Tag: bills ravens

How Josh Allen, John Harbaugh bonded at The Masters

Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen, Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh ran into each other at The Masters.

The Masters is a tradition unlike any other and to Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh that has something to do with being surprised at who you’ll run into there.

Earlier this week, Harbaugh was recalling the 2019 golf major and how he actually ran into two familiar quarterback faces at the event: Josh Allen and Sam Darnold.

Harbaugh admitted that he actually… didn’t realize who they were at first…

“We ran into each other at the Masters, he was with Sam Darnold. It was funny because I also didn’t recognize him, the two guys, because they just look like a couple of young guys, it was like, you know, these guys are just so young and I’m getting so darn old,” Harbaugh said with a laugh.

But things between Allen and Ravens weren’t always so… positive.

Allen’s first ever game in the NFL actually came against Baltimore (11-5). Taking over for Nathan Peterman at the end of a blowout, Allen was knocked out of bounds and took a shot from Ravens defender Matt Judon. It caused a bit of a scuffle along the Baltimore sideline and the Bills quarterback didn’t back down from Judon or anyone… even from Harbaugh.

Reflecting back, Harbaugh recalled telling Allen to get back in the huddle at the time. But since then, including while at The Masters, the QB and opposing coach have since buried the hatchet. In fact, Harbaugh even looks back and says he loved what Allen had done.

“We had a lot of laughs and talked for a little while,” Harbaugh said about running into to Allen at Augusta. “I told him I just loved on the sideline that he was over there, he’s running hard, he looks like a fullback out there running, got smashed on the sideline, he came up jawing and talking and shoving and pushing and… rookie quarterback? I was like ‘Man, I love this guy, this is great.

“I really respect him, I really like him, too.”

Allen also brought up the little exchange this week. He also explained how there’s no beef, adding that Harbaugh is a coach he respects a lot. Reflecting back, the quarterback even took a bit of the blame for what happened.

“I got into a little scuffle on the sideline and it was my rookie year. I got up and I started chirping at them,” Allen said.

He also added that he’s not the same player that he was then as well. Things are different now.

“I’ve changed a lot since then, my mannerisms and my temper is a little better than it was back in the day. I play a little differently now, so, yeah, they’ve helped me get to where I am,” Allen said.

Nothing like a day on the links to make everyone get along.

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Bills’ Devin Singletary on bigger role without Zack Moss: ‘I’m ready for it’

Buffalo Bills RB Devin Singletary following Zack Moss injury, facing the Baltimore Ravens.

Buffalo Bills running back Devin Singletary is going to be relied upon more than he has recently against the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday.

The Bills (13-3) topped the Indianapolis Colts to advance to this weekend’s AFC Divisional round matchup, but that didn’t come without loss. Rookie running back Zack Moss’s season came to an end because of an ankle injury.

With him, the Bills were essentially splitting carries between Singletary and Moss. Without Moss, it’ll be more of “Motor” and he’s locked in.

“It’s a great opportunity,” Singletary said via video conference. “I could be getting more of the workload, but I’m built for it, I’m ready for it. I know the team has confidence in me, I got confidence in me.”

Now in his second season, Singletary hasn’t overly impressed. Moss really hasn’t, either. Some of that has to do with Buffalo’s passing offense taking off this year thanks to quarterback Josh Allen’s emergence and the Bills simply haven’t ran the ball as much because of that.

Plus when running backs split carries, the idea is that it make it tougher for them to settle into a game. Without Moss, could that help Singletary? While not dismissing his teammate’s abilities in the slightest, Singletary did admit there’s some truth to that.

“The more plays you get or whatever it may be, it’s definitely easier to get into the flow, we’re going to see how it plays out on Saturday,” Singletary said. “No matter how many opportunities, if it’s a lot or a little you’ve got to be ready, that’s been my mindset all year.”

In 2020, Singletary’s dip is displayed by his yards per carry which dropped from 5.1 a year ago to 4.4. Not awful, but not as good, either.

Not only will Saturday vs. the Ravens (11-5) be an opportunity for Singletary to show he’s better than those numbers, it’ll be a chance for him to show he’s better than he was when Moss first missed time. From Weeks 3-5 at the start of 2020, Moss missed time with a hamstring injury.

