Four Downs: The Mark Andrews Revenge Tour?

Every year is new, but the Baltimore Ravens know they can take it to the Buffalo Bills. They come into the season preloaded with this knowledge. They fell by two points to the Bills in the playoffs. They dominated the Bills in the previous regular season showing. It’s a new year, the rosters are a little different, but it’s as familiar of a challenge as you can get in Week 1 without seeing a division rival. Both teams are confident, and are expected to be contenders. So what do you need to know for this opening game?

Here’s four downs, with four different perspectives at this game. Let’s go for it.

First Down: Control The Line Of Scrimmage

Baltimore needs to take the fight to Buffalo with desperation. The Ravens can’t just want this one, they have to need this victory and they should out-physical the Bills accordingly. What happened in that glorious 35-10 win last September? Derrick Henry went for a touchdown on the first play and the Ravens ran the ball for 271 total yards. The Ravens literally moved the Bills right out of their way. The defense did its part of owning the line of scrimmage also, sacking Josh Allen three times and causing a turnover with pass rush.

The postseason game was a different story. Tyler Linderbaum got pushed back into Lamar Jackson causing a fumble. The Ravens still had success on the ground but ran for almost exactly 100 fewer yards than in the regular season battle. When push came to shove, the Bills were able to grind out the tough yards on the ground. Allen didn’t have to do much to win the game; in fact he threw for about 20 fewer yards than he did against the Ravens in the regular season. That game came down to moments. When the Bills needed it, they willed it into existence. The season opener could be just like that, a game that comes down to the moment. Winning the line of scrimmage and overpowering the Bills is crucial to making the big plays the Ravens need to win this game.

More than anything, the Ravens can’t be courteous guests. They have to do everything they can to make life hard for the Bills. The Bills have the built-in advantage of playing at home in front of an incredible crowd. If the Bills can run the ball, their full offensive menu is available to them. If Allen doesn’t face a burden of Baltimore defenders in his face, it makes it easier for him to pick the defense apart. The Bills are a good team, charged up for the season opener, and they’re at home. They can own the stadium, they can have their crowd, the Ravens need the line of scrimmage.

If the Ravens run game rolls, and the defensive line is a strongly felt force in this game, good things can happen.

Second Down: Tricking Allen

Zach Orr has more tools to work with. The Ravens secondary added Malaki Starks, Chidobe Awuzie, Jaire Alexander and two impressive undrafted free agents. The Ravens drafted Mike Green in the second round. That was considered to be one of the best steals of the draft considering he had the tape and stats of a top 20 prospect; Green has looked the part in training camp and the preseason.

The Ravens have more tools to work with and that means they have more looks to throw at the Bills, looks Allen may not be prepared for. The Ravens know how to play Allen. He totaled only 307 yards and no touchdowns in the two games against the Ravens last year. Considering how normal of a number 307 would be in just one game for Allen, this is incredibly impressive. Allen may be coming off an MVP season but the Ravens don’t expect to let him have MVP-levels of success against them.

Look for the Ravens to have more freedom where they line up Kyle Hamilton, who is set to be Allen’s greatest tormenter. Look for the Ravens to have a few blitzes held up the sleeve just for the Bills. Look for the Ravens to bait Allen into the throws they want him to make. With a good pass rush, a few surprises, and Allen’s need to play hero ball, Allen’s belief in every throw could be his undoing in Week 1.

Third Down: Andrews Revenge Tour

There is no getting around the way Mark Andrews left things last season. Andrews has been the biggest scapegoat for the Ravens’ 27-25 loss to the Bills in the postseason. No one will remember his five receptions for 61 yards because he dropped the game-tying two-point conversion and had a fumble in the open field. In a game where a lot went wrong for the Ravens, the final outcome was a two-point loss. With the Ravens getting another night game in Buffalo to start the season, there will not be a more motivated man than Andrews.

In that moment, Andrews provided the Ravens Flock with plenty of frustration, but being mad at Andrews in a sustained fashion should be hard for this fanbase. This is one of the leaders of the team. He has the most touchdown receptions in franchise history. Cooler heads in the organization understood that Andrews has had plenty of great games and he will have plenty more of them. Andrews remains a centerpiece to the offense and a tight end with a Pro Bowl pedigree. While I implore John Harbaugh and Todd Monken to come up with a different two-point play for once, it’s a bad idea to sell your stock in number 89. Put him down for 80 yards and two touchdowns. I’m betting on Andrews to remind people who he is, and what he means to the Ravens.

A charged-up Andrews may be the worst thing the Bills could ask for. Andrews is a match up problem for their defense. Andrews had opportunities in the playoff game and was a particular problem for Buffalo in the intermediate passing game. The last time the Ravens played the Bills, they didn’t have the services of Zay Flowers. They also didn’t have DeAndre Hopkins. The Bills already had a problem with Andrews up the seam, now there will be more play-makers for them to worry about.

Fourth Down: Could Special Teams Be A Difference Maker?

Tyler Bass was listed on the latest injury report as a non-participant for Thursday. Apparently Bass is dealing with a hip/groin injury. Could this force the Bills’ hand on Sunday if their kicker may not be able to make long field goals with his regular ease?

Secondly, the Ravens have a rookie kicker who will be attempting his first regular season kicks. After a strong preseason it’s hard to be that worried about Loop, but there is more interest in the kicking game than any Sunday Night Football game I can remember.

LaJohntay Wester had a punt return for a touchdown in the preseason, and he made the team primarily as a return specialist. It may have been in a game that doesn’t count, but the Ravens Flock got to see what he could bring to the table when he gets in the open field. We were just talking about showing the Bills something they haven’t seen before right? It could be exciting to see what Wester can do with some opportunities at punt returner. It’s been a while since the Ravens had a difference-maker back there so it adds some intrigue to the special teams third of the game.

Field position is always a secret to success.

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