Game week thread - Ravens at Bills SNF

[ganesh]

14 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.

and very different in Pittsburgh where Tomlin had winning seasons with average to below average talent. If he had the same talent as the Ravens, he is winning a couple of SB.  In fact,  if there is disappointment at the end of this season in Buffalo and Pittsburgh, I wouldn't mind going after Tomlin.

[dave mcbride]

13 hours ago, Hsker4life said:

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. 

“They lost because they scored less” is tautological. You are not isolating a cause.

[TPS]

A few thoughts about this game.

Ravens:

1. This is probably the most talented Ravens team since Jackson has been QB. The only question mark is the new kicker.
2. Jackson will be highly motivated to make amends after last year's playoff loss. 

Bills:

1. Home field advantage helps, and the Bills O will need it against this D.
2. I'm sure Phillips will be elevated for this game, so there aren't two rookie in the second DL wave.
3. The Bills' secondary is the big question mark in this game. Would they also elevate the experienced Poyer for this game? 

I see another dogfight coming down to the last few minutes.  Whoever makes the fewest mistakes wins.

[Mikie2times]

5 hours 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?

 

 

Again, how do you know he is not taking a ton of crap?

[Rocky Landing]

3 hours ago, RobbRiddick said:

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.

To my eyes, from the extremely limited amount we've seen in the preseason, the Bills front seven has looked really good against the run, and average, at best, at rushing the passer. Obviously, those preseason performances can't be used much as a harbinger of how the Birds @ Bills game is going to go, but I could well imagine Harbough, based on what we know, dialing up a pass-heavy scheme for 9/7.

[Dillenger4]

We contain Lamar like no other team and it will only be better this year as Bosa and Groot on both ends will be dominant. The interior DL will be tough vs the run as we are much stronger. I expect Oliver, Walker and Phillips to be stought!

Our O is, well, MVP material. I can't wait to see Palmer and Moore dicing it up all over the field and Coleman? Well... Coleman will be amped. I expect a big game.

Bills win by 2 TD's.

[Rocky Landing]

9 minutes ago, Dillenger4 said:

We contain Lamar like no other team and it will only be better this year as Bosa and Groot on both ends will be dominant. The interior DL will be tough vs the run as we are much stronger. I expect Oliver, Walker and Phillips to be stought!

Our O is, well, MVP material. I can't wait to see Palmer and Moore dicing it up all over the field and Coleman? Well... Coleman will be amped. I expect a big game.

Bills win by 2 TD's.

I love the enthusiasm! Personally, though, I'm not expecting a whole lot out of Palmer, and even less out of Moore. Not to say they won't be affective, but I suspect there won't be a ton of three WR sets-- lots of 12, and 21 personnel, and Jumbo packages.  And I think Keon, and Khalil will be getting the most snaps, assuming Shakir is close to 100%. We'll know better on Wednesday, I assume. I imagine we will be Palmer in three WR formations, and I wonder how many targets he gets in those? His selling point has been "natural separation," but does he get used to draw coverage from Keon? Of course, I am one of the idiots who voted "Superstar" in the Keon Coleman poll, so....

 

It will be interesting to see who gets some of those plays out of the backfield-- screens, sweeps, etc-- Moore, or Samuel. I would assume that Moore is the much faster player at this point in their careers. 

[Logic]

15 hours ago, Hsker4life said:

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

[Doc Brown]

1 hour ago, Rocky Landing said:

To my eyes, from the extremely limited amount we've seen in the preseason, the Bills front seven has looked really good against the run, and average, at best, at rushing the passer. Obviously, those preseason performances can't be used much as a harbinger of how the Birds @ Bills game is going to go, but I could well imagine Harbough, based on what we know, dialing up a pass-heavy scheme for 9/7.

I hope so.  Ravens were 3-5 when throwing the ball more than 30 times last year.  They were 9-0 when not.

[RoscoeParrish]

1 hour ago, Mikie2times said:

Again, how do you know he is not taking a ton of crap?

Some fans lack perspective.

 

There’s absolutely a contingent of Ravens fans who think Harbaugh should be on a hot seat.

