How the Buffalo Bills Defense Can Shut Down the Baltimore Ravens Rushing Attack
The Buffalo Bills defense faces the league’s second-best rushing attack in the Ravens. Can the defense meet the challenge in Week 4?
The Week 4 matchup between the Buffalo Bills defense and the Baltimore Ravens will be one of the biggest tests of the early season for Sean McDermott’s squad. After cruising to blowout wins over the Miami Dolphins (in Week 2) and the Jacksonville Jaguars (Week 3), the Bills will face the NFL’s second-best rushing attack in the Ravens.
Through three weeks, the Ravens are averaging nearly 200 yards a game. Running back Derrick Henry has 281 yards on the ground, including 151 yards and two scores last week in Dallas. Perennial MVP candidate Lamar Jackson adds 247 of his own, including 122 yards in Week 1 against the Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs. Against the Dallas Cowboys last week, the reigning NFL MVP notched 87 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries.
It’s nothing new for Jackson as he tests defenses weekly with his dual-skill set. For several years, however, the Ravens didn’t have a back like Henry. The former Tennessee Titan amassed over 1,000 yards five times in his nine-year career, including 2,057 in 2020.
Former backs J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards were serviceable, but Henry is a former rushing Champion. It’s that two-headed attack between Henry and Jackson that will provide the Bills with their biggest test of the season to date.
Buffalo was able to bottle up the Arizona Cardinals in Week 1 in a 34-28 victory. Over the last two weeks, however, the rush defense hasn’t really been tested. Josh Allen led Buffalo to a 24-10 halftime lead in Week 2 against division rival Miami. The same happened against Jacksonville in Week 3 as Allen tossed four first-half touchdowns to give the Bills another huge lead (34-3) at the half.
