By Jeff Zrebiec, Joe Buscaglia and Lukas Weese
Two weeks after blowing a double-digit fourth-quarter lead to the Las Vegas Raiders, the Baltimore Ravens put together a statement performance on “Sunday Night Football,” trouncing the Buffalo Bills 35-10.
It was another dominant game for running back Derrick Henry, who had the longest run from scrimmage in Ravens franchise history, going 87 yards for the touchdown in the first quarter.
Baltimore’s defense gave up the fewest points in a game this season, limiting a Bills offense that averaged 37.3 points per game entering Week 4.
For the Ravens, the win puts them back to .500 (2-2) after dropping their first two games of the season. They handed the Bills their first loss of 2024 after entering the game 3-0.
DERRICK FREAKIN’ HENRY!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/xhYv0apEQu
— NFL (@NFL) September 30, 2024
Ravens dominate the Bills physically
The Ravens announced their intentions on their very first offensive play. Henry took a Jackson handoff and sprinted through a huge hole created when fullback Patrick Ricard erased his man and right tackle Patrick Mekari and tight end Mark Andrews took care of theirs. Eighty-seven yards later and after the longest run in Ravens history, Baltimore had a 7-0 lead. That play set the tone.
The Ravens dominated the Bills on both lines of scrimmage. The offense ran for 271 yards (needs updating at game’s end). The defense harassed Josh Allen all night, sacking him three times and hitting him with numerous others. The Ravens like to talk about being physical and imposing their will. Tonight, they did that. — Jeff Zrebiec, Ravens beat writer
This Ravens, Henry partnership is working just fine
When the season started, there were legitimate questions about whether Henry was the best fit for the Ravens. How would he fare in the Ravens offense which is often in the shotgun and relies on a lot of run-pass option plays? The Titans didn’t do much of that with Henry during his eight seasons with the team. He has fared just fine. Henry had 199 yards rushing and a touchdown in Baltimore’s thorough victory over the Bills. He also had three catches for 19 yards and a touchdown.
Through four games, Henry has 480 yards rushing and five touchdowns and another receiving score. With he and Jackson dominating a run-heavy offense, the Ravens are going to be a tough out. — Zrebiec
Josh Allen unnerved the first time this season
The Bills offense had been keeping their opponents on the backfoot through their first three games, but the Ravens flipped that on its head on Sunday night. Allen never quite got into a groove as the Ravens overwhelmed the Bills with pressure in a way they have yet to see so far this season.
Offensive coordinator Joe Brady has had a strong start to his first full season in that position, but the Ravens game will require a lot of attention to how they were able to unnerve Allen in a way they hadn’t seen before in 2024. The Bills averaged only 4.6 yards per play when Allen was in the game on Sunday. — Joe Buscaglia, Bills beat writer
Bills’ defensive depth tested
In Weeks 2 and 3, the Bills’ defense had been playing well above expectation, limiting the Dolphins and Jaguars to a combined 20 points — and doing so mostly without the trio of outside linebacker Matt Milano, nickel corner Taron Johnson and middle linebacker Terrel Bernard. Their injuries finally caught up with them, as the Ravens pummeled them in the first half.
Three straight possessions of gaining yards at will, and three straight touchdowns, pushed the Ravens up to what seemed like a hill too steep to climb. The Bills had difficulties tackling all evening and couldn’t stop the Ravens from making a big play. Outside of the start to the second half, the defense was out of answers against the Ravens. — Buscaglia
Required reading
(Photo: Michael Owens / Getty Images)
