Orchard Park, N.Y. — The Buffalo Bills erased a 15-point fourth-quarter deficit behind a four-touchdown performance from reigning MVP Josh Allen to defeat the Baltimore Ravens, 41-40 on “Sunday Night Football.”
Allen had 424 yards of total offense and helped the Bills overcome a troubling defensive performance through most of four quarters. The Bills defense came up with two monster stops late in the game, and Ed Oliver forced a Derrick Henry fumble to create new life in the final minutes.
The Bills start the season 1-0 and sit alone in first place in the AFC East after all three other teams lost on Sunday.
Here are some instant takeaways.
Keon Coleman made big plays in second half
Coleman finished as the Bills’ top receiver in the game and had a sensational diving touchdown grab in the fourth quarter. Allen threw one up to tight end Dawson Knox and it tipped off his hands and Coleman came flying in to make the catch. Coleman finished with eight catches for 112 yards and the touchdown.
Derrick Henry dominates
The Ravens ran for 160 yards in the first half as Henry continued his dominant run against Sean McDermott’s Bills defense. Henry ran for 199 yards in Week 4 last season and 123 yards at halftime, including a punishing 30-yard run that included a steamrolling of Bills second-year safety Cole Bishop.
Buffalo’s run defense has been an issue at times under McDermott. The Bills made dramatic changes to their defensive line during the offseason, but seemed to have the same problems stopping Henry.
The Ravens running back broke off a 49-yard run on the team’s second touchdown drive, and the Bills actually had a few defenders in range to tackle him in the backfield. But Henry busted through the chaos and broke free for another big play. Henry
Dalton Kincaid usage is a mystery
Kincaid’s season ended miserably a year ago when he dropped the last pass on 4th down in a three-point loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game. Bills quarterback Josh Allen took every opportunity in the offseason to shoulder some blame for Kincaid’s disappointing second season. He’d often say that he has to be better for Kincaid.
The Bills wasted no time getting Kincaid involved against the Ravens. Allen connected with the third-year tight end for the game’s first touchdown on a pretty quick pass over the middle.
Then Kincaid disappeared.
Kincaid has had double-digit targets in a game just twice in 29 career regular-season games. After the touchdown catch on the Bills’ first drive, Kincaid was only targeted three times the rest of the game. The Bills traded up for Kincaid in the 2023 NFL Draft but have been unable to establish him as a weapon in their offense. He’s had great moments, but there is no consistency. With a receiver group lacking a superstar, the Bills’ offense needs someone to get open for Allen consistently.
Ed Oliver highlights lackluster performance by D-line
Oliver set the tone on the Bills’ first defensive drive after the Ravens moved the ball easily into Buffalo’s red zone. On 3rd down and 7 from the Bills’ 19-yard line, Oliver beat a double team and exploded into the backfield to take down the elusive Lamar Jackson.
Oliver had a pair of tackles for a loss in the game, and he wrangled Derrick Henry for a five-yard loss on the Ravens’ only drive that ended in one of Baltimore’s two punts in the game.
James Cook makes a huge play in second half
Cook wasn’t very effective on the ground, but he caught five passes for 58 yards. Most of that came on a 51-yard gain that almost went for a touchdown. He caught a short pass from Allen and then erupted through traffic toward a massive gap in the middle of the field. He was pulled down just short of the end zone but the Bills scored a few plays later.
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