The Bills didn’t exactly cruise through the first half, but they still walked out of Week 8 with a 36-10 win over the Ravens and a 6-1 record. Buffalo leaned on a much sharper second half and a defense that completely took over after the break, turning what had been a messy stretch into a lopsided finish.
For a while, though, this one had some stress to it. Buffalo’s offense was out of rhythm early, piling up penalties, turnovers and sloppy execution before finally settling in. Once it did, the Bills found the end zone three times in the second half and stretched the margin into comfortable territory.
The Ravens, meanwhile, were battered at quarterback and never came close to finding an answer. Lamar Jackson exited after Baltimore’s first offensive snap, Tyler Huntley went down soon after, and emergency third-stringer Joe Fagnano - an undrafted free agent making his first NFL snaps - was left to steer the offense. That was too much to ask against a Buffalo defense that tightened the screws and shut Baltimore out after halftime.
Josh Allen finished with 289 passing yards on 21-of-34 throwing, including second-half touchdowns to DJ Moore and Dalton Kincaid. He also threw an interception on a deflected pass behind Jackson Hawes. Allen’s first half was rougher, as he went 8-of-19 for 112 yards, and Buffalo’s offense was slowed by drops from James Cook and Kincaid.
Still, Moore and Kincaid both made chunk plays, each averaging more than 20 yards per catch. Allen also nearly connected on a deep shot to Keon Coleman, but the pass sailed incomplete.
On the ground, Buffalo had to grind. Cook carried 21 times for 80 yards and a touchdown, with a long run of just 16 yards.
He was also evaluated for a head injury. Allen added 30 rushing yards on seven carries, and the Bills were stuffed on an early tush push attempt.
As a team, Buffalo managed 146 rushing yards on 41 attempts, a 3.6-yard average.
The defensive grades tell the story of the game. Buffalo earned an A+ against the pass after holding Baltimore’s three quarterbacks to 68 passing yards and 12 completions on 26 attempts.
Fagnano briefly gave the Ravens a spark by completing his first two passes, but that was about it. Davison Igbinosun picked off a Fagnano throw, and TJ Parker, Greg Rousseau, Landon Jackson and Cole Bishop each recorded a sack.
Against the run, the Bills were strong too, limiting Derrick Henry to 53 yards on 11 carries. Henry averaged 4.8 yards per attempt, but Baltimore’s lack of a passing threat meant the ground game never really had a chance to take over. The Ravens finished with 76 rushing yards on 19 carries.
Special teams did its part as well. Tyler Bass was perfect on three field-goal tries, including a 56-yarder that hit the goal post and still went through.
Tommy Doman punted twice for a 47.5-yard average, with strong hang time helping the coverage unit. Greg Dortch handled punt returns well, averaging 13.3 yards on three runbacks.
In Other News...
Bills Add Familiar AFC East Help Ahead Of Tough Week 9
The Bills added some familiar AFC East experience to their secondary this week, signing cornerback Kader Kohou to the practice squad ahead of their Week 9 matchup with the Vikings. Kohou arrives with a background that should make the transition easier, having spent three seasons with Miami and also time with Kansas City before his recent release.
For Buffalo, the move is about adding another layer of depth at a position that can get stressed quickly over the course of a season. The Bills are trying to keep momentum rolling with a fourth straight win in sight, and bringing in a player who knows the division gives them a little more insurance as the schedule tightens. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Offense Gets Its Biggest Test Yet Against Minnesota
Monday night brings a rare kind of measuring stick for Buffalo, one that strips away the weekly noise and puts the Bills offense in a direct collision with the leagues most efficient defense by the numbers. It is the sort of matchup that tends to tell you a lot about where a contender really stands, especially when the conversation centers on EPA per play and the gap between an attack that can score in bunches and a unit built to smother it.
The historical backdrop is part of what makes this one worth watching, because these elite-versus-elite showdowns have not come around often and they have not always gone the same way. The offense has had a slight edge over time, but the results have been close enough to suggest there is no easy script here, which only adds to the intrigue for a Bills team trying to prove its ceiling against Minnesota. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Face A Keon Coleman Decision That Could Split Fans
Keon Coleman has given the Bills a useful early return, with three touchdowns and 287 yards on 20 catches, and his presence has been part of Buffalos effort to keep the offense moving while the roster gets sorted out for the stretch run. Even so, the Bills are still weighing where they need help most as they try to build a team good enough for a real Super Bowl push.
That is where the conversation gets interesting, because ESPNs Dan Graziano floated the idea that Coleman could become part of a deal to bring in defensive help. No trade has been reported, but the mere possibility is enough to spark debate in Buffalo, where fans are already trying to figure out whether a productive young receiver is a core piece or a movable asset. [Read more 🡒]