 

And just like McD, it’s not because he’s a terrible coach, but because they feel something needs to change and ignite the team. Especially when they are probably have the most talent compared to their contemporaries, the Bills and the Chiefs, but can’t beat either in the postseason.

 

 

[RobbRiddick]

3 hours ago, Rocky Landing said:

To my eyes, from the extremely limited amount we've seen in the preseason, the Bills front seven has looked really good against the run, and average, at best, at rushing the passer. Obviously, those preseason performances can't be used much as a harbinger of how the Birds @ Bills game is going to go, but I could well imagine Harbough, based on what we know, dialing up a pass-heavy scheme for 9/7.

I saw some of the game where Bosa played (or one of them, can't remember if he played in 2) and they seemed to be getting after the QB from what I remember. I'll be interested to see how they play Jackson. McD has been good at limiting the amount of rushing yards he gets in the past.

 

I always see games like this in terms of the headlines after, and if the Ravens win and Jackson plays great you know it will be "Jackson played like he took the MVP snub personally" and all that crap

[Goin Breakdown]

6 minutes ago, RobbRiddick said:

I saw some of the game where Bosa played (or one of them, can't remember if he played in 2) and they seemed to be getting after the QB from what I remember. I'll be interested to see how they play Jackson. McD has been good at limiting the amount of rushing yards he gets in the past.

 

I always see games like this in terms of the headlines after, and if the Ravens win and Jackson plays great you know it will be "Jackson played like he took the MVP snub personally" and all that crap

I almost want to watch with the sound turned down. The MVP talk is going to be constant and all about Lamar's reclamation of MVP during this game. 

[SCBills]

Ravens, for probably the 3rd or 4th year in a row come into the season with the best roster in the AFC. 
 

Bills OL should be able to create running lanes and give JA time to throw against the Ravens Defense.  Biggest dynamic in that regard is can this Offense make a jump with improvements from Kincaid & Coleman, along with the addition of Palmer.  While there’s isn’t a superstar alongside Allen, there’s an elite OL with a strong trio of RB’s and (imo) TE’s & WR’s that will be very difficult defend with 4 to 5 pass catchers on any given play that can beat their man in various ways. 
 

On Defense, we typically play Lamar well, but there’s alot of unknowns heading into Week 1.   I think our starting DL could give them problems, but we’re going to be heavily reliant on Epenesa and young guys in the rotation.  Milano & Bernard, from all reports, should be a strength and they’ll be needed to diagnose the run, play option and help with the TE passing game.  3/5ths of our Secondary is rock solid, but who knows what we’re going to get out of Bishop and CB2. 
 

Home field will be big.  Last home opener at the stadium.  With so much continuity on Offense, I expect us to put up points.  But with so much uncertainty on Defense, along with showing nothing in preseason, I have no idea what to expect from that side of the ball. 
 

Edited Monday at 08:21 PM by SCBills

[Rockinon]

I think Milano healthy is an underrated advantage for this defense. We have been watching underwhelming backups to this point in the preseason and a lot of people have forgotten how good this defense is when he's on the field. Also, Benford is better than we imagined and Williams is an "up and comer". The defensive line has got some new juice too. People are pretty worried about the Ravens running all over us but that scenario is not likely how this is going to play out. The big men on defense are healthy. Jackson is going to have to pass to win this game while we are weak at the defensive back positions. However, if the big men can disrupt Lamar, he'll get frustrated and make mistakes. Mistakes like trying to take off with Milano in pursuit, or throwing up air-balls for our defenders to intercept. The way I see it, it's a tall tall order trying to beat the Bill's in their house on opening weekend, in prime time.

 

The Bills have had some slow starts and I think they are well aware of that. The coach has all ready reprimanded players for coming out flat and not playing with fire in the preseason. I'm expecting the Bills to be shot out of a cannon, strait at the bewildered Ravens in this one. I'm expecting the 12th man to be a factor. I'm expecting the negative Nancy's to eat some crow and like it. My expectation is to read the headline the next day "Are the Ravens Overrated?". Time to change the narrative.

 

Go Bills!

 

[boyst]

5 hours ago, TPS said:

A few thoughts about this game.