In those three games, Singletary had 42 carries, 152 rushing yards (3.62 avg) with a touchdown. He also had 10 catches for 79 in that time frame with a receiving touchdown.

Even so, the most important analysis of Singletary’s game is the one from the top. Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott approved of the way Singletary has preformed this year.

“I think his role has been pretty consistent. Sometimes the ebbs and flows of a game cause the load of who gets the carries to fluctuate from week-to-week. His role has always been the same for us and our confidence in Motor has always been very high,” McDermott said via video conference.

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Jerry Hughes says Bills have different plan to stop Lamar Jackson this time

Buffalo Bills DE Jerry Hughes, S Micah Hyde, LB Tremaine Edmunds on Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson.

The Bills and Ravens will meet for the first time in 2020 this Saturday and the stakes couldn’t possibly be higher. It’s the AFC Divisional round… win or go home.

These teams aren’t completely unfamiliar with each other, though.

In 2019, the Ravens’ season was most-known for being quarterback Lamar Jackson‘s MVP year. In that campaign, Jackson topped the Bills 24-17 in Week 14, but he didn’t have his best game. In fact, he had his worst.

Jackson tossed three touchdown passes but only rushed for 40 yards and the Ravens offense was held to a season-low 257 total yards. Can the Bills do that again?

Well if that’s the case, defensive end Jerry Hughes made an interesting remark this week, saying the plan this time around is going to be changed.

“Last year we had a different approach than what we’re taking this year,” Hughes said via video conference. “Last year a lot of it was a lot more read-based instead of us being physical, attack the line type of defense that we are normally.”

Certainly noteworthy.

In a year a lot can change in the NFL. But if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, right? Evidently not for the Bills defense. The biggest case to be made for keeping the defensive plan vs. Jackson the same would be that the reason the Bills lost that game a year ago was probably because of their offense playing poorly.

In 2020, Buffalo’s offense has been firing on all cylinders. So putting two and two together, the Bills (13-3) should have a good look in this one, no? We’ll see if the changes pay dividends because regardless of new or old plan, Jackson’s going to be a handful.

Hughes mentioned that the Ravens (11-5) quarterback’s mobility still stands out above anyone in the NFL.

“Just his quickness, his agility… he’s a little more agile than your Kyler Murray and probably has a little more speed as well,” Hughes said. “That’s what’s toughest for us… just his vision as a ball-carrier, his ability to him of use all three of those assets, speed, agility, vision.”

Safety Micah Hyde added that no matter what the plan is, Jackson is only quick shake away from shredding it.

“With this guy you can try to blitz guys at him, you can sit back and cover, it doesn’t matter. Any scheme that you throw at him, he’s able to maybe make one guy miss and take it to the house,” Hyde said.

In regard to exactly what the change in plan will be we don’t exactly know. Hughes only provided minimal insight, smartly so. Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds did give a good look into the Bills’ mindset this week, though. It’s not the individuals, it’s the team vs. Jackson.

“It’s not just one guy out there trying to make every play. You’ve got everybody doing their job. That’s, most of the time, when defenses play their best defense. When everybody is doing their job and not trying to do somebody else’s,” Edmunds said.

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Bills vs. Ravens: 3 key matchups in Divisional round

Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens matchups to watch in Divisional round.

After the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens saw their young quarterbacks win their first playoff games in their careers over last weekend’s Wild Card round… only one of them will add a second to that total.

The Bills (13-3) host the Ravens (11-5) for a spot in the AFC title game. The stakes are high, but it’s still the same game… and the little games within the game will make all the different.

With that, here are three key matchups to watch in Saturday’s Divisional matchup as Buffalo hosts Baltimore:

TJ Yeldon to take Zack Moss’ spot in Bills lineup vs. Ravens

Buffalo Bills RB TJ Yeldon will play in Zack Moss’ spot in line vs. Baltimore Ravens in AFC Divisional round/

The Buffalo Bills have not ruled calling running back Antonio Williams or Devonta Freeman up from their practice squad for the team’s upcoming Divisional round matchup with the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday.

Neither will be taking Zack Moss’s spot in the lineup, though.

Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott said on Thursday via video conference that it will be TJ Yeldon who will do that job.

“TJ will be the one that’s brought up in Zack’s spot. TJ Yeldon, just to give you that information. We do have a lot of confidence in Antonio and we were impressed by what we saw in that game against Miami,” McDermott said, referencing Williams’ two-touchdown effort in Week 17.

Earlier in the week, McDermott hinted that Devin Singletary will assume No. 1 duties without Moss (ankle) in the lineup against the Ravens (11-5), saying the second-year pro is “more than capable” to do so. Prior to that during the regular season, Singletary and Moss were essentially splitting carries in the Bills (13-3) backfield.

From Weeks 3-5 at the start of 2020, Moss missed three games with a hamstring injury. At that time, the Bills also opted to use Yeldon in a No. 2 role. Yeldon had 10 carries and 70 yards and added a receiving touchdown.

In those three games, Singletary had 42 carries, 152 rushing yards (3.62 avg) with a touchdown. Singletary also had 10 catches for 79 in that time frame with a receiving touchdown.

In most other cases, Yeldon was inactive on game day as the assumed No. 3 behind Moss and Singletary, which again holds to be true.

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Buffalo Bills vs Baltimore Ravens Prediction, Game Preview

Buffalo Bills vs Baltimore Ravens prediction, NFL Playoff AFC Divisional game preview.

Buffalo Bills vs Baltimore Ravens prediction, NFL Playoff AFC Divisional game preview.

Buffalo Bills vs Baltimore Ravens Broadcast

Date: Saturday, January 16
Game Time: 8:15 ET
Venue: Bills Stadium, Orchard Park, NY
Network: NBC

[jwplayer kZARIsBJ]

– All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

Buffalo Bills (14-3) vs Baltimore Ravens (12-5) Game Preview

For latest lines and to bet on the NFL, go to BetMGM

Why The Baltimore Ravens Will Win

Lamar Jackson continues to be magnificent.

There’s this notion that he wasn’t the same MVP Lamar Jackson over the first part of the season, but that’s sort of wrong. He was throwing a bit more and running a whole lot less, but now it’s just a bit more noticeable – especially when he’s tearing off brilliant 48-yard touchdown runs like he did in the 20-13 Wild Card win over Tennessee.

Jackson on the move is one of the most devastating weapons in football, and after running for fewer than ten times five of the first six games, he’s carrying it ten times or more in nine of the last ten games.

The mistakes aren’t happening – the Ravens haven’t turned it over more than once in their last six games – and to go along with the boost in Jackson’s production, the defensive side has taken things to another level.

It bottled up Derrick Henry for just 40 yards lsat week, didn’t allow too many third down conversions, and it all worked. Get the D off the field, get Jackson moving, and control the game.

Baltimore held the ball for almost 34 minutes last week – almost seven more minutes. Indianapolis held the ball for over 34 minutes last week in the loss to Buffalo, but failed a bit too often when it had its chances in the 27-24 loss.

Control the clock and score every time in the red zone, and it should work, but …

– Why Buffalo Bills Will Win
– What’s Going To Happen, Who’ll Win

NEXT: Why The Buffalo Bills Will Win

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3

Bills vs. Ravens: Wednesday injury reports

Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens injury reports from Wednesday ahead of NFL’s Divisional round.

Here are the full Wednesday injury reports for the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens ahead of their Divisional round meeting at Bills Stadium on Saturday:

Baltimore Ravens (11-5)

Did not practice

  • LB Matthew Judon (illness)
  • CB Marcus Peters (back)

Limited practice

  • OL DJ Fluker (knee)

Full practice

  • N/A

Notes:

Peters played in every snap for the Ravens in their Wild Card win vs. the Titans. … Peters also did not practice on Tuesday.

Buffalo Bills (13-3)

Did not practice

  • DE Darryl Johnson (knee)

Limited practice

  • WR Cole Beasley (knee)
  • WR Stefon Diggs (oblique)
  • LB Tremaine Edmunds (hamstring)
  • QB Jake Fromm (quarantine)
  • DT Ed Oliver (knee)
  • DT Justin Zimmer (groin)

Full practice

  • K Tyler Bass (hand)

Notes:

Every player listed on Buffalo’s first injury report except Fromm played in the Wild Card round. … this list also remained unchanged from Tuesday.

