isn't godawful - 19th - and they gave up 249 rush yards.  The thing was I watched it real time and came away with the impression just a sloppy football game on both sides, so even though the announcers were all over the ending I was done with it by then.

Honestly don't know what Jax was doing. I guess they were just trying to contain Jackson, but it was a pretty vanilla 4-3 man coverage all game...very Marrone-ish. They went into zone a little, but didn't blitz, so Jackson wasn't rushed. They started bringing some inside CB blitzes in the 3rd quarter but the line picked that guy up easily and the score was already 26-0...

 

The Bills should utilize the zone blitz at opportune times. Like 3rd and longs in Baltimore's own end. Maybe that's obvious.

 

Jackson threw a terrible INT on the first drive. Similar to his INT last week. I feel like he'll put up 1 or 2 of those against the Bills, too. Capitalizing on those mistakes will be huge for the Bills.

 

Jackson's throws to the RBs/Brown in the flat can be deadly. He had a few good gainers there. No question that the Bills need to be extra-disciplined to stop these guys.