Ravens:

1. This is probably the most talented Ravens team since Jackson has been QB. The only question mark is the new kicker.
2. Jackson will be highly motivated to make amends after last year's playoff loss. 

Bills:

1. Home field advantage helps, and the Bills O will need it against this D.
2. I'm sure Phillips will be elevated for this game, so there aren't two rookie in the second DL wave.
3. The Bills' secondary is the big question mark in this game. Would they also elevate the experienced Poyer for this game? 

I see another dogfight coming down to the last few minutes.  Whoever makes the fewest mistakes wins.

The whole someone will be more motivated than before thing is such a funny thing. 

First, he had more motivation in the playoffs than anything. 

Two, these guys are wired different. Every game and every play is the same. 

Three, he will fold. He always does. Henry will be the key to their early success as the defenses carried them on the second half. 

[FranchiseSavior]

6 minutes ago, boyst said:

The whole someone will be more motivated than before thing is such a funny thing. 

First, he had more motivation in the playoffs than anything. 

Two, these guys are wired different. Every game and every play is the same. 

Three, he will fold. He always does. Henry will be the key to their early success as the defenses carried them on the second half. 

You do know he out played Josh in both games last season?  You also know he led a game tying TD drive without both his top 2 wr?  The fact remains that he'll be their on Sunday with both his top 2 wrs.  

 

No excuses you guts beat the Ravens in the platoffs, but a blind man could see that Lamar was the least of the issues.  

[Mikie2times]

33 minutes ago, boyst said:

The whole someone will be more motivated than before thing is such a funny thing. 

First, he had more motivation in the playoffs than anything. 

Two, these guys are wired different. Every game and every play is the same. 

Three, he will fold. He always does. Henry will be the key to their early success as the defenses carried them on the second half. 

Raiders beat Baltimore after the KC loss to open the year last year. THAT was motivation. They left in all on the line the week prior and just showed up week 2. While this is week one, I feel that Allen being the MVP, Jackson losing again in the playoffs, and the playoff loss all are things that will give Baltimore a little chip. It's not as if Buffalo won't be ready to play. But a little chip can matter. We had it in the playoff game, they had it in the first match up. It's not something that can happen naturally. It happens when you don't get talked about all week but your opponent does. When you have had months to hear about how you failed. All that stuff. It can be overplayed a little, but it is a thing.    

27 minutes ago, FranchiseSavior said:

You do know he out played Josh in both games last season?  You also know he led a game tying TD drive without both his top 2 wr?  The fact remains that he'll be their on Sunday with both his top 2 wrs.  

 

No excuses you guts beat the Ravens in the platoffs, but a blind man could see that Lamar was the least of the issues.  

Lamar's turnovers are the main reason we won. If he played a clean game we probably don't win. So I would say Lamar was probably MOST of the issue that day. Eventually he couldn't overcome himself, he certainly tried.  

Edited Monday at 10:16 PM by Mikie2times

[Rockinon]

Having a "Chip" doesn't always work out. It can just as easily lead to boneheaded mistakes. I'm not scared of the Ravens because the Bills are equally as scary to deal with. Both teams have great players and perhaps the Ravens have more overall talent. However, I think the Bills have more sophisticated team players. It's a wash, but the Bills are a smart team trying to get tougher. The Ravens are a tough team trying to get smarter.

[boyst]

1 hour ago, FranchiseSavior said:

You do know he out played Josh in both games last season?  You also know he led a game tying TD drive without both his top 2 wr?  The fact remains that he'll be their on Sunday with both his top 2 wrs.  

 

No excuses you guts beat the Ravens in the platoffs, but a blind man could see that Lamar was the least of the issues.  

Their? .... Lol

 

And he led a game tying td drive.... But... He didn't. Womp womp womp.

[Sierra Foothills]

1 hour ago, FranchiseSavior said:

You do know Lamar out played Josh in both games last season?  You also know he led a game tying TD drive without both his top 2 wr?  The fact remains that he'll be their on Sunday with both his top 2 wrs.  

 

No excuses you guys beat the Ravens in the platoffs, but a blind man could see that Lamar was the least of the issues.  

 

Lamar outplayed Josh?

 

Besides the interception that he threw, there was this:

 

 

Outplayed is not an accurate characterization.