Game week thread - Ravens at Bills SNF

[tigerthelion]

On 8/30/2025 at 3:40 PM, eball said:

When did the Ravens become the ‘85 Bears? To read this board the Bills are overmatched and don’t even have a chance unless “the refs help us.”  Good grief. How many Super Bowls has Baltimore been to with Lamar? Why doesn’t Harbaugh get the same grief McD gets when he hasn’t done diddly since 2013 with these great rosters?

 

Harbaugh seems to get a pass because he has a ring, but I tend to agree that he has had some foolishly stacked teams that have underperformed for quite a while now.

Edited September 1 by tigerthelion

[Buffalo Ballin]

I have us losing this game. Our defense is just....terrible.

 

Win or lose, let's have Josh Allen healthy after the game lol.

[Avisan]

15 minutes ago, Buffalo Ballin said:

I have us losing this game. Our defense is just....terrible.

Our defense has never been a  terrible unit under McDermott.  There's no reason to think it would be any worse than last year and there's a good chance it's better.

[Buffalo Ballin]

3 minutes ago, Avisan said:

Our defense has never been a  terrible unit under McDermott.  There's no reason to think it would be any worse than last year and there's a good chance it's better.

McDermott Defense Force

[Special K]

19 minutes ago, Buffalo Ballin said:

Our defense is just....terrible.

 

Sheesh......they haven't even played yet and you are already calling the D terrible..... c'mon man!!

[Hsker4life]

On 8/27/2025 at 7:36 AM, dave mcbride said:

They did lose because of the drop, but making the catch wouldn’t have guaranteed a Ravens victory. I get that. However, the drop did guarantee a loss.

They lost because they scored less. They did not lose because of the drop any more than they lost because of a TD or earlier turnover. 

[Mikie2times]

On 8/30/2025 at 11:40 AM, eball said:

When did the Ravens become the ‘85 Bears? To read this board the Bills are overmatched and don’t even have a chance unless “the refs help us.”  Good grief. How many Super Bowls has Baltimore been to with Lamar? Why doesn’t Harbaugh get the same grief McD gets when he hasn’t done diddly since 2013 with these great rosters?

 

Lamar has been pretty bad in the playoffs and I’m sure Harbaugh gets plenty of grief, you’re just not a Ravens fan so how dialed into that could you be?
 

They also have had one ring in the lifetime of most current fans and it was with the coach you’re talking about. Regardless if that matters to you or not, I’m sure it still matters in the eyes of some of those fans and the leadership of the org. As it would with Buffalo and McD if the situation was reversed and he already bagged a ring. 

Edited September 1 by Mikie2times

[Hsker4life]

On 8/29/2025 at 11:30 AM, Logic said:

Ya know what?

It was silly of me to dare to have a different opinion than you. I was under the mistaken impression that we're on a discussion forum. Nevermind the fact that I still predicted the Bills to finish 13-4 and claim the one seed, and that this is one of only four losses I've prognosticated for them.

It was probably also silly of me to try to guess at the psychology of this game when you very clearly know it lock, stock, and barrel.

I bow to your wisdom. You win. Your cookie is in the mail. Congratulations.

 

 

Walk it off, big guy. You will get through this.

[Avisan]

40 minutes ago, Buffalo Ballin said:

McDermott Defense Force

The data is what it is, fam.  This is frankly an embarrassing way to conduct yourself.

[Shortchaz]

9 hours ago, tigerthelion said:

Harbaugh seems to get a pass because he has a ring, but I tend to agree that he has had some foolishly stacked teams that have underperformed for quite a while now.

Probably happened right around the time Andy Reid went to KC

Edited September 1 by Shortchaz

[eball]

12 hours ago, boyst said:

And he did it with Flacco

 

In 2013 Flacco had one of the best QB postseasons in NFL history.  It was ridiculous.  And they still almost blew it against the Niners.

 

Harbaugh gets far too much leeway because of that one SB win.

 

[eball]

8 hours ago, Mikie2times said:

Lamar has been pretty bad in the playoffs and I’m sure Harbaugh gets plenty of grief, you’re just not a Ravens fan so how dialed into that could you be?
 

