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Winners and losers from Bills vs. Ravens

Oliver Myers
Syndication: Democrat and Chronicle

Rochester Democrat & Chronicle

The Buffalo Bills completed a miraculous comeback that will take its place in the history books on Sunday night.

After being down 40-25 with 11 minutes left in the game, things looked bleak for a Bills offense that could not keep up with the firepower of the Ravens. Then came 11 minutes of seamless offensive play and a crucial defensive turnover, and 41-year-old Matt Prater was able to seal the deal for Buffalo with a game-winning field goal.

There was a lot to look at in this game, with both sides showing a mix of good and bad. Let’s dive into the key performers that improved their stock, and some that struggled on the day.

Winner: Josh Allen

Let’s start with the obvious. Josh Allen looked just as sharp as he did last year in his first MVP season. He moved the football efficiently, used his legs when necessary, and kept the football out of harm’s way, allowing the Bills to put up 41 total points on the night.

Allen’s stat line was nothing to scoff at, finishing with 424 total yards and four total touchdowns, along with a 71.7% completion percentage. Allen, even when facing a 15-point deficit, stayed poised, refused to play hero ball, and moved the offense in the face of a massive challenge. It looks as if we are in for another season of MVP-caliber football from 17.

Loser: The safeties

Taylor Rapp and Cole Bishop struggled mightily against the Ravens offense. Rapp earned the worst PFF grade of all players on the Bills with a 29.1. Bishop struggled to make open-field tackles and made mistakes on multiple blitz plays, coming too late from too far back.

To add insult to injury, Bishop was stiff-armed by Derrick Henry on a long rush, joining a list of players on Henry’s highlight tape. Welcome to the NFL. Rapp struggled in coverage all night, unable to keep up with Baltimore receivers, allowing many deep receptions and over-the-middle throws. A position of concern for the Bills during the offseason has gotten even more concerning.

Winner: Ed Oliver

Ed was absolutely dominant, showing why the Bills handed him a four-year, $68 million contract in 2023. Oliver was the highest-graded DT by PFF in Week 1 with a grade of 92.7. Oliver was by far the most effective player on a Bills defensive line that struggled to stop the run and get to the passer. He was consistently causing havoc by moving the opposition back off the line of scrimmage, stopping run plays, and putting some big hits on Ravens QB Lamar Jackson. Oliver’s biggest play of the day came when the Bills were down 32-40, desperately needing a turnover late in the game. He broke into the backfield and punched the ball out of Henry’s hands, leading the Bills to another touchdown. Look for Ed to cause more havoc as the defensive line improves around him.

Loser: Running game

The Bills struggled to find their footing in the ground game, especially in short-yardage situations, something they did incredibly well in 2024. James Cook and Ray Davis combined for 14 carries and 46 yards; the biggest play on the night was a 17-yard run from Ty Johnson. This brought the Bills’ rushing average on the night to 3.5 yards per carry, which is lower than their average of roughly 4.5 yards per carry from last year. The Bills need to improve in short-yardage situations as the season goes on.

Winner: Dorian Strong

The rookie out of Virginia Tech was thrust into a starting role due to the absence of Tre’Davious White in Week 1. He did not disappoint, not allowing a single catch in coverage. You might have forgotten he was even on the field, which is a very good thing as a cornerback when the ball rarely comes your way. He played 100% of the snaps and made a big chase-down tackle on Henry. Not a bad first start for the rookie.

Winner: Matt Prater

Prater arrived in Buffalo on Friday, just as Tyler Bass was being placed on IR, with many players thinking he was a new coach. Prater stepped in, going 2/2 on extra points and 3/3 on field goals. One of those field goals was the game-winner. Not bad for an old man.

This was an incredible game for Buffalo, showing their immense talent and resilience. There is a lot to clean up, but a lot to be very proud of. The Bills face the New York Jets in New Jersey on Sunday, September 14.

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