Baltimore Ravens (2-2) – Buffalo Bills (3-1): 35-10
The Bills are no longer undefeated! Buffalo bit the dust against Maryland and lost with a score of xx to xx. The visitors could not resist the running game of the Ravens (271 yards), carried by a gala Derrick Henry: 24 races, 199 yards, 1TD; 3 rec, 10 yards, 1TD. Very quickly, the Ravens' legs made the difference to take an 18-point lead at halftime. A gap that Buffalo will not be able to make up for.
With this victory, the Ravens put themselves back in the AFC North and remind us (if it was needed) that they are still title contenders. For Buffalo, a defeat is nothing serious. On the other hand, the run defense will have to be monitored in the coming weeks.
Derrick Henry has the legs
Thunderous start for the Ravens. First action, first ball for Derrick Henry and the runner's 87-yard run with the touchdown (7-0)! The player makes franchise history with the longest run in its history.
If the Bills respond on the following series with a field goal (7-3), the rest of the half is hell for the visitors. Buffalo will gradually see its opponent walk all over it.
On their 2nd offensive series, it only takes 5 races for the Ravens to be within 5 opposing yards. Lamar Jackson (13/18, 156 yards, 2 TD; 6 races, 54 yards, 1TD) fakes the delivery for Henry and surprises the defense by finding the runner on a short pass outside for the touchdown (14-3) .
After a Buffalo punt, the Ravens move on to third. New offensive series and new touchdown (21-3). This time, the Maryland men are particularly hurting the defense by relying on runners coming out of the backfield. Twice, Justice Hill (6 recs, 78 yards, 1TD; 4 carries, 18 yards) plays defense on receptions. The second is the good one with a reception alone for the 19-yard touchdown.
For its part, Buffalo continues punts. Josh Allen (16/29, 180 yards) is overwhelmed by opposing pressure and finds himself without a solution whether in the air or on the ground. The Bills can even thank Baltimore and Jackson for a slight overconfidence which saw the quarterback lose the leather on a run into opposing territory before halftime.
Baltimore does not stop its race
The Bills have a few minutes of hope at the start of the second half. The defense finally blocks the Ravens in attack on their first offensive series. And on attack, they are finally moving forward.
The visitors find the endzone with a run from Ty Johnson (21-10). A touchdown which owes a lot to the action before. Josh Allen shows his talent by stretching the play and throws a superb 52-yard pass in full run to Khalil Shakir (4 rec, 62 yards).
HOLY MOLY Josh Allen 🔥
📺: #BUFvsBAL on NBC/Peacock
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/Gr7sW3UkO0— NFL (@NFL) September 30, 2024
The Bills believe it even more when they chain a second defensive stop. Except that the Ravens defense comes to put out the beginning of the fire. Kyle Van Noy (2 sacks, 1 fumble) takes advantage of a scramble to touch Allen's arm at the time of the throw. Result ? A lost ball and it's Kyle Hamilton who grabs the ball to return it to his attack.
This one does not miss the mark and resumes its march forward. Once again it is the Henry-Hill-Jackson trio which makes the difference. The quarterback concludes with a 9-yard run and allows his team to lead 28 to 10
At the start of the 4th quarter, the Bills even missed a field goal which already announced their coming defeat. John Harbaugh's men start from midfield. Henry gets the ball rolling again with a 38-yard run to get in front of the opposing goal. If he loses the ball immediately afterwards, the runner sees his teammate Patrick Ricard recover it in the endzone for the touchdown (35-10).
Behind, Sean McDermott brings out the white flag by taking out Josh Allen to bring Mitch Trubisky onto the field. The Ravens accept it and are content to chain races to bring down the clock and win in this AFC shock.
