The Bills lose to the Ravens in an ugly season opener. The Bills offense did not look good today.
After a long offseason, opening day in the NFL is finally here! The Bills traveled to Baltimore banged up, but ready to get the season started. This was a defensive battle from the very beginning. Neither team could muster up much of an offense in the first quarter. The highlight of the first quarter was a 50-yard field goal by Justin Tucker to give the Ravens a 3-0 lead at the end of the 1st.
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In the second quarter, both teams started to settle in a bit. Baltimore struck first in the second when QB Joe Flacco hit WR Mike Wallace for a 66-yard touchdown pass. With about 5:57 left in the second quarter, Tyrod Taylor made a dazzling 33-yard pass to TE Charles Clay. Up to the point, Taylor was hitting nothing but short yardage passes. A couple of minutes later LeSean McCoy ran in for a one yard touchdown to make the score 10-7 Baltimore.
The third quarter saw a back and forth defensive battle with neither team able to score or do much on offense. Besides the one yard touchdown run by McCoy, the Bills running game was not able to do much all day. Bills kicker Dan Carpenter had a chance to tie the game but missed a 49-yard field goal as it went wide right. The Bills defense despite missing key players kept the game close.
The fourth quarter had more of the same. The Bills came into the final frame hoping to make some key stops and make a play on offense, but it just didn’t happen. While the Bills were able to sack Flacco multiple times and recover a fumble, they didn’t do enough to stop the Ravens. The Bills defense got off to a fast start but seemed to fade as the game went on.
Late in the fourth Flacco made a key 27-yard pass to TE Dennis Pitta. Later on that drive, the Ravens scored a 37-yard field goal, which would be the final score of the game. After a couple of Flacco kneel downs, the Ravens came away with the win 13-7.
Next: Bills vs. Ravens: Live Game Thread
For the Bills it’s a tough loss and they now turn their attention to the New York Jets. Starting offensive lineman Cordy Glenn went down with an injury in the first half and did not return. The Bills will be keeping an eye on him this week as he is one of their best linemen. Tyrod Taylor did not look comfortable or accurate all day. Because of his performance, Sammy Watkins was almost a nonfactor catching four passes for just 43 yards.
Let’s hope Buffalo can put it together in time for their next game.
Can the Bills recover from this loss? What do you think Bills fans?