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2018 QB brethren Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson share big praise for each other

Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen, Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson discussed each other.

Perhaps the two most overlooked quarterbacks of the five selected in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft, Bills signal caller Josh Allen and Ravens QB Lamar Jackson have come a long way.

Allen was the third of five quarterbacks selected in Round 1 of that year’s draft at No. 7 overall. Still, he was ultimately considered a “project.” Jackson had that same stigma, but he fell to the No. 32 overall pick.

Flash forward and Jackson’s the reigning MVP and Allen might follow suit with the 2020 honor. He’s, at minimum, in the discussion.

Perhaps because of the similar routes both teams have taken through that narrative, the QBs had some big-time praise of one another ahead of their upcoming Divisional round meeting on Saturday.

“I tell this to everybody I talk to about him — he is one of the greatest dudes you can be around. He really is,” Allen said via video conference. “For him to kind of have the adversity of coming out the first year and people doubted him, and then go out and explode on the scene last year and just be this dynamic quarterback.”

“I root heavily for him, just knowing what he went through his first year, how he’s been able to do it, and how humble, how awesome he is off the field. He’s just one of those guys you root for,” Allen added.

The “doubt” about Jackson was his ability to throw the ball. Folks said the same about Allen… and in Jackson’s rebuttal, he said he loves that Allen has hushed critics with his improvement chucking it down the field, even comparing Allen to another QB that… whoever the winner of Saturday is… might face in the AFC Championship game.

“People are always just talking about Josh and his big arm, but he’s doing it all out there,” Jackson said this week. “He’s getting out of the pocket, taking advantage of what the defense gives him, throwing the ball on a rope. He’s slinging the ball like a Patrick Mahomes. He’s helping his team out a lot. He’s one of the key reasons they’re putting up so many points and winning games. Hats off to Josh because he’s been doing it since his rookie season.”

While Allen and Jackson will certainly be dueling in one sense on Saturday, they actually will have to go head-to-head with the opposing team’s defense. The plan for both defenses will start at the top with Bills head coach Sean McDermott and Ravens bench boss John Harbaugh.

Both head coaches also discussed the opposing quarterbacks they’ll be facing in the Divisional round this week. But their comparisons did echo one another because both coaches did scout both guys prior to the 2018 draft.

In looking back, both McDermott and Harbaugh both said they “really liked” both quarterbacks. Harbaugh specifically said he likes Allen’s drive.

“Just the arm talent, the ability, the athleticism and the strength. He’s just a big, strong guy,” Harbaugh said this week. “I really liked his story and what he overcame to get to where he was at. He kind of came up the hard road and the underestimated road. I always kind of like those kinds of guys, for sure.”

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Sean McDermott, John Harbaugh reflect on Andy Reid coaching tree

Buffalo Bills’ Sean McDermott, Baltimore Ravens’ John Harbaugh reflect on coaching together under Andy Reid.

Bills head coach Sean McDermott and the Ravens’ John Harbaugh don’t often see links to one other in recent memory, but they do exist and are deeply rooted.

The long and short of it is the Andy Reid “coaching tree.”

McDermott took the scenic route to the Bills via the Panthers but prior to that, he was an Eagles guy. Speaking of which, so was Harbaugh. That’s where they’re intertwined.

Both were hired by the current Chiefs coach when he was leading the Eagles. McDermott rose through the ranks there, up to defensive coordinator, while Harbaugh mostly was their special teams coordinator before jumping ship to his current role back in 2008.

As their current teams are set to faceoff against each other in Saturday’s AFC Divisional round matchup, both Harbaugh and McDermott reflected upon their pasts together.

“It’s remarkable,” Harbaugh said via conference call, reflecting upon that time with the Eagles. “I guess I realized that when it was pointed out to me in practice to me today. You kind of take a moment and think about it, it’s pretty amazing. I think it speaks really highly of Andy. The kind of coach that he is. We all learned so much from him.

