The Buffalo Bills were handed their fourth loss of the season as the Baltimore Ravens won 24-17, but they proved they could contend and might get revenge in the postseason
Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott doesn’t want to hear about moral victories, and it’s hard to blame him for that sentiment. Losing a close game doesn’t bring solace to a coach who is judged on wins and losses.
While that’s true, those of us who watch the game and talk about it can look at a game such as the one Buffalo played this weekend against Baltimore and feel like there were plenty of positives.
One was the way the defense slowed down an MVP candidate as Lamar Jackson wasn’t the normal highlight machine we have come to expect. Another positive was the way the team fought back and had a chance to tie it late despite being behind 24-9 entering the fourth quarter.
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And while the team won’t call it a moral victory, they do know they can build on this. Not only that, but they should have plenty of confidence should they face the Ravens in the postseason — which is exactly what linebacker Matt Milano thinks will happen.
"“Just keep building, put it behind us. Collect the tape tomorrow, come in, get that watched, and then, probably face them again later in the season,” Milano said via Nick Wojton of USA Today’s Bills Wire"
Should this scenario play out, there’s no reason to think Buffalo can’t get their revenge. Their defense should be extremely confident following their performance on Sunday as they continued to hold their own despite continual three-and-outs that kept them from getting enough rest before trotting back out.
As for the offense, they know they found something that was working later in the game as Cole Beasley started to make clutch receptions for them and running back Devin Singletary put the team on his back at one point.
They also had a few big plays that just missed as quarterback Josh Allen overthrew both John Brown and Robert Foster on plays that could have gone for six.
Buffalo remains one game behind New England for first place in the AFC East and are the top Wild Card team in the conference. They need to completely fall apart to miss the playoffs, which means there’s a good chance for a rematch.
It wouldn’t be a bad bet at all to take the Bills in that one based on this game.