They also have had one ring in the lifetime of most current fans and it was with the coach you’re talking about. Regardless if that matters to you or not, I’m sure it still matters in the eyes of some of those fans and the leadership of the org. As it would with Buffalo and McD if the situation was reversed and he already bagged a ring. 

 

Since 2017 (when McD became the Bills’ HC):

 

Harbaugh:  87-45 regular season, 3-6 playoffs, one AFCCG (that they lost at home), with 2 MVP QB seasons

McD:  86-45 regular season, 7-7 playoffs, two AFCCG (lost on road), with one MVP QB season

 

Who deserves more credit, and who takes far too much crap from their fan base?

 

 

[SirAndrew]

11 hours ago, tigerthelion said:

Harbaugh seems to get a pass because he has a ring, but I tend to agree that he has had some foolishly stacked teams that have underperformed for quite a while now.

The Ravens always have insane talent, but it’s tough to win playoff games when your QB is throwing picks and fumbling at the worst moments. Jackson is a top notch athlete and one of the best QB’s, but these issues have been glossed over. Everyone focuses on Lamar’s valiant fourth quarter comeback attempts in the playoffs instead. 

[RobbRiddick]

11 hours ago, Buffalo Ballin said:

I have us losing this game. Our defense is just....terrible.

 

Win or lose, let's have Josh Allen healthy after the game lol.

I expect a loss here but I don't think it's terrible. I think the back end is vulnerable but in McD's scheme they're also quite disciplined and are usually good at taking away big plays. It'll be interesting to see if the Ravens try and run Henry down their throats or if they try and exploit the secondary and have Jackson slinging it a lot.

[RoscoeParrish]

2 hours ago, eball said:

 

In 2013 Flacco had one of the best QB postseasons in NFL history.  It was ridiculous.  And they still almost blew it against the Niners.

 

Harbaugh gets far too much leeway because of that one SB win.

 

“Still almost blew it?”

 

Could you imagine writing those words about a McD Super Bowl?

 

”They almost lost (but didn’t and actually won.)”

 

bah

[wjag]

Likely is unlikely.  So there’s that. 

[RoscoeParrish]

1 hour ago, eball said:

 

Since 2017 (when McD became the Bills’ HC):

 

Harbaugh:  87-45 regular season, 3-6 playoffs, one AFCCG (that they lost at home), with 2 MVP QB seasons

McD:  86-45 regular season, 7-7 playoffs, two AFCCG (lost on road), with one MVP QB season

 

Who deserves more credit, and who takes far too much crap from their fan base?

 

 

Lamar Jackson plays much worse than Josh Allen in the playoffs. It’s not even a comparison.

[Steptide]

I'm almost expecting a loss this week. For whatever reason, the bills seem to get off to slow starts in their first game. The secondary is such a huge question mark right now, it's hard to be over confident about this game 

[Bermuda Triangle]

Been out of the loop for a few days, so forgive me if this is old news, but is Benford back practicing?

[Dukestreetking]

On 8/30/2025 at 9:31 AM, BuffaloBillyG said:

The King has been probably the best RB of his generation.  But Cook is a top 5-8 back and is still improving. Henry has without a doubt been the better back...but he is 31 and has absorbed a lot of punishment in his career. He can only stiff arm Father Time for so long. Henry HAS been the better back in the past but will he still be in the year 2025?

 

As you point out, DH variable may loom large, so I'm interested in this. There are no perfect 1-1 comparisons, but just quick math.

 

Emmit Smith had roughly 5250 touches, college/pro, thru 11 nfl seasons. Thereafter, a dip in his production, though not profound, can be discerned.

 

DH has roughly 3100 college/pro touches thru 9 NFL seasons.

 

Different players, definitely different body types/usage. I get it. But, my thumbnail, 5 min conclusion is that Henry has a season plus before we see a consistent drop in effectiveness.

 

Barring injury of course. Totally open mind, so willing to be otherwise persuaded.