“Just the guys that we had, we had an amazing group of guys, I guess Andy is a good scout for coaches, too. Not just good… smart, tough, great guys… guys like Sean and Leslie (Frazier) and Dave Culley and that’s here and others. The idea, they’re just good people. I look back on those years with those guys… just a bunch of great people who are just tremendous friends to this day. I don’t know how to explain it but it’s pretty amazing.”

Displaying how close they really are, Harbaugh also took a little jab at McDermott, too.

“He married way out of his league, I know that about him. Really big plus for him,” Harbaugh joked.

But on a more serious note, Harbaugh mentioned how he was first impressed with McDermott’s personality as a coach. He was built for it, he said.

“Sean was like, when he came in there, was really just starting out… and I think two things. First of all just a high character, high quality person. A very hard worker, very disciplined and very hard worker. Wrestler, played football of course at William and Mary but also a wrestler, really tough, mentally tough kind of a person and really smart. Really always wanted to learn, always asking questions always listening. Doing everything he could to improve,” Harbaugh said.

McDermott appreciated the cheek that Harbaugh gave him, and gave the compliment right back as he said Harbaugh’s family ties to football always stood out to him.

“You could always tell he had great leadership quality. He comes from a football family and you could tell he had football intelligence that usually comes with growing up around the game,” McDermott said. “A lot of respect for coach Harbaugh.”

And as if this blast from the past wasn’t enough, it could be a student vs. teacher type of AFC Championship in 2021. Regardless of winner between the Bills and Ravens, we’ll have someone connected to Reid playing in that game… but the man himself might as well. His Chiefs face the Browns for a spot in that same game on Sunday.

The story is just writing itself already.

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Ravens’ Lamar Jackson has ‘zero experience’ playing in snow

Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson, head coach John Harbaugh, OL Bradley Bozeman on playing in snow vs. Buffalo Bills in Divisional round.

Just about nine times out of 10, folks in western New York roll their eyes when their region, the NFL, and weather is connected.

Yes, Buffalonians know it’s not always pretty. But there’s maybe 10 games a year played at Bills Stadium. Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean it’s going to be an ugly day. It has to be the perfect storm, of sorts.

Here’s where we hit the record scratch portion of our story because the stars currently might be aligning for this narrative to actually hold true.

On Saturday, the Buffalo Bills (13-3) host the Baltimore Ravens (11-5) for an AFC Divisional round matchup. The forecast lines up with the stereotype for once. Currently there’s 60 percent chance of snowfall on Saturday evening with temperatures near 30 degrees.

There’s also two parts to this story. The Bills have the advantage because they’re used to playing in the snow as compared to their opponents. The Ravens revealed this week that this portion of the story holds true, too.

Quarterback Lamar Jackson was among Ravens players that said this week he has minimal experience playing in snow. In fact, he has none.

“No experience, I never got to play in the snow,” Jackson said via video conference. “Except my first time seeing snow in Louisville, but we had a snowball fight so that’s totally different from playing in it.”

“But, yeah, that would definitely be my first time playing football in the snow Saturday… if it does. Hopefully it don’t,” Jackson added with a laugh.

Naturally as the QB, Jackson’s thoughts on the snow hold a bit more weight to them. But hey, the more the merrier, right?

Starting left guard Bradley Bozeman is in the same boat. Never played in the snow.

“I know the surface of grass so I’ve never played in snow. Big guys in slippery situations is not always a good thing so I’m gonna hope for no snow,” Bozeman added on his call.

The person tasked with getting Baltimore’s players to not worry about the snowy situation ahead is Ravens head coach John Harbaugh. Heading into Saturday, the Ravens, like the Bills, are a streaky team.

Baltimore is currently on a six-game win streak which really got them into the playoffs. Referencing their last loss, a game against the Steelers which was moved around due to COVID-19 and eventually played on a Wednesday, Harbaugh said the mentality is still going to be the same for his team regardless of circumstances.

“I think you’re playing great teams. When you get to the playoffs, the teams that you play are great teams. But we’ve had our backs against the wall since the Pittsburgh game,” Harbaugh said. “That’s just where we’ve been. I think our guys have handled everything exceptionally well. They’ve taken it one day at a time. One play at a time, one practice. Try to keep it simple that way.”

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