Ravens Roll Past Bills, Move to .500
The Baltimore Ravens were looking to make it two straight wins after starting the year 0-2, as they welcomed the visiting Bills for a Sunday night matchup. Coming into the night it looked like another tough ask for the Ravens as the Bills came to Baltimore with a 3-0 record and an offense that was averaging just under 38 points per game.
But it didn’t take long for the Ravens to set the tone for what would be an early statement win. Following a Bills punt on their opening possession of the game. The Ravens began their first offensive drive on their own 13-yard line. Ravens running back Derrick Henry got the opening carry taking it off the right side finding space and out running the Bills defense on his way to a franchise record 87-yard rushing touchdown, and a 199 yard rushing night.
From their the Ravens never looked back as they would score on their first three possessions to start the game and jumping out to a 21-3 lead mid way through the second quarter.
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson had another efficient week that saw just five incompletions going 13-for-18 for 156 yards and two touchdowns, while also adding 54 yards on the ground. Jackson’s only blemish would come late in the second quarter as he would fumble following a six yard gain in Bills territory.
But the Ravens defense would pick up Jackson and the Ravens offense following the fumble forcing the Bills to punt as the Ravens took a 21-3 lead into the half.
It looked early into the second half like the Bills may find their way back into this one as on their opening possession of the third quarter Allen would find a wide open Khalil Shakir on a spectacular throw near the sideline for 52-yards down to the Ravens three-yard line. Just one play later former Maryland Terrapin Ty Johnson would find the end zone cutting the Ravens lead 21-10, the Bills final points of the night.
The Ravens offense would once again stall on their next possession, but much like in the first half the Ravens defense was their to pick them up. The Bills drove down into Ravens territory, before a Bills trick play ending in a Kyle Van Noy strip sack of quarterback Josh Allen, recovered by Kyle Hamilton at the Ravens 41-yard line.
The Ravens would turn that Bills fumble into points as Jackson ran around the right side for the nine-yard touchdown and extending the Ravens lead 28-10. The Ravens would tack on one more touchdown with just over 11 minutes to play as Henry looked to add his second rushing touchdown of the night. However, Henry would fumble at the Bills goal line into the end zone, that would ultimately be recovered by Ravens fullback Patrick Ricard to all but seal the Ravens 35-10 blowout victory.
It was a great win for the Ravens on Sunday night against one of the top teams in the AFC through the first few weeks, and an all around effort as the Ravens offense continues to gain momentum, while the defense played their best game of the season limiting Bills quarterback Josh Allen to just 180 passing yards on 16-for-29 passing.
The Ravens will now turn the page as they get set for their first AFC north matchup as they travel to Cincinnati to take on the 1-3 Bengals.
Games Notes:
Safety Kyle Hamilton led all Ravens with seven total tackles.
Justice Hill led all Ravens with 78 receiving yards.
Outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy tied a franchise record with three straight games with two or more sacks.
Running back Derrick Henry had his first receiving touchdown since 2019.
The Ravens offense outgained the Bills 427-236.