The positives: The Buffalo Bills remained competitive against a team that could become the #1 seed in the playoffs, pushing to tie the score with just over a minute left until the Baltimore defense came up big and deflected a Josh Allen pass that was meant for John Brown. It may not of resulted in a touchdown, but would of guaranteed a 1st and Goal if Brown wasn't able to make it into the end zone.
This is a far cry from the last time these two teams faced each other, with Nathan Peterman and the Bills falling 47-3 in Buffalo's worse Week 1 loss in franchise history in a rainy September afternoon last year in Maryland.
The Buffalo defense held Lamar Jackson to 145 yards and picked him off for only the 6th time this season. After putting up 40+ points in three straight games leading up to last week's raw and rainy affair against the 49'ers, the Bills held the Ravens to 24 points on a more ideal weekend.
The negatives: In those 145 yards on Sunday, 61 of them was in a back-breaker play to begin the 3rd Quarter when Jackson connected with Hayden Hurst on a slant route for a touchdown. The slant route torched the Bills secondary and it became a foot race which Hurst won.
Jackson would finish with 3 touchdowns.
Josh Allen did not look great in the loss, going 17/39 for 146 yards and a touchdown. The second-year QB would not get the chance to dance his feet like his Baltimore counterpart. Allen would have an ankle issue that would see him get taped up on the bench during a Baltimore possession midway through the game, but even before then, Allen was not as comfortable with his receivers as he was against the Cowboys on Thanksgiving.
Up Ahead: The Buffalo Bills travel to Heinz Field for a Sunday Night Football match against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Bills are in control in their destiny for the playoff push and could use their 10th win prior to heading to Foxboro for their second meeting with the New England Patriots this season. A win would almost ensure the Bills a playoff spot, but a loss would give the advantage to the Pittsburgh Steelers for the first wild card spot.
Kickoff is scheduled for 8:20pm, pregame coverage begins at 6:00pm on FOX Sports Radio 97.9/